Record Participation in Project Veer Gatha 5.0: Over 1.92 Crore Students Involved

Project Veer Gatha 5.0 has seen an unprecedented participation of over 1.92 crore school students from all 36 States and Union Territories, making it the largest engagement since the initiative's inception in 2021.

Students contributed creative works including poems, paintings, essays, and videos that highlight the bravery, sacrifice, and leadership of India’s gallantry award recipients and historical warriors.

This nationwide project encourages students to delve into stories of courage, featuring figures from the Indian Armed Forces and legendary icons such as King Kharavela, Prithviraj Chauhan, and Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. The goal is to instill a sense of patriotism and inspire youth by connecting them with India’s rich legacy of valor.

Launched in 2021, Project Veer Gatha aims to promote the life stories of gallantry awardees while enhancing experiential learning as per the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020. Participation has grown significantly over the years:

• 8.03 lakh students in Edition 1
• 19.5 lakh in Edition 2
• 1.36 crore in Edition 3
• 1.76 crore in Edition 4
• 1.92 crore in Edition 5

For Edition 5.0, schools conducted activities from September 8 to November 10, 2025, and submitted their top entries to the MyGov portal. The Ministry of Defence facilitated both virtual and in-person sessions to enhance student learning through the Army, Navy, and Air Force.

This year also marks a significant milestone with the project's international expansion, as Indian schools abroad participated, strengthening the cultural ties between the Indian diaspora and the country's values of courage and patriotism.

To motivate participants, Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, a Test Pilot with the Indian Air Force, delivered an inspiring address encouraging students to pursue excellence and embody bravery and resilience.

As in previous editions, 100 national winners will be selected this year, distributed as follows:

• 25 from the Preparatory Stage
• 25 from the Middle Stage
• 25 from Classes 9–10
• 25 from Classes 11–12

Each winner will receive ₹10,000, with their recognition ceremonies organized by the Ministries of Education and Defence in New Delhi. Additionally, 2,956 district-level winners and 288 State/UT-level winners will be honored by their local administrations.