Students to Deliberate on AI, Social Media and Contemporary Issues; Grand Finale at Gaiety Theatre on June 10
Shimla, May 30: In a first-of-its-kind intellectual initiative under the International Shimla Summer Festival 2026, the district administration will organise “Shyamala Manthan,” an inter-school declamation and debate competition aimed at nurturing leadership, critical thinking and public speaking skills among students. The competition is open to students of Classes VIII to XII studying in schools across Shimla district.
Deputy Commissioner Anupam Kashyap said the Summer Festival is not limited to cultural programmes alone but also seeks to engage youth and students in meaningful and constructive activities. He described “Shyamala Manthan” as an innovative platform that will encourage dialogue, intellectual exchange and healthy competition among young minds.
Highlighting the relevance of the initiative, the Deputy Commissioner said that in an era dominated by social media and virtual engagement, students need opportunities to express their ideas, analyse social issues and develop well-rounded personalities. He added that the competition would promote responsible citizenship, creative expression and positive discourse among youth.
The contest will feature debates in both Hindi and English categories, with zonal rounds scheduled across four zones of the district. The top three speakers from each language category in every zone will qualify for the final round, bringing a total of 24 finalists to compete at the historic Gaiety Theatre on June 10, 2026.
For the first round, students will debate two contemporary themes: “Will Generative AI Create Pioneers or Bystanders?” and “The 15-Second Attention Economy: How the Doomscroll is Rewriting Our Brain.” The topics are designed to encourage research, analytical thinking and informed discussion on the impact of artificial intelligence and social media on modern society.
Each participant will be allotted four to five minutes and will be judged on content quality, originality, articulation, confidence, presentation skills and overall impact.
The winner will receive a cash prize of ₹50,000, a certificate and the prestigious “Shabd Shilpi” Running Trophy, while the second and third positions will carry prizes of ₹30,000 and ₹20,000, respectively. Consolation prizes will also be awarded in both categories, and all participants will receive certificates of participation.
The zonal competitions are scheduled for June 2, while the topics for the final round will be announced on June 5.
