Incredible Response to Veer Gatha 4.0: 1.76 Crore Students Participate Nationwide in Republic Day Celebrations 2025.
100 National-Level Winners to Attend Republic Day Parade at Kartavya Path as Special Guests.
New Delhi:
The fourth edition of Project ‘Veer Gatha 4.0’, a collaborative initiative by the Ministry of Defence and Ministry of Education, has witnessed an overwhelming response across India as part of the Republic Day celebrations. This year, an impressive 1.76 crore students from approximately 2.31 lakh schools participated in the competition, marking a significant increase in engagement compared to previous editions.
The competition, launched on September 5, 2024, aimed at encouraging students to explore and write about India’s heroic past, especially the lives and contributions of Gallantry Award recipients and prominent freedom fighters like Rani Laxmibai. Participants were tasked with writing essays and paragraphs about their role models, further deepening their understanding of India’s historical and cultural legacy.
The competition was structured across four categories: Preparatory Stage (Grades 3-5), Middle Stage (Grades 6-8), Secondary Stage (Grades 9-10), and Senior Secondary Stage (Grades 11-12). From over 4,029 entries submitted for national-level evaluation, the top 100 were selected as “SUPER-100” winners, with 25 winners in each of the four categories. These winners will be honored in New Delhi by the Ministry of Defence and Ministry of Education. In addition to a cash prize of Rs 10,000, each winner will have the opportunity to witness the Republic Day Parade 2025 at Kartavya Path as special guests.
The Veer Gatha 4.0 initiative was launched as part of the ‘Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav’ celebrations in 2021 to commemorate India’s 75th year of independence. Since then, the project has been instrumental in instilling patriotism, civic values, and a sense of national pride in students, while also raising awareness about the valor and sacrifices of Gallantry Award recipients.
This year’s edition has been the most successful so far, with national participation reaching new heights. Notably, the competition has grown significantly since its inception, with 25 winners selected at the national level in the first two editions, followed by 100 in the third edition, and now 100 winners in Veer Gatha 4.0.
In addition to the 100 national-level winners, eight winners at the State/UT level (two from each category) and four winners at the district level (one from each category) will be selected and honored by respective local authorities.
The success of Veer Gatha 4.0 highlights the initiative’s far-reaching impact in fostering a deeper connection with India’s history, inspiring the younger generation to engage with the nation’s heroic past and embrace the values of bravery, patriotism, and civic responsibility.
