About Debaters of India

A nationwide movement empowering school students through the transformative power of competitive debate.

Our Story

Debaters of India was born from a simple realisation at the Harvard Invitationals — that India lacked a true, student-led debating community. DOI set out to change that.

What began as a small WhatsApp group is now the country's largest youth-run debating organisation, collaborating with top schools and national leagues to make debate education accessible to all.

It hosts legacy tournaments, free mentorships, and workshops — even in public parks and NGOs — to reach underprivileged students. Every event, post, and partnership is run entirely by students , united by one goal: to build a stronger, fairer, and more inclusive debate culture in India.

Founded in March 2023, DOI functions as both a training platform and a community-building initiative, using city- and state-level leadership to establish local debating ecosystems across 15+ states.

Debaters of India

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🗣️

Train

High-quality WSDC training and mentorship delivered to students at every level — from beginners to national competitors.

🏆

Compete

Legacy offline tournaments bringing together the best student debaters from across the country.

🌱

Grow

Students who compete eventually return as mentors, compounding our impact across communities over time.

Our Founders

Five students with one shared conviction — that India's debate community needed to be built, not borrowed.

Aahvana Kapuria
Aahvana Kapuria
Board Member
Siddhartha Manaktala
Siddhartha Manaktala
Board Member
Nandita Saboo
Nandita Saboo
Board Member
Devasya Agarwal
Devasya Agarwal
Board Member
Ishaani Agarwal
Ishaani Agarwal
Board Member

Current Management

A student-led team working across India to expand access to competitive debate, build local debating communities, and lead DOI's tournaments, training, mentorship, outreach, and national initiatives.

Avika Lohia
Avika Lohia
President
Naavya Dhanuka
Naavya Dhanuka
President
Nayesha Arora
Nayesha Arora
Vice President
Abeer Bhandari
Abeer Bhandari
Head of Events
Rianna Tickoo
Rianna Tickoo
Co-Head of Events
Vihaan Khanna
Vihaan Khanna
Head of Training
Pratham Singh
Pratham Singh
Head of Training: Juniors
Agrim Bansal
Agrim Bansal
Head of Outreach
Ananya Anand
Ananya Anand
Coordinator of Outreach
Riyan Bajaj
Riyan Bajaj
Head of Adjudication
Jia Laud
Jia Laud
Head of Mentorship
Anaya Agarwal
Anaya Agarwal
Head of Mentorship: Juniors
Aamya Mittal
Aanya Mittal
Head of Marketing
Vanya Chandak
Vanya Chandak
Coordinator of Marketing
Aryan Chaudhary
Aryan Chaudhary
Head of Delhi Chapter
Naira Nath
Naira Nath
Head of Delhi Chapter
Ananya Mehta
Ananya Mehta
Head of Maharashtra Chapter
Reyansh Gandhi
Reyansh Gandhi
Head of Maharashtra Chapter
Shaurya Vaish
Shaurya Vaish
Head of Noida Chapter
Suguna Kukreja
Suguna Kukreja
Head of Noida Chapter
Prisha Laul
Prisha Laul
Head of Uttar Pradesh Chapter
Ayan Mehrotra
Ayan Mehrotra
Head of Varanasi Chapter
Yushika Khandelia
Yushika Khandelia
Head of Rajasthan Chapter
Priya Palawat
Priya Palawat
Head of Rajasthan Chapter
Shaanaya Bhandari
Sharanya Bhandari
Head of Haryana Chapter
Prithya Sahoo
Prithiya Sahoo
Head of Madhya Pradesh Chapter
Devangshee Khemka
Devangshee Khemka
Head of Karnataka Chapter
Devyani Raj Batra
Devyani Raj Batra
Junior Representative · Delhi
Vansh Goel
Vansh Goel
Junior Representative · Gurgaon
Janveer Bansal
Jaiveer Bansal
Junior Representative · Gurgaon
Devika Aditya Singh
Devika Aditya Singh
Junior Representative · Noida
Arihaan Todi
Arihaan Todi
Junior Representative · Noida
Anaisha Murarka
Anaishaa Murarka
Junior Representative · Mumbai
Renaya Lakhani
Renaya Lakhani
Junior Representative · Mumbai
Raeya Guha Thakurta
Raeya Guha Thakurta
Junior Representative · Mumbai

Our Mentor

The guidance behind generations of DOI's student leaders.

Priyanka Kapuria

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Priyanka Kapuria

Founder, The Speakers United · Mentor, Debaters of India

Priyanka Kapuria, founder of The Speakers United, has been a mentor and guiding force behind Debaters of India since its early years. With extensive experience in debate education, communication, and youth leadership, she has supported generations of young debaters in developing the confidence to think independently, argue thoughtfully, and lead.

Her continued mentorship has helped DOI grow from a student-led idea into a nationwide debating community, while ensuring that students remain at the heart of everything we build.