Excitement builds in New Delhi as preparations for Republic Day 2026 advance with the conclusion of zonal National School Band Competition rounds. Exactly 16 teams, four per zone, have been shortlisted for the grand finale at National Bal Bhavan on January 24.
Designed to instill patriotism, the event features competitions in four categories across East, West, North, and South zones.
Standing out in Brass Band Boys are St. Xavier’s High School (Jharkhand, East), Sanjivani Sainik School (Maharashtra, West), City Montessori School (Lucknow, North), and PM Shri JN Vidyalaya (Kerala, South).
Brass Band Girls qualifiers: Holy Cross HS (Tripura, East), Don Bosco HS (Mumbai, West), St. Joseph’s College (Lucknow, North), Providence Girls HSS (South).
Pipe Band Boys: Karali School (Ranchi, East), Shri Swami Narayan Gurukul (Gujarat, West), Govt Boys SSS (Delhi, North), Great India Sainik School (Chhattisgarh, South).
Pipe Band Girls: Kasturba Gandhi BV (Ranchi, East), PM Shri JNVS (Rajasthan, West), Govt Sarvodaya KV (Delhi, North), PM Shri KV (Bengaluru, South).
Cash incentives are substantial—Rs 51,000, 31,000, 21,000 for podium finishers; Rs 11,000 for rest—judged by tri-services experts.
A Defence-Education Ministry venture, it saw massive turnout: 763 state teams, 94 to zonals, 80 teams/2,217 students from 30 states/UTs.
Surpassing last year, this competition highlights India’s vibrant school music talent, ready to march into Republic Day glory.