Rons Bantwal

Mumbai, Aug 3: Ryan Group of Schools in collaboration with the Indian Debating League (IDL), successfully hosted the semi-finals and grand finale of the Mumbai Speech & Debate League 2026 at Ryan International School ICSE/ISC, Malad West, bringing together over 500 students from more than 50 cities across India for a celebration of oratory, critical thinking and leadership.

Held under the theme 'The Media, The Magic, and the Pop Culture Point of View', the championship encouraged participants to examine the influence of media, storytelling and popular culture on public discourse.

Following nationwide online qualifiers held on July 18, the competition culminated in the semi-finals and grand finale where students competed across junior, middle and senior categories in the World Schools Debating Championship (WSDC). After dinner speech and dramatic adaptation before the country's top-performing teams and speakers were recognised during the finals.

The event was graced by eminent dignitaries, including Sonal Pinto, director, Ryan Group of Institutions; Swati Deshpande, senior editor (Law), The Times of India; Dr (Hon) Kusum Kanwar, education leader, leadership coach, author and TEDx speaker; Lehar Bhatia, senior manager, The Times of India – NIE; Vinayak Sudhakar, educational advisor, entrepreneurship mentor and debate coach; and Kamal Kashyap, co-Founder, Indian Debating League (IDL) and AugLi.ai.

Among the winners, Bombay Scottish School, Mahim and Jamnabai Narsee International School secured Gold in the junior category of the World Schools Debating Championship, while Shiv Nadar School, Noida won the Middle category. Indus International School, Pune and Sri Sankara Senior Secondary School, Chennai emerged as senior category champions. Students from Avabai Petit Girls' High School, JBCN International School and leading Ryan International School campuses received top honours in the speech competitions. The championship was adjudicated by experienced debate professionals and senior educators from leading academic institutions.

Gracing the occasion, Sonal Pinto, director, Ryan Group of Institutions said, "At Ryan Group of Schools, we believe every voice has the power to inspire change. The Mumbai Speech & Debate League 2026 celebrated the confidence, intellect and expression of young minds while fostering critical thinking, empathy and respect. Through such meaningful platforms, we remain committed to nurturing articulate, confident and socially responsible leaders for tomorrow."

Speaking to the audience, Kamal Kashyap, co-founder, Indian Debating League (IDL) and AugLi.ai said, “The Mumbai Speech & Debate League reflects the shared commitment of Ryan International Group of Institutions and the Indian Debating League to nurture confident communicators, critical thinkers and future leaders by creating meaningful platforms for dialogue, collaboration and public speaking.”

About Indian Debating League

The Indian Debating League (IDL) is India’s largest and most prestigious school-level debating platform, providing students with an opportunity to develop critical thinking, communication, and leadership skills. Over the years, IDL has impacted over 98,400 students across 1,050 schools, with alumni going on to study at top global and national institutions. Through its national and international tournaments, as well as coaching programs, IDL empowers young minds to engage with the world’s most pressing issues through the power of debate. www.indiandebatingleague.com/

About Ryan International Group of Institutions

Founded in 1976, the Ryan International Group of Institutions is one of India's leading K–12 education networks with over 150 schools across India and abroad. The Group is committed to academic excellence and holistic education through innovative learning, leadership development, sports, performing arts and global exposure.

- Over 500 students from 50+ cities across India participated in the Mumbai Speech & Debate League 2026
- Education and media leaders, including Ms. Sonal Pinto, Ms. Swati Deshpande and Dr. (Hon.) Kusum Kanwar, attended the championship
- Top honours were awarded to students from Bombay Scottish School, Shiv Nadar School, Indus International School, Sri Sankara Senior Secondary School and leading Ryan International School campuses