Military History pavilion at New Delhi World Book Fair 2026: 10 things Indian Army fans can do at Bharat Mandapam

"Indian Military History: Valour and Wisdom @75" at the New Delhi World Book Fair 2026 is catching the eye for all the right reasons. The event is being hosted at the Bharat Mandapam from 10–18 January, with a focus on 150 years of 'Vande Mataram' and the sesquicentenary of freedom fighter Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel. However, the homage to India's military history is receiving the attention that it deserves.

At the pavilion, there is a huge panel mounted on the walls that depicts the country's key military events since independence, spanning the period from the 1947 war to Operation Sindoor in 2025. An ornate gateway honouring the iconic Indian Military Academy (IMA), a gallery of Param Vir Chakra recipients, and a virtual walk onboard an indigenous aircraft carrier using VR technology are all part of the avenue.

In the bookshelf area, meanwhile, you will find a collage of prints of archival newspaper clips bearing stories related to the 1948 Hyderabad police action, the 1971 war, the 1999 Kargil war, and the destruction of terror camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir during the military action carried out early on 7 May under Operation Sindoor.

Visitors enter through a heritage-style red-and-white gateway which reminds many of them of the celebrated 'Chetwode Building'—the main building of the Indian Military Academy, Dehradun—while a grand bookshelf mounted at its other end pays homage to the Sudan Block of the National Defence Academy (NDA), Khadakwasla. Here is a quick look at some of the major attractions of the pavilion:

1. Literature: Books related to India's military history, dating back to the two World Wars, the legacy of the Navy, aircraft carriers, the Bangladesh liberation, and other publications on strategic affairs have been displayed for reading purposes, PTI said. People are even allowed to interact with authors and military researchers in this area.

2. Param Vir Chakra Gallery: A special gallery has been created in the pavilion in homage to all 21 recipients of the Param Vir Chakra—India's highest military decoration, awarded for exemplary acts of valour during wartime.

3. Women’s corner: There is a separate wall panel highlighting the role of women in the Indian armed forces.

4. Wisdom awaits: Verses related to war and warfare, duty, bravery, and sacrifice embedded in several ancient texts, such as the Yajurveda, Dhanurveda, Arthashastra, Bhagavad Gita, and Nitisara, have been digitally displayed on a series of screens, bookended by two round panels explaining the essence of the philosophy, PTI said.

5. MBT is in the house: Near the main gateway, a model of the main battle tank, Arjun, has been mounted against the backdrop of a column-fronted structure bearing the slogan 'Serve With Honour'. The caption describes it as a representation of the building of the Officers Training Academy (OTA), Chennai.

6. Naval Legacy: A major naval platform and the building of the Indian Naval Academy—INS Ezhimala—have been depicted.

7. Take your selfies: Serving the purpose of a photo corner is the glow signboard mounted near the gateway that reads 'I Love Indian Army'.

8. Sculptural Art: A sculptural art installation sits in front of it, depicting India's victory in the Kargil war.

9. Saga of Valour: A giant panel erected on one side of the pavilion titled 'Saga of Valour' depicts major conflicts and the Indian military's journey since Independence, such as the 1947–48 war with Pakistan, the 1965 war, the 1971 war, and the decisive military action taken under Operation Sindoor last year. A digital screen also displays a montage of images, including one from the tri-services press conference on Operation Sindoor held in May.

10. Virtual Reality Experiences: Visitors can get a virtual feel of walking onboard India's indigenous aircraft carrier, INS Vikrant, at a VR (virtual reality) kiosk, or the feel of an IAF aircraft at another kiosk next to it.