The Joust

“Freedom is hammered out on the anvil of discussion, dissent and debate.” — Hubert H. Humphrey

Ever wondered how Shashi Tharoor commands attention at public forums or how parliamentary leaders hold their ground in rooms full of opposition? It's all about mastering the art of effective communication and persuasive debating.

At Manfest-Varchasva, strong debating skills are a platform for tomorrow's leaders. Joust is the annual debate competition where participants showcase arguments, challenge ideas and influence the conversations that shape the future.

This is your stage to lead, inspire and make your voice heard. Step up, defend your ideas and take on the competition.

Teams of 2 must register online for the preliminary round, out of which 8 teams will proceed to the next round.

Only registered teams will be allowed to participate.

Participants have to write and submit a 250–300 word position paper on one of the topics mentioned in the Event Doc.

Teams will be evaluated on their understanding and explanation of the topic, articulation of ideas, and the consistency and strength of the points supplementing their position. Top teams will proceed to the next round.

Mail the position paper to literary@iiml-manfestvarchasva.com. File naming convention: MV2025-26_The_Joust_Name.

This round will be conducted at IIM Lucknow's campus.

The shortlisted teams must speak both for and against the motion, with each member taking a different stance for 2.5 minutes each.

Following this round, 4 teams will qualify for the semi-finals. Refer to the Event Doc for more details.

This round will be conducted at IIM Lucknow's campus. Each team gets 6 minutes, with 3 minutes per speaker, to speak on the motion given to them 10 minutes in advance. Teams must speak in alternate order with the first speaker of the proposition going first. Following each team's speech, the opposing team may present a rebuttal and/or their case. Two teams will qualify for the finals. Refer to the Event Doc for more details.

Teams will have one speaker who speaks twice and one speaker who speaks once. The motion and stance will be given 15 minutes in advance. Refer to the Event Doc for more details.