School education secretary felicitates winners of National School Band Competition 2023-24

NEW DELHI: Department of school education and literacy secretary Sanjay Kumar attended the grand finalé of the National School Band Competition 2023-24 as part of Republic Day Celebrations 2024 today at Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium in New Delhi. The two-day event was organised by the education ministry in association with the defence ministry.

The competition was held in four categories – ‘boys brass band’, ‘girls brass band’, ‘boys pipe band’ and ‘girls pipe band’. Droupadi Girls High School, Odisha, received the first prize in ‘pipe band girls’; St Teresa's Higher Secondary School, Kannur, Kerala, received the first prize in ‘brass band girls’; Government Senior Secondary School, West Point, Gangtok, Sikkim, received the first prize in ‘brass band boys’; and PM Shri School Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya, Rajasthan, received the first prize in ‘pipe band boys’.

The winners received a cash prize of Rs 21,000 while the second and third placed team were awarded Rs 16,000 and Rs 11,000 cash prize, along with a trophy and certificates. Consolation cash prizes of Rs 3,000 each were given to the remaining team in each category.

16 bands in final

A total of 16 bands, four each from east, west, south and north zones from 15 states and union territories with 457 children were shortlisted for the final. Four hundred and eighty-six teams comprising 12,857 children participated in state-level competitions; while at the zonal level, 73 teams comprising 2,002 children took part. This initiative aims to rejuvenate the spirit of patriotism and unity amongst children in schools throughout the country and motivate them on the path of holistic education.

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Sanjay Kumar, while speaking at the occasion applauded the spectacular performance, confidence and discipline of the students who participated in the competition. He expected that in the next editions, the event will expand with increased participation.

In addition to the participating teams, there was a special band performance by the school band team from Government Sardar Patel Senior Secondary School, Kalpeni, Lakshadweep.