Veer Gatha 5.0 Records Highest Participation Yet With 1.92 Crore Students Ahead of Republic Day 2026

New Delhi | January 8, 2026 Project Veer Gatha 5.0, a joint initiative of the Ministry of Defence and the Ministry of Education, has witnessed its highest-ever participation, with nearly 1.92 crore students from across India and abroad taking part ahead of the Republic Day 2026 celebrations. The programme, launched to honour India’s gallantry awardees and inspire patriotism among young minds, saw participation from around 1.90 lakh schools, making it the most successful edition since its inception in 2021. Officials said the overwhelming response reflects the growing interest among students in learning about India’s military history, traditions, and heroic legacies. The fifth edition of Veer Gatha was officially launched on September 8, 2025, and invited students from different age groups to creatively engage with stories of bravery and sacrifice through various formats. This year, a total of 100 students have been selected as national-level “Super-Winners.” These include 25 students each from the Preparatory stage (Grades 3 to 5) and the Middle stage (Grades 6 to 8), along with 50 students from the Secondary stage (Grades 9 to 12). Each of these winners will receive a cash prize of ₹10,000 and will attend the Republic Day Parade 2026 at Kartavya Path in New Delhi as special guests. To encourage wider participation and creativity, Veer Gatha 5.0 introduced new categories, especially in digital and visual storytelling. Students were invited to submit short videos related to videography, anchoring, reporting, and storytelling. These entries focused on the theme of Samarik Parampara, highlighting India’s military traditions, historic campaigns, and legendary warriors. Participants explored the lives and contributions of iconic figures such as Prithviraj Chauhan, Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, King Kharavela of Kalinga, freedom fighters from the 1857 uprising, and heroes of various tribal movements. Through essays, poems, paintings, videos, and other creative works, students presented their understanding of courage, sacrifice, and national pride. A major highlight of this edition was the participation of CBSE-affiliated schools located outside India. For the first time, the initiative extended its reach beyond national borders, with 28,005 students from 91 schools across 18 countries submitting their entries. Officials said this expansion has given Veer Gatha an international presence and allowed Indian students abroad to connect more deeply with the country’s history and values. The project followed a multi-level selection process. Activities were first conducted at the school level, where students also interacted with gallantry awardees to gain firsthand insights into acts of bravery. Entries were submitted through the MyGov portal and evaluated at district and state or Union Territory levels. From these rounds, 4,020 entries were shortlisted for national-level evaluation, from which the top 100 Super-Winners were selected. Apart from them, district-level and state-level winners will also be honoured by the respective authorities. Veer Gatha was first launched in 2021 as part of the Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav celebrations, marking 75 years of India’s independence. Since then, participation has grown steadily every year. The first edition saw about 8 lakh students taking part, which rose to 1.36 crore in Veer Gatha 3.0 and further to 1.76 crore in Veer Gatha 4.0. Officials from the Ministry said the initiative has now evolved into a nationwide movement that goes beyond a competition. “Veer Gatha has become a platform for students to connect with the nation’s past, understand the sacrifices made for freedom and security, and express patriotism in creative ways,” an official said. With record participation and expanding global reach, Veer Gatha 5.0 has reinforced its role in bringing stories of valour to the forefront while nurturing a sense of pride and responsibility among the younger generation ahead of Republic Day 2026. Veer Gatha 5.0 Records Highest Participation Yet With 1.92 Crore Students Ahead of Republic Day 2026 Project Veer Gatha 5.0, run jointly by the Ministry of Defence and Ministry of Education, has set a new record with nearly 1.92 crore students participating from around 1.90 lakh schools across India and abroad ahead of Republic Day 2026. Launched in September 2025, the fifth edition encouraged students to explore India’s military history, traditions, and heroic legacies in creative ways. This year, 100 national-level “Super-Winners” were selected: 25 each from the Preparatory (Grades 3–5) and Middle (Grades 6–8) stages, and 50 from the Secondary stage (Grades 9–12). Winners will receive ₹10,000 each and attend the Republic Day Parade at Kartavya Path as special guests. The edition introduced new formats like short videos for storytelling, anchoring, reporting, and videography. Students submitted works highlighting Samarik Parampara, exploring legendary warriors such as Prithviraj Chauhan, Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, King Kharavela, and freedom fighters of 1857 and tribal uprisings. For the first time, CBSE-affiliated schools abroad participated, with 28,005 students from 91 schools across 18 countries. Entries went through school, district, and state-level evaluations before 4,020 reached the national stage. Veer Gatha, started in 2021, has grown into a nationwide movement promoting patriotism and honouring gallantry awardees, inspiring students to celebrate courage, history, and national pride creatively.