A record-breaking 1.92 crore students from approximately 1.90 lakh schools joined ‘Project Veer Gatha 5.0’, a collaborative effort by the Ministry of Defence and the Ministry of Education for Republic Day festivities. Among them, 100 Super-Winners have been chosen nationally to attend the Republic Day Parade in New Delhi as special guests.
Furthermore, there will be eight winners at the State/Union Territory level and four winners at the district level who will be recognized and honored by the respective authorities. The project saw the highest-ever participation this year, with students from diverse schools engaging in the initiative that commenced in 2021.
The winners include 25 from the Preparatory Stage, 25 from the Middle Stage, and 50 from the Secondary Stage, representing Grades 9-10 and 11-12 equally. Project Veer Gatha, launched in 2021 as part of ‘Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav’, aims to honor Gallantry awardees by sharing their courageous stories to instill patriotism and civic values in students.
‘Veer Gatha 5.0’, introduced on September 8, 2025, incorporated innovative elements like short-video formats to boost student involvement. It encouraged students to delve into India’s military traditions, strategies, and heroic legacies, showcasing the valor of historical figures like King Kharavela of Kalinga and Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj.
CBSE-affiliated schools abroad participated for the first time, with 28,005 students from 91 schools in 18 countries submitting entries. This global engagement aims to share India’s tales of bravery on an international platform, expanding the initiative’s global outreach.
