National School Band Competition strengthens discipline, teamwork and leadership: Sanjay Kumar
School students perform during the grand finale of the National School Band Competition 2025–26, held on Saturday as part of the Republic Day Celebrations 2026, showcasing precision, discipline and musical coordination on a national stage.
NEW DELHI: The National School Band Competition (NSBC) 7.0 for 2025–26, organised as part of the Republic Day Celebrations 2026, was inaugurated at National Bal Bhavan, marking the start of the grand finale featuring 18 school bands from across the country.
The event was inaugurated by Sanjay Kumar, Secretary, Department of School Education and Literacy, and Rajesh Kumar Singh, Secretary, Ministry of Defence. The competition is being held as part of the Republic Day Celebrations framework to promote discipline, teamwork and musical excellence among school students.
The Department of School Education and Literacy supports holistic student development in line with the National Education Policy 2020 through financial assistance under Samagra Shiksha and the PM SHRI scheme. The NSBC continues to serve as a national platform to foster unity, discipline and cultural pride among students.
This year, 18 school band teams from 11 states have been shortlisted for the finale through state- and zonal-level competitions. At the state level, 763 teams comprising 18,013 students participated, while 94 teams qualified for the zonal rounds.
Addressing the gathering, Sanjay Kumar highlighted the role of art-integrated education and platforms such as the National School Band Competition in nurturing leadership qualities, discipline, teamwork and overall personality development. He reiterated the Ministry of Education’s commitment to encouraging diverse talents beyond the classroom in alignment with the objectives of the National Education Policy 2020.
He said the tradition of school bands draws inspiration from the armed forces, where music has historically symbolised valour, unity and morale. Even during challenging wartime conditions, military bands have played a key role in motivating personnel and strengthening camaraderie. Participation at the national level, he noted, itself reflects months of rigorous practice and dedication by students.
In his address, Rajesh Kumar Singh appreciated the collaboration between the Ministry of Defence and the Ministry of Education in institutionalising the competition as part of the Republic Day Celebrations. He expressed satisfaction over the steady increase in the number of participating schools and students over the years and lauded the performers for their precision, discipline and musical excellence, noting that such initiatives instil patriotism and a spirit of national service among young learners.
The vote of thanks was presented by Amarpreet Duggal, Joint Secretary, Department of School Education and Literacy, who acknowledged the contributions of participating schools, mentors, organisers and dignitaries in making the event a success.
