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Team India Selections 2024-25
Competitions the Indian National Debating Squad attends
The World Schools Debating Championships: The World Schools Debating Championships (WSDC) is the largest, and most prestigious global competition for high school debaters with students in more than 75 countries competing representing their nations. The Championships take place each year in a different country, hosted by a national debating body. WSDC 2025 is set to be hosted in person in Panama City, Panama.
The International Competition for Young Debaters: The International Competition for Young Debaters (ICYD) is the largest and most prestigious competition for 15 and under debaters in the world. It is conducted every year alternatingly by the Cambridge and Oxford Unions in the UK.
Select Regional Championships: Multiple other prestigious international competitions – the Asia World Schools Debating Championships, Doxbridge WSDC, Oldham Cup, ARGO Open, Oxford World Schools Debating Championships – are hosted by debating institutions in their respective regions/countries.
ISDS has had incredible competitive success. Most recently, we were Quarterfinalists at the World Championships in 2023, GrandFinalists at the Asia Championships in 2023, and we were open finalists and ESL champion at ICYD 2024. We were also Grand Finalists at the World Championships in 2018, and subsequently won the World Championships in 2019. We have also won the Asia Championships (2016), and the International Competition for Young Debaters (2017, 2021, 2022 and 2023).
Selections Overview
Why should you register?
| • | To represent India on an International platform and win laurels for the Nation |
| • | To develop and demonstrate leadership and critical thinking skills that are necessary in an increasingly competitive world |
| • | To receive intensive training and feedback from the best trainers in India and across the world |
| • | To network with participants across the country & the world |
| • | To have the opportunity to represent your country at Panama in July 2025, where the World Championships will be hosted! |
Who is eligible?
| • | You should still be in school during July-Aug 2025 – 12th graders in 2024-25 are ineligible |
| • | You should be between the ages of 12-18 |
| • | You should be studying in a school in India |
| Note: Regardless of the competition you enter, or the criteria of partner selection competitions, these eligibility criteria apply. |
What do we expect from you?
| • | A commitment to put the National Team above all other extra curricular activities in 2024-25 |
| • | A willingness to work hard, and learn more about the world |
| • | A love for debate and a healthy competitive spirit |
Selections Process
The Selections for the Indian National Debating Squad is a highly selective and competitive process. Through a three-staged process, we select high potential candidates to debate on the National Squad.
Stage I: Regional Selections Round (Aug-Sep 2024)
You can enter Stage 1 of the selection process through only one of two tracks:
Track 1/ Team-based applications:
Stage I: Regional Selection Rounds
All registrants compete in a Regional Selection Championship.
The Team India Selections is split into 5 rounds- North, East, Central, West, South, Senior. Each round accepts applications from that particular region. Schools located within these regions will be given an explicit preference in the respective competitions. Hence, you are encouraged to register your team for your regional competition.
There are five Regional Selection Championships students can use to enter the Selection Process. Each of these is a one-day online event conducted over Zoom comprising four rounds in the WSDC format that all participants will debate in. Topics for two rounds will be released in advance, and the topics for the other two will be released one hour prior to the commencement of the debate.
Please note that you can apply only once in the Selection cycle and only in your regional round. In case you miss your regional deadline, you may still apply. However, the consideration is based on the availability of slots.
We will be conducting the following regional rounds in August-September 2024.
Aug 31, 2024
North Zone Junior Selection Championships
| Eligibility: Debaters from grades 7 – 9 only |
| Registration Deadline: August 24, 2024 |
| Regional Coverage: Schools in Bihar, Chandigarh, Delhi, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir, Ladakh, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand |
Sept 14, 2024
South Zone Junior Selection Championships
| Eligibility: Debaters from grades 7 – 9 only |
| Registration Deadline: September 7, 2024 |
| Regional Coverage: Schools in Andaman and Nicobar, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, Puducherry, Tamil Nadu, Telangana |
Sept 21, 2024
Central Zone Junior Selection Championships
| Eligibility: Debaters from grades 7 – 9 only |
| Registration Deadline: September 14, 2024 |
| Regional Coverage: Schools in Chhattisgarh, Goa, Jharkhand, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha |
Sept 21, 2024
East Zone Junior Selection Championships
| Eligibility: Debaters from grades 7 – 9 only |
| Registration Deadline: September 14, 2024 |
| Regional Coverage: Schools in Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Sikkim, Tripura, West Bengal |
Sep 28, 2024
Senior Selection Championships
| Eligibility: Debaters from grades 10 & 11 only |
| Registration Deadline: September 21, 2024 |
| Regional Coverage: All India |
Oct 20 & 21 | 27 & 28, 2024
West Zone Junior & Senior Selection Championships
| Eligibility: Junior Division (Grades 7th to 9th), Senior Division (Grades 10th & 11th) |
| Registration Deadline: September 30, 2024 |
| Regional Coverage: Schools in Gujarat, Rajasthan or Maharashtra |
The above dates are subject to change. Please visit this page regularly to stay updated.
Notes:
| • | You can compete as an institutional school team, or as a cross team i.e. a team consisting of students from different schools |
| • | Each student has to pay a registration fee of Rs. 1000/- as a commitment towards participation [1] |
| • | Because we have a cap on the number of teams who can register, we will initially only accept limited teams per school (1-2) before opening further slots up to the same school |
| • | Every team, unless from a same sex school, should have at least 1 girl on a three member team, and 2 members on a four member team |
| • | Schools with diverse teams (religion, caste, etc.) will be given a higher preference for second teams |
(Schools who do not meet the criteria will be disqualified regardless of their technical registration status.)
[1] Schools/students requiring bursaries (State schools, Affordable Private Schools, etc.) are requested to write to: ragini@indianschoolsdebatingsociety.com
Track 2/ Individual applications:
Individual applicants can join the Indian Debating League’s IDL 4.0, one of the largest debating competitions in the nation. The competition begins with individual selections for State Teams and progresses through Inter-State Rounds, eventually leading to the National Round. Participants have the chance to represent their State and qualify to the National stage. To apply please follow this link.
Stage II: Intermediate Selection Round (Oct – Nov 2024)
- Selected Students from Stage I participate in an intermediate selection round.
- Based on individual performances, students across the regions enter into a pool to compete in an intermediate selection round. This often involves an extensive quiz and essay, and potentially additional rounds of debate.
Stage III: National Selection Camp (Dec 2024)
- Selected students participate in a week-long National Selection Camp
- The top 60-64 students from all over the country are invited to Nationals in Chennai around December. This is a 5-6 day process, where each student’s individual needs are assessed, and students are placed with trainers that best match their strengths and development areas. Throughout camp, students are evaluated on their speaking ability, improvement over time, knowledge of world affairs and teamwork. At the end of camp, the top students are selected to be on the Indian squad.
- View our previous National Camps here
Note:
| • | ISDS has a preference for competitors to enter through the Team-based applications track. |