Udaipur: The three-day St. Paul’s Youth Parliament 2026, organised by St. Paul’s Senior Secondary School, Udaipur, in collaboration with Sangam, concluded on November 1 with enthusiastic participation and a renewed commitment to youth leadership and democratic values. Held from October 30 to November 1, the event witnessed the participation of around 250 students from 15 schools across six districts. Over three days, students engaged in discussions on parliamentary democracy, national policies, foreign affairs, education, political discourse and contemporary issues, showcasing their research skills, debating abilities and leadership potential. Sandeep Bapna, President of the Udaipur Chamber of Commerce and Industry (UCCI) and an alumnus of St. Paul’s School, was the chief guest at the closing ceremony. Rajeev Jain, Chief Editor of Rajasthan Patrika, attended as the guest of honour, while leadership and personality development expert Monika Swami was the special guest. Addressing the students, Bapna encouraged young people to raise their voices in support of what is right and remain committed to their values and principles. Sharing memories of his school days at St. Paul’s, he assured students of opportunities for professional exposure in different sectors in the future. He also urged them to actively contribute to the development of the country. Rajeev Jain highlighted the role of media in a democracy, the importance of freedom of expression and the need for responsible journalism. He encouraged students to express their views based on facts, ask questions and become aware and responsible citizens. Monika Swami emphasised the importance of leadership qualities, self-confidence and effective communication skills, motivating students to focus on personality development. Six Committees Conduct Discussions on Key Issues During the three-day event, students participated in discussions through six committees covering important national and international issues. Representing different political leaders and institutional roles, they demonstrated their understanding of parliamentary procedures, policy matters and political discourse. Their research, logical reasoning, debating skills and adherence to parliamentary decorum were among the highlights of the event. Outstanding Participants Honoured At the concluding ceremony, students who delivered outstanding performances across the six committees were recognised. 1. SPCOEA (Standing Parliamentary Committee on External Affairs) Vidit Pancholi was adjudged Best Delegate, Shambhavi Saraswat received High Commendation, Parth Pandey was recognised as Best Researcher, and Hiya Dwivedi received Special Mention. Verbal Commendations were awarded to Chitrangada Singh Naruka, Leo Barara and Hemank Agarwal. 2. Bharat Press In the Photography category, Parv Tripathi was named Best Photographer, while Gauri Ranawat received High Commendation. In the Journalism category, Prachi Jain was adjudged Best Journalist, while Devyani Sahu received High Commendation. 3. AIPPM (All India Political Parties Meet) Divyansh Chandalia received the Best Delegate award, Dhairya Kothari received High Commendation, Guneet Tejot was recognised as Best Researcher, and Kavya Saini received Special Mention. Arnav Babel, Pakhi Mehta and Divyansh Jain received Verbal Commendations. 4. Lok Sabha Mohinish Siroya was adjudged Best Parliamentarian, representing Kalyan Banerjee. Dishi Jain received High Commendation, representing Supriya Sule. Lakshita Singhi was recognised as Best Researcher, representing Akhilesh Yadav, while Neerav Intodia received Special Mention, representing Nishikant Dubey. Verbal Commendations were awarded to Vaibhavi Vyas, Lavanya Paliwal and Shraddha Sharma. 5. SPCOE (Standing Parliamentary Committee on Education) Rishit Kumawat received the Best Delegate award, representing Rajiv Rai. Archisha Vajpayee received High Commendation, representing Mohammad Hanifa. Vatsal Joshi was recognised as Best Researcher, representing Azad Kirti Jha, while Bhuvaneshwari Charan received Special Mention, representing Parimal Nathwani. Verbal Commendations were awarded to Neev Maheshwari, Hriday Mehta, Naisha Paneri and Nabya Suhalka. 6. NITI Aayog Vaishnavi Patidar was adjudged Best Delegate, Prabal Paneri received High Commendation, Dimple Kunwar was recognised as Best Researcher, and Krishay Maheshwari received Special Mention. Laks hit Samar, Navya Singh, Chaitri Patel, Sifti Gambhir, Aarav Sharma and Aiden Sunu received Verbal Commendations. Organising Team Plays Key Role in Successful Event The successful execution of the three-day event was supported by the dedicated organising team of St. Paul’s School. Chief Coordinators Samuel Francis and Sunita Sebastian, along with Associate Coordinator Rohit Lodha, played an important role in coordinating students, school representatives, guests and other members associated with the event. Organised under the guidance of the school management and Principal Father A. John Bosco, the Youth Parliament provided students with practical exposure to parliamentary procedures while strengthening their leadership, communication, research, critical thinking, teamwork and sense of democratic responsibility.