In a bid to foster knowledge and empower youth in country, the Indian Army has unveiled ‘Battle of Minds’ – Indian Army Quiz 2023 along with its logo. The quiz competition commemorates the 25th year of Kargil Vijay Divas celebrations. It is a tribute to the victory of the Indian Armed Forces in the Kargil War, an official release said.
This initiative, symbolised by the newly revealed logo, underscores Army’s commitment to nurturing intellectual growth and inspiring young minds across the Nation, the release said. The event celebrates the past and aims to ignite a spirit of curiosity and learning among the youth, shaping the leaders of tomorrow, it added.
The event was attended by Lieutenant General MV Suchindra Kumar, vice chief of the Army Staff. The logo for the quiz competition was unveiled by Archana Pande, president, AWWA. Param Vir Chakra Awardees Subedar Major (Honorary Captain) Yogendra Singh Yadav (Retired) and Subedar Major Sanjay Kumar were also present along with principals from schools across 36 states and Union Territories of India.
The initiative aims to reach out to approximately 1.5 lakh schools across the country with representation from all districts of India. It aims at registration by approximately 15,000 schools. Thus, the competition is expected to engage approximately 1.5 crore students across the nation. Schools will participate with teams of three students plus one reserve. Teams from co-educational schools will have at least one female student. Participants will be in the age group 10 to 16 years (that is broadly standard six to ten). The contest will be conducted in a hybrid, that is, online and offline mode. Beginning at the regional command level, the competition will then progress to the Inter-command and finally culminate at the national level.
The competition will unfold in two stages, ensuring a comprehensive evaluation of the participants. The first stage will commence with an online elimination round, where students will demonstrate their aptitude by tackling a series of intellectually stimulating questions. Successful contenders from the online round will then progress to the second stage, that is, a regional command-level offline competition culminating in the grand finale. This format guarantees an equitable and demanding assessment of the participants’ knowledge and capabilities, culminating in the discovery of the most deserving winners.
Conduct modality of the quiz competition focuses on five key elements, namely,
Inclusivity – open to all schools where the English language is primary or secondary medium of instruction;
Equity – ensuring a female participant from each co-ed school to promote balance;
Fair Play – uphold meritocracy, aided by accessible tutorials;
Free Registration; and
Attractive Prizes – notably, rewards for schools, students, and accompanying teachers, with prizes exceeding four crore rupees, including buses for the top 12 schools and over 360 laptops for students and teachers are on offer.
A robust student outreach programme through Teach India with an emphasis on pedagogy-based learning will propagate the broad message of the quiz. It will also highlight the role of the Indian Army in nation-building, the Kargil Victory and the ongoing transformations in the Indian Army in its aftermath.
The logo, name, and tagline of this initiative converge to encapsulate profound significance, resonating with the esteemed legacy of the Indian Army. The formation sign shape of the logo evokes an abiding sense of unity and discipline, while the base maroon colour with the metallic bronze colour border reflects strength and resilience.
The name “Battle of Minds” symbolises intellectual vigour with the tagline emphasising victory, bravery and heroism. The crossed swords and Ashoka pillar signify readiness, duty, and honour which embody the indomitable spirit and dedication of the Indian Army.