The Inter-School Debate Competition, a prestigious event fostering intellectual engagement and public speaking skills among students, was organised by GIIS Noida on their campus. This year's competition was organised in collaboration with the Rotary Noida City on the theme

That reflects some of the most urgent challenges of our time. The environmental crises we face today—deforestation, pollution, climate change, and biodiversity loss—are not just abstract concepts. They have real and profound impacts on our health, our communities, and our future.

This event was more than a competition; where the young minds voiced their concerns, presented innovative solutions, and were inspired through the action. Through their debates, they not only demonstrated your intellectual prowess but also contributed to a vital dialogue that can drove positive change.

The competition saw participation from 10 schools, 36 teams and 72 participants with each school represented by a team of two debaters each in the junior and senior category respectively. The event saw enthusiastic participation from students, and teachers, with an audience of approximately 200 people.

The event commenced with an opening ceremony. Principal Sir Mr Ganesh shared his thoughts on the theme and said – “ the relationship between the environment and humanity is intricate and profound. At its core, the environment encompasses all living and non-living things that surround us, including the air we breathe, the water we drink, the land we inhabit, and the diverse ecosystems that sustain life on Earth. However, our actions often have adverse effects on the environment, including pollution, deforestation, and climate change. Protecting the environment is crucial for our well-being and the health of future generations.” 

Our judges RTN. HARISH RIJHWANI, MS DEBOLEENA CHOWDHURY AND DR VIVEK UMMAT highlighted the importance of debate in shaping future leaders. This was followed by a keynote speech from Mr DEVESH TIWARI, the chief guest for the day.

The President of Rotary Noida City Mr NIRMESH SINGH, stated that these debates are a means through which the young masses can recognize the importance of preserving and protecting the environment for future generations including the efforts to promote sustainability, conservation, and environmental stewardship have gained momentum, driven by concerns about the long-term viability of our planet and the well-being of all its inhabitants.

The Preliminary Rounds took place online the day before, during which teams debated the topic - Climate Change: Individual vs. Collective Responsibility."

The top teams progressed to the semi-finals, where the final debate revolved around the topic "Carbon pricing: Should carbon pricing mechanisms, such as carbon taxes or cap-and-trade systems, be implemented to incentivise emissions reduction on the path to net zero?" The judging criteria focused on content, delivery, rebuttal, and overall persuasiveness.

In the Junior Category (6-8), the winners were:

1. DPS, Noida: Jatin Natesh, Atharv Mehrotra
2. GIIS, Noida: Aryaman Chabra, Atiksh Goel
3. Mayoor School, Noida: Anwesha Sahay, Anusha Shukla

In the Senior Category:

1. DAV: Prisha, Samyak Gupta
2. Aster Public School: Kashika Chandra, Shreya Singh
3. Kothari School: Aarav Pathak, Heya Dubey

These teams secured the first, second, and third prizes with their articulate and well-researched arguments on both sides of the debate. They were praised for their dynamic delivery and robust rebuttals.

Additionally, the Best Speaker Award went to Sneha Verma from GIIS, Noida, and Aleena Saud from Mayoor School, for their exceptional clarity and eloquence.

The competition concluded with a prize distribution ceremony. The judges presented the trophies and certificates to the winners. In his closing remarks, the Vice- Principal Ms Mrignayni Magotra of the host school expressed gratitude to the Rotary Noida City for their support and emphasised the role of such events in student development.

The event was a resounding success, achieving its objectives of promoting critical thinking, public speaking, and inter-school camaraderie. The collaboration with the Rotary Noida City was instrumental in elevating the competition's stature, and we look forward to continued partnership in future editions.