India : In a significant step forward for school debating in India, the Indian Debating League (IDL) has partnered with the Harvard College Debating Union to host the inaugural Indian Invitational for the Harvard College Debating Union World Schools Invitational. This event will take place from August 15 to 17, 2025, at Jayshree Periwal International School in Jaipur, offering Indian students the opportunity to qualify for the prestigious Harvard College Debating Union World Schools Invitational in 2026 at Harvard College, USA. This partnership aims to bring Harvard’s renowned global debate stage to India, providing students with an extraordinary platform to showcase their debating skills and engage in critical global discourse.
The event will follow the World Schools Debating Championship format and is set to empower India’s young debaters, enhancing their critical thinking, empathy, and resilience. The tournament is not just about competition; it is about developing the leaders of tomorrow who can engage meaningfully with the challenges of our time. “Hosting the Indian Invitational is not just about promoting competition; it’s about empowering India’s youth with the critical thinking skills, confidence, and articulation needed to engage with the global challenges of our time. The rise of Indian teams consistently ranking among the top 3 finalists across global circuits reflects the growing prominence of debating as a key skill in our academic and professional spheres. This year, we celebrated remarkable victories, including the Gold Novice Champions at Columbia University’s WSDC 2025, a Novice WSDC win at Stanford University’s Invitational, and a Semi-Finalist finish at the University of Cambridge. Debating in India is no longer an afterthought; it’s becoming a global force, nurturing empathy, intellect, and inspiring the next generation of changemakers,” said Anjali Tiwary, Founder & CEO, Indian Debating League.
Over the years, the Indian Debating League has played a key role in shaping India’s debate culture, engaging over 90,500 debaters from 1050 schools across 28 states. States like Uttar Pradesh and Delhi have shown consistent year-on-year improvement, while parts of East India are still working to gain better access to resources.As India emerges as a promising contender in the global debate arena, this partnership with Harvard College Debating Union offers a significant step forward in nurturing India’s debating talent. “The Harvard College Debating Union World Schools Invitational has for a decade now been a platform for young debaters across the world to engage critically with the issues of our time. Through the Indian Invitationals, we are excited to make this global exchange of ideas accessible to more students in India,” said Zyna Dhillon (Harvard ’28) and Shayna Leng (Harvard ’27), Convenors of the Harvard College Debating Union World Schools Invitational 2026.
The Indian Invitationals will be open to students from Grades 6 to 12, and participation is available across both Open and Novice categories. The top-performing teams will secure a place at the 2026 Harvard College Debating Union World Schools Invitational, marking a milestone for India’s debating community. With more than 268,000 Indian students currently studying in the U.S. (as per the Open Doors 2024), this opportunity offers students the chance to showcase their skills at one of the most prestigious global stages.
