National School Band Competition 2023-24 Grand Finale Celebrated with Zest at Republic Day Event

New Delhi: The Grand Finale of the National School Band Competition 2023-24 was a spectacle of talent and discipline as students showcased their musical prowess at Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium in New Delhi. The two-day event, part of the Republic Day Celebrations 2024, was jointly organized by the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Defence.

Secretary, Department of School Education and Literacy, Shri Sanjay Kumar, graced the occasion, commending the exceptional performances and discipline exhibited by the participating students. He expressed optimism that future editions of the event would witness increased participation, further contributing to its success.

The competition featured four categories: Boys Brass Band, Girls Brass Band, Boys Pipe Band, and Girls Pipe Band. Droupadi Girls High School, Odisha, clinched the first prize in Pipe Band Girls; St. Teresa’s Higher Secondary School, Kannur, Kerala, secured the first prize in Brass Band Girls; Govt. Sr. Secondary School, West Point, Gangtok, Sikkim, emerged victorious in Brass Band Boys; and PM SHRI School Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya, Rajasthan, triumphed in Pipe Band Boys.

The top three teams in each category were awarded cash prizes (1st – Rs. 21,000; 2nd – Rs. 16,000; 3rd – Rs. 11,000), along with trophies and certificates. Consolation cash prizes of Rs. 3,000 each were also conferred on the remaining teams in each category.

Sixteen bands, representing four from each zone (East, West, South, and North), showcased their talent in the Grand Finale, featuring students from 15 States/UTs. A total of 457 children were shortlisted for the final through State- and Zonal-level competitions. The initiative aims to instill patriotism and unity among school children, fostering holistic education.

In addition to the competing teams, a special band performance by the school band team from Government Sardar Patel Senior Secondary School, Kalpeni, Lakshadweep, added a unique charm to the event.