Minister of State for Defence, Sanjay Seth, presented awards to the victors of the Grand Finale of the National School Band Competition held as part of the 77th Republic Day Celebrations. He emphasized the pivotal role of the youth in India’s journey towards ‘Viksit Bharat’ by 2047.
The event coincided with National Girl Child Day, observed annually on January 24. MoS Seth praised the contribution of women personnel during Operation Sindoor, highlighting the ‘Nari Shakti’ as instrumental in realizing PM Narendra Modi’s vision of ‘Viksit Bharat.’
During the award ceremony, a school from Maharashtra secured the top spot in the Brass Band Boys category, while Providence Girls Higher Secondary School in Kerala triumphed in the Brass Band Girls category, each receiving a cash prize of Rs 51,000.
In the Pipe Band Boys category, Kairali School in Jharkhand emerged victorious, with Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalaya in Ranchi clinching the Pipe Band Girls category. Both schools were awarded Rs 51,000 each for their achievements.
Union Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh commended the collaboration between the Ministry of Defence and the Ministry of Education in integrating the competition into the Republic Day Celebrations at the National Bal Bhavan in Delhi. He praised the students for their commitment, precision, and musical talents, underscoring the promotion of patriotism and national service among young individuals through such initiatives.
Secretary of the Ministry of Education’s School Education and Literacy Department, Sanjay Kumar, highlighted the importance of platforms like the National School Band Competition in fostering leadership, discipline, teamwork, and holistic development among students.
The competition saw participation from four winning bands in each state and category at the Zonal level, with a significant increase in enthusiasm and engagement compared to the previous year. A total of 763 school band teams participated at the state level, with 94 teams advancing to the Zonal level, where 80 teams from 30 states/Union Territories, comprising 2,217 children, competed.
