10th edition of India’s biggest debating forum on in Chennai

Chennai: We live in a world of uncertainty where anything can happen any time, but believing in oneself and not hesitating to learn from others can help succeed in the world of VUCA (volatility, uncertainty, complexity, ambiguity), said B Chandra Mohan, principal secretary, school education, at the launch of the 10th edition of Speak For India in the city on Thursday.
"Life throws unexpected challenges. Do not fear, do not hesitate. Gather what you know, explore the problem, see if there is a solution. If you can't find a solution, reach out to people who can help you find a solution," said the official.
Speak for India, an initiative of Federal Bank Hormis Memorial Foundation in association with The Times of India encourages young, dynamic, and enthusiastic minds across the country's campuses to raise their voices on pertinent issues and play the role of changemakers in society. About six lakh students in states including in Tami Nadu, Karnataka, Delhi and Bengal have been part of the initiative in the past 10 years.
Jithesh P V, senior vice president and zonal head of Federal Bank, pointed out how several participants in the past have gone on to occupy important positions. "A participant who couldn't clear the semi-final round of Speak for India later came as a judge for the event after he became a civil service officer," he recounted at the event held at KCG College of Technology, Karapakkam.
The event began with a face-off between two previous winners of Speak for India G Priya Darshini (2023-24) and V Veera Balaji (2018-19) on the topic ‘AI in the job market: A threat or an opportunity'. KCG College of Technology principal M Muthukannan delivered a special address.
The Tamil Nadu edition of the event will be held in Tamil and English. Phases of evaluation will include district, zonal, semi-final, and final rounds.
The contest will take place at common venues, and college-going students can participate by registering online.
At the initial level, they will speak in their respective district centres or at other designated centres. The judges panel will consider style, clarity, conviction, lucidity, and articulation as parameters.
The winner takes away a trophy and 2.5 lakh cash prize; the runner-up 1.5 lakh, and six finalists 50,000 each.