Veer Gatha 5.0 draws record 1.92 crore students; Super-100 winners to watch Republic Day parade
Project Veer Gatha 5.0, a joint initiative of the Defence and Education ministries for Republic Day, drew a record 1.92 crore students from about 1.90 lakh schools, the Defence Ministry said on 8 January 2026, with 100 national 'Super-100' winners to attend the parade on Kartavya Path as special guests.
Summary
Project Veer Gatha 5.0, run jointly by the Ministry of Defence and the Ministry of Education as part of Republic Day celebrations, saw about 1.92 crore students from around 1.90 lakh schools take part, the highest since the project began in 2021, the Defence Ministry said on 8 January 2026. One hundred national winners were selected — 25 from the Preparatory Stage, 25 from the Middle Stage and 50 from the Secondary Stage — and will watch the Republic Day parade at Kartavya Path as special guests. Launched on 8 September 2025, this edition added short-video formats for the first time, and over 28,000 students from 91 CBSE-affiliated schools in 18 countries took part for the first time.
Key facts
- Project
- Veer Gatha 5.0 — MoD and MoE, for Republic Day
- Participation
- ~1.92 crore students from ~1.90 lakh schools — highest since 2021
- Winners
- Super-100: 25 Preparatory, 25 Middle, 50 Secondary
- Reward
- Watch Republic Day parade at Kartavya Path as special guests
- Launched
- 8 September 2025; short-video formats added
- Abroad
- 28,000+ students from 91 CBSE schools in 18 countries, first time
Practice MCQs 2 questions
How many students took part in Project Veer Gatha 5.0, as reported in January 2026?
Show answer
Correct answer: C — About 1.92 crore
PIB (Defence): approximately 1.92 crore students from around 1.90 lakh schools participated.
Consider the following statements about Project Veer Gatha: 1. It is a joint initiative of the Ministry of Defence and the Ministry of Education. 2. It began in 2021. 3. Students from CBSE-affiliated schools abroad took part in Veer Gatha 5.0 for the first time. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Show answer
Correct answer: D — 1, 2 and 3
PIB (Defence): all three are correct — over 28,000 students from 91 CBSE schools in 18 countries took part for the first time.