Debating Matters is a debate competition for high school students in India. Originally, a British schools’ debate programme pioneered by the Institute of Ideas (IOI) UK and running very successfully for the last seven years there, it was very well received by the Indian schools when we launched it here in 2008.

Institute of Ideas is the principal partner of the British Council in India, supported by Shell Companies in India along with Wellcome Trust, the world’s largest medical research organisation that has extended their support for the competition in India in 2009-10.

The competition consists of three stages; the online elimination test, the regional finals and the national finals. It is open to students of Class XI and XII of Indian Schools.

Debating Matters is very different from traditional schools’ debate competitions in India. The emphasis is entirely on content of the argument rather than style and diction. The format aims to engage students in debating the complexities of real world issues, like free speech, clinical trials, role of pluralism and diversity in India.

The role of judges is critical in the competition, we involve high level professionals from all fields to interrogate and engage in the debates. To prepare for the debates the students refer to topic guides/reference materials. The topic guides, commissioned by the Institute of Ideas from young professionals working in those fields of enquiry, are extremely helpful in the preparation. The guides can be downloaded from our website and are also excellent education resource.

The winners of Debating Matters India competition are Delhi Public School Megacity, Kolkata. They competed against Symbiosis society of arts and commerce, Pune who were runners-up at the National Finals. The two teams debated on the motion “Alternative medicine should be embraced as an essential part of healthcare in India” Both teams were victors at the Regional Finals held last year with DPS Megacity crowned as ‘DMI Champions 2010’

The semi finals saw four teams St Columbas New Delhi, Delhi Public School Megacity Kolkata, Symbiosis Society of Commerce & Arts, Pune and Cathedral and John Connon School, Mumbai debating on Whether Industrialization in India benefits the rural poor and issues and concern of India’ young politicians.

The prelims had all eight teams debating on Development Vs Climate Change and Clinical Trials

Special Mention

Bhavans Rajaji Vidyashram, Chennai – a South India regional finals school from last year travelled all the way to New Delhi to witness the National Finals

Awards and Recognition

			Rohan George was awarded the best audience individual award.
			Nitin Jayakrishnan a participant from the school was awarded the highly commended individual award
			Spadika Jayaraj from DPS Bangalore South was awarded the commended individual.
			10 participants also received honorable mentions for their outstanding contribution at the National Finals

Our Partners:

Treatise - the new age debate by IIM, Lucknow. Find out more.

Shell Companies in India has joined us as one of the presenters of the competition.