The National Book Trust, an autonomous organisation in the Ministry of Education and Social Welfare, seeks to create a movement in the country to make the people book-minded. Apart from producing good literature, the Trust arranges an annual National Book Fair and Regional Book Exhibitions all over India.

The Trust organised the First World Book Fair in 1972 and the Second in 1976. The 3rd World Book Fair is being held in the Hall of Nations, Pragati Maidan, New Delhi from February 11 to 20, 1978. Eminent foreign publishers from the USSR, USA, UK, Federal Republic of Germany, German Democratic Republic, Holland, Bulgaria, Hungary, Romania, Switzerland, Kenya, Zambia, Ghana, Iraq, Egypt, Kuwait, Bangladesh, Singapore, Japan, Pakistan, Indonesia, Czechoslovakia, Yugoslavia, Senegal and New Zealand are participating in the Fair.

The National exhibit comprises about 5,000 outstanding books in all the Indian languages and English. Along with the Fair, the Trust is organising an International Seminar on Educational Publishing in the Developing Countries from February 12 to 15, 1978. The Indian Posts and Telegraphs Department feels privileged to commemorate this occasion by issuing a postage stamp.

Source : Information Folder issued by Indian Posts & Telegraph Department, Government of India