Republic Day Parade

For the very first time, three government school teams performed in the Republic Day Parade on 26 January 2025.

The team from PM SHRI KGBV Patamda, Jharkhand, had the honour of performing at the Rostrum opposite the Presidential dais, synchronized with the Army band. Meanwhile, the teams from Govt. Sr. Sec School West Point, Gangtok, Sikkim, and PM SHRI Kendriya Vidyalaya No. 2 Belagavi Cantonment, Karnataka, showcased their performances at the Vijay Chowk. These school bands are among 16 teams competing in the Grand Finale of the National School Band Competition 6.0, that took place on 24-25 January 2025 at the Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium in New Delhi.

The Pipe Band Girls Team from PM Shri Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalaya (KGBV) Patamda, East Singhbhum, Jharkhand, showcases an inspiring journey of determination and achievement. This 25-member team comprises girls from underprivileged families, many reliant on farming and daily labour. For most, this is their first train journey to Delhi. They have received guidance from instructors of the Sikh Regiment and Punjab Regiment located at Ramgarh Army Regimental Centre.

The team has been practising the pipe band for the past three years. In the 2024-25 State-Level (Inter-District) School Band Competition held in Ranchi, the team claimed first place in the pipe band category, surpassing the previous year’s champions and a strong Ranchi district team. Emerging from humble beginnings in remote villages, these determined young girls committed themselves to mastering the pipe band, braving freezing mornings and enduring long, gruelling practice sessions with unwavering dedication.

The pipe band (boys) contingent of PM SHRI Kendriya Vidyalaya No. 2 Belagavi Cantt., Karnataka, has many students from families with parents serving in the Indian Army. The team has been trained by MLIRC (Maratha Light Infantry Regimental Centre Belagavi).

In tandem with the “whole of Government approach”, initiative has been taken for training of PM SHRI school band teams by the band instructors/teams of army regimental centers. Training has begun in 11 States/UTs and will commence shortly in the rest of the States/UTs. Subsequently, more schools would join the Band System, with support from the army regional centers, opening new opportunities for children. This is a step towards imparting holistic education to students of PM SHRI schools and developing them into well-rounded personalities.

Under the innovation component of the Centrally sponsored scheme – Samagra Shiksha – financial support is being provided to States/UTs for organizing the Band Competition at the State level.

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