Bharat's Colloquium (The Debate)

Bharat's Colloquium

Bharat's Colloquium | MIT School of Government, MIT-WPU, Pune

Where India's sharpest student voices meet to contend, contest, and illuminate the questions that define our nation.

THE MOTIONS

Choose Your Ground

Debate 1: This House Believes That India's Exam-Centric Education System Limits Creativity

India's education system relies heavily on examinations to measure learning, merit, and success. High-stakes board exams and competitive entrance tests shape not only student outcomes but also classroom practices, parental expectations, and institutional priorities. This motion asks: does such exam-centricity restrict creativity, curiosity, and independent thinking — or does the real challenge lie in how examinations are designed and used?

Debate 2: This House Believes That Reservation Beyond 50% Undermines Equality

Rooted in the constitutional commitment to equality, India's reservation policy seeks fair representation for disadvantaged communities in education, employment, and public life. This motion examines whether extending reservation beyond the 50% limit undermines the very idea of equality it aims to protect — or whether flexible, responsive policies are necessary to achieve substantive equality in the face of persistent structural inequalities.

IMPORTANT DATES

14 February 2026, 23:59 IST Video Submission Deadline

18 February 2026 In-Person Auditions, MIT-WPU Campus, Pune

20 February 2026 (Evening) Final Results Announced

THE FORMAT

How the House Sits

2 Teams · 5 Speakers per Team · 3 Active Rounds · 10 Total Speakers

The debate comprises two teams — Team Proposition and Team Opposition — each with five speakers. Speakers always alternate between teams, with Team Proposition going first in every round.

Round I - Opening Remarks:

All 5 speakers from each team take the floor for 3 minutes each. The order alternates: Speaker 1 Proposition, Speaker 1 Opposition, continuing through to Speaker 5 from both teams. The purpose of this round is to present core arguments, define each team's position and framing. No direct rebuttals are permitted at this stage.

Round II — Rebuttal Statements:

Two pre-designated speakers from each team speak for 2.5 minutes each. The order is: Rebuttal Speaker 1 Proposition → Rebuttal Speaker 1 Opposition → Rebuttal Speaker 2 Proposition → Rebuttal Speaker 2 Opposition. Speakers must directly challenge arguments made in the Opening Remarks and clarify any misrepresentations. No entirely new arguments may be introduced.

Round III — Audience Questions:

Three speakers from each team who must not overlap with speakers from earlier rounds respond to questions for 3 minutes each. Questions are taken from the audience through the Chair, directed alternately to the Proposition and the Opposition. Speakers answer individually. This round tests argument strength, clarity, adaptability, and depth.

THE CHAIR

Guardian of the House

The Chair opens the session with introductory remarks, outlining the motion, the debate format, time rules, and expectations of decorum before the three rounds begin.

Throughout the session, the Chair moderates transitions between rounds, manages the audience questions process, and ensures procedural fairness. All rulings by the Chair are final and must be respected in the interest of order.

The Chair closes with a 2-minute neutral reflection, offering observations on key themes, strengths, and points of contention, without declaring a winner unless explicitly mandated.

HOW TO APPLY

Registration Process

Step 1 - Complete Mandatory Registration:

All participants must register through the official portal. Entries without completed registration will not be considered.

Step 2 - Prepare Your Video Submission:

Record a 3-minute video arguing either in favour or in opposition of one of the two debate motions. Your submission should demonstrate clarity of thought, structured argumentation, and originality. Choose one motion only.

Step 3 - Email Your Video Submission:

Send your recorded video to sog@mitwpu.edu.in on or before 14 February 2026, 23:59 IST. Late submissions will not be accepted under any circumstances.

Include the following in the email body: your name, your email ID, selected debate motion (For / Against), BCS Registration Number, mobile / contact number, and state.

Step 4 - Auditions in Pune:

Shortlisted participants will be invited for an in-person audition at the MIT School of Government, MIT World Peace University Campus, Pune, on 18 February 2026.

Step 5 - Final Selection:

The list of selected student speakers will be announced on the evening of 20 February 2026.

CODE OF CONDUCT

1. Respect the House: Treat the Chair, organizers, and all participants with courtesy at all times. Personal attacks, mockery, or intimidation have no place in the House.

2. Debate Ideas, Not Individuals: Engage with arguments, policies, and positions — not the identity, background, or personal characteristics of any participant or group.

3. Maintain Decorum: Use civil and respectful language. Hate speech, slurs, discriminatory remarks, or inflammatory expressions — explicit or implied — are strictly prohibited.

4. Adhere to Format and Time Discipline: Follow the prescribed format, speaking order, and time limits. Do not interrupt except where permitted by the Chair.

5. Practice Intellectual Honesty: Arguments should be made in good faith. Do not knowingly misrepresent facts, fabricate sources, or spread false or misleading information.

6. Engage in Fair Argumentation: Avoid deliberate misquoting, strawman arguments, or distortion of an opposing position. Rebut with substance and reasoning, not theatrics.

7. Uphold the Neutrality of the Forum: The House is a space for debate, not incitement. Participants must not advocate violence, unlawful activity, or engage in partisan campaigning beyond the scope of the motion.

8. Respect the Authority of the Chair: Rulings by the Chair are final for the conduct of the session and must be accepted in the interest of order and fairness.

9. Professional Conduct Beyond the Floor: The same standards of respect and civility apply during breaks, informal discussions, and all spaces connected to the session.

10. Dress Code: All participants are required to adhere to a strict Indian Formal dress code for the duration of the session.

11. Response to Violations: Breaches of this Code may lead to reminders, warnings, or removal from the session, as deemed appropriate by the organizers to preserve the integrity of the House.

Ready to make your case? Register before 14 February 2026 and submit your video to secure your place at the Bharat's Colloquium.

Contact: sog@mitwpu.edu.in

CONTACT

For queries related to Bharat’s Colloquium, please connect with the coordinators of the 15th Bharatiya Chhatra Sansad:

Tejas Joshi : +91 7768073930

Tanvi Khadilkar : +91 9579472004

For submission-related queries, email: sog@mitwpu.edu.in

They will assist you with registration, video submissions, audition logistics, and all debate-related matters.

The 15th Bharatiya Chhatra Sansad awaits your voice. Step forward, choose your ground, and make your case on the floor of at Bharat's Colloquium.