New Delhi: The Indian Debating League (IDL) 5.0 concluded its annual edition at IIT Delhi, marking its most diverse season yet with over 2,000 students from more than 300 schools across 26 states and union territories participating. The debates were held across 116 cities and explored contemporary themes such as AI Doomerism, Prescience and Regret, and the Politics of Memory.

The 10-day competition featured state selections, nine rounds of interstate matches, and two intensive Outrounds. Top adjudicators from IIT Delhi, Ashoka University, St. Stephen's College, SRCC, and professionals from Deloitte and PwC evaluated participants on argumentation, evidence, and clarity. The winners will represent India at international tournaments including the Harvard National High School Invitational Forensics Tournament and the Annual Stanford Invitational.

Anjali Tiwary, Founder & CEO of IDL, said, “Students from different states, languages, and backgrounds debated with a maturity that reflects global standards. Debate, when given the right space, shapes future leaders.”

The winners of IDL 5.0 are:
Seniors (Grades 9-12): Team Tamil Nadu (KC High, NASR)
Middle (Grades 6-8): Team Haryana (HIXS, The Shriram School, Pathways School Gurgaon)
Junior (Grades 3-5): Team Rajasthan (Jayshree Periwal International School)

Best Speaker awards went to:
Seniors: Aarav Mehta (New Delhi, ITL Public School)
Middle: Sia Bagaria (Haryana, Heritage International Xperiential School)
Junior: Rayesha Maheshwari (Rajasthan, Jayshree Periwal International School)

Preparations are now underway for international tournaments at Cambridge and Oxford Union in March 2026. IDL plans to expand into over 100 new cities, aiming to build a globally competitive debating ecosystem for Indian students.

About IDL: The Indian Debating League is India's largest school-level debating platform, reaching over 92,800 students across 1,050 schools. Alumni have gone on to study at top institutions such as Harvard, Oxford, and Stanford.