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Team India Selections 2023-24
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. After three years of online editions of the World Championship, WSDC 2023 is set to be hosted in person in Vietnam.
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, 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 in the recent past. We were 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).
Selections Overview
Why should you register?
| • | To have the opportunity to represent India at the World Schools Debating Championship in-person in Vietnam |
| • | To develop necessary leadership, critical thinking, and communication skills |
| • | To receive coaching and mentorship from the best trainers in India and across the world |
| • | To interact with like-minded debate peers from across India and the world |
Who is eligible?
| • | You should still be in school during July-Aug 2023 – 12th graders in 2022-23 are ineligible |
| • | You should be between the ages of 12-18 |
| • | You should be studying in a school in India |
What do we expect from you?
| • | A commitment to put the National Team above all other extra curricular activities in 2022-23 |
| • | 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 (October 2022)
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
Our first stage of selections is split into 5 regional competitions. Each competition accepts applications from that particular region. Schools located within these regions will be given an explicit preference in the respective competitions. To be a part of the national selection, you start here:
- Enter the selection competition for your region as a 3 or 4-member school team. This competition consists of 4 debates in the WSDC format over Zoom.
- 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.
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.
Oct 1, 2022
North Zone Junior Selection Championships
| Eligibility: Age: 8th & 9th Graders only |
| Registration Deadline: September 24, 2022 |
| Regional Coverage: Schools in Bihar, Chandigarh, Delhi, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir, Ladakh, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand |
Oct 8, 2022
South Zone Junior Selection Championships
| Eligibility: Age: 7th – 9th Graders only |
| Registration Deadline: October 3, 2022 |
| Regional Coverage: Schools in Andaman and Nicobar, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, Puducherry, Tamil Nadu, Telangana |
Oct 15, 2022
NSE Senior Selection Championships
| Eligibility: Age: 10th & 11th Graders only |
| Registration Deadline: October 10, 2022 |
| Regional Coverage: All India |
Oct 22, 2022
Central and East Zone Junior Selection Championships
| Eligibility: Age: 8th & 9th Graders only |
| Registration Deadline: October 17, 2022 |
| Regional Coverage: Schools in Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Sikkim, Tripura, West Bengal |
Nov 5 & 6, 2022
West Zone Junior Selection Championships
| Eligibility: Age: 8th & 9th Graders only |
| Registration Deadline: TBA |
| Regional Coverage: Schools in Dadra & Nagar Haveli + Daman & Diu, Gujarat, Lakshadweep, Rajasthan |
Nov 12 & 13, 2022
West Zone Senior Selection Championships
| Eligibility: Age: 10th and 11th Graders only |
| Registration Deadline: TBA |
| Regional Coverage: Schools in Dadra & Nagar Haveli + Daman & Diu, Gujarat, Lakshadweep, Rajasthan |
The above dates are subject to change. Please visit this page regularly to stay updated. We typically notify applicants of any change via email as well.
If you have any questions, you may contact isds@indianschoolsdebatingsociety.com. For West Zone Junior & Senior, contact: mailus.arc@gmail.com
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. 800/- 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 below 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:
Stage I:
Individual applicants can take part in our National Selections by participating in one of our partner competitions.
ISDS is pleased to announce our partnership with the Indian Debating League, hosted by AugLi Future Academy for our individual applications track! You are eligible to compete through this track if you:
- are from a school without a debating culture, that has not/will not send a team to the regional selection rounds;
- have not already participated in an earlier regional selection round;
- meet our other eligibility criteria above.
Please register by 12th October, 2022, to participate through this track.
The twelve national finalists in the grade 7-9 category and the 10-12 category who are eligible for our selections will directly enter National Selection Camp toward the end of December.
Stage II: Intermediate Selection Round (November 2022)
- Selected Students from Stage I submit assignments, speeches, and a quiz
- This stage is mostly asynchronous
- Top performers across Stages I and II enter Stage III
Stage III: National Selection Camp (December 2022)
- The top 54-60 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 10-15 debaters will form the Indian National Debate Squad for 2023, of which the top 5 will travel to WSDC Vietnam in July 2023
- View our previous National Camps here
Team Based Applications
Individual Applications
India's Past Performance at WSDC
The Indian Schools Debating Society (ISDS) has represented India at WSDC since 2008, with an inspiring growth trajectory.
