The participants were categorised into eight batches of six members each. Members of a batch got the same topic to speak on — for and against.The need for uniforms in educational institutions, waiving of farm loans, and reservation in jobs and education were among the topics that saw fiery discussions by students. The event saw participation from both first-time and previous-year attendees. Arjun Krishna, a civil engineering student from Anna University, who spoke on the negatives of universal basic income, said: “As a first-time participant, I feel the competition is intense. The cash award is very tempting. If I win, I’ll use the money to fund my start-up, which aims to provide a hassle-free platform for students looking to go abroad.”Repeat participants appeared more relaxed. M S H Aysha Mubashara, a student of Stella Maris College, who was a finalist at the 2023-24 edition of the contest, said, “I will give my best. I want to make use of the opportunity to hone my oratory skills.”Earlier this week, zonal-level contests were held in Salem, Madurai, and Trichy. Online auditions of candidates are ongoing. A total of 32 candidates will be identified from across the state for the semis, which will be held offline. The winner will take home a cash prize of 2.5 lakh. The runner-up will get 1.5 lakh, and six other finalists will win 50,000 each.
