Project Veer Gatha 5.0, a joint initiative of the Ministry of Defence and Ministry of Education under the Republic Day celebrations, has registered a record participation of approximately 1.92 crore students from around 1.90 lakh schools—marking the highest participation since its launch in 2021.
A total of 100 national-level “Super-Winners” have been selected this year, comprising 25 students each from the Preparatory (Grades 3–5) and Middle (Grades 6–8) stages, and 50 from the Secondary stage (Grades 9–12). The winners will receive a cash prize of ₹10,000 each and will attend the Republic Day Parade 2026 at Kartavya Path as special guests.
Launched on September 8, 2025, the fifth edition introduced new categories to boost engagement, including short video formats for videography, anchoring, reporting, and storytelling. Students created content around Samarik Parampara—India’s military traditions, campaigns and heroic legacies—and explored legendary warriors such as Prithviraj Chauhan, Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, King Kharavela of Kalinga, the warriors of 1857, and tribal uprisings.
In a major expansion, CBSE-affiliated schools abroad participated for the first time, with 28,005 students from 91 schools across 18 countries submitting entries—broadening the initiative’s international footprint.
The project involved school-level activities, interactions with gallantry awardees, and submissions via the MyGov portal. After district and state-level evaluations, 4,020 entries reached the national stage, from which the Super-100 winners were chosen. State/UT-level and district-level winners will also be recognised by respective authorities.
Started in 2021 under the Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav, Project Veer Gatha aims to honour gallantry awardees and foster patriotism among students. Participation has grown significantly over the years—from 8 lakh students in the first edition to 1.36 crore in Veer Gatha 3.0 and 1.76 crore in Veer Gatha 4.0.
The Ministry said Veer Gatha has evolved into a nationwide movement, with growing involvement from schools in India and abroad.
