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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 WSDC 2023, WSDC 2024 will be hosted in Belgrade, Serbia.
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 Champions at ICYD 2023. 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).
Selections Overview
Why should you register?
| • | To have the opportunity to represent India at the World Schools Debating Championship in-person in Serbia |
| • | 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 2024 – 12th graders in 2023-24 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 2023-24 |
| • | 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 (September 2023)
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 team. Please note that selection competitions run by partner organisations will have different criteria to selection competitions run in-house by ISDS.
- ISDS-run online selections will have 4 rounds of debate, with 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.
Sep 30, 2023
Central Zone Junior Selection Championships (hosted by ISDS, online over Zoom)
| Eligibility: Teams of 4 debaters from grades 8 and 9 only |
| Registration Deadline: September 23, 11:59 pm IST |
| Regional Coverage: Schools in Chhattisgarh, Goa, Jharkhand, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha |
Oct 7, 2023
Senior Selection Championships (hosted by ISDS, online over Zoom)
| Eligibility: Teams of 4 debaters from grades 10 and 11 only |
| Registration Deadline: September 30, 11:59 pm IST |
| Regional Coverage: All India |
Oct 21, 2023
North Zone Junior Selection Championships (hosted by ISDS, online over Zoom)
| Eligibility: Teams of 4 debaters from grades 8 and 9 only |
| Registration Deadline: October 14, 11:59 pm IST |
| Regional Coverage: Schools in Bihar, Chandigarh, Delhi, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu, Kashmir, Ladakh, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand |
Oct 27 & 28, 2023
East Zone Selection Championships (hosted by our partners, NUJS, online)
| Eligibility: Teams of 3 | Students from Grades 8 to 11 are eligible |
| Registration Deadline: October 22 |
| Regional Coverage: Schools in Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Sikkim, Tripura, West Bengal |
| For details, please email lds@nujs.edu or isds@indianschoolsdebatingsociety.com |
Oct 28, 2023
South Zone Junior Selection Championships (hosted by ISDS, online over Zoom)
| Eligibility: Teams of 4 debaters from grades 8 and 9 only |
| Registration Deadline: October 21, 11:59 pm IST |
| Regional Coverage: Schools in Andaman and Nicobar, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, Lakshadweep, Puducherry, Tamil Nadu, Telangana |
Nov 3 – 4, 2023
West Zone Junior and Senior Selection Championships (hosted by our partners, ARC Foundation, online)
| Eligibility: TBA |
| Registration Deadline: TBA |
| Regional Coverage: Schools in Daman and Diu, Dadra and Nagar Haveli, Gujarat, Rajasthan |
| For details, please email mailus.arc@gmail.com or isds@indianschoolsdebatingsociety.com |
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. 900/- 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 |
| • | For ISDS-hosted online tournaments: 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:
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 The Champions League 2023, and Indian Debating League 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/cannot send a team to the regional selection rounds;
- have not already participated in an earlier regional selection round;
- meet our other eligibility criteria above.
The Champions League hosted in collaboration with ISDS:
Please register here before: 24th Sept (Sunday)
Orientation Date: 26th Sept (Tuesday)
Competition Online rounds dates: 1st – 5th October
Indian Debating League hosted by AugLi Future Academy:
Please refer to this website for the registration deadline and further details.
Note: The Champions League and Indian Debating League are separate competitions to the selections, and therefore, students who may not meet our overall eligibility criteria may still be able to participate in these competitions, but not be eligible for selections. Make sure to visit their webpage to know their independent eligibility criteria.
Top speakers at both competitions will be eligible to enter National Selections directly.
Stage II: Intermediate Selection Round (November 2023)
- 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 2023)
- 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 2024, of which the top 5 will travel to WSDC Serbia in July 2024
- 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.
