Calcutta Debating Circle

Our Events

From flagship Bengali debates to student leagues, celebrity showcases, and international tours — every CDC programme has its own stage and its own season.

6+ Flagship Programmes
2× Bengali Editions Yearly
8+ Partner Universities Hosted

6 Flagship Programmes

CDC's events calendar brings competitive debate, public discourse, and the celebration of argument together across the year — in English, Bengali, and Hindi, for first-time student speakers and seasoned public figures alike.

Schools & Colleges
Students Debate League

Debating Excellence for Students

A season-long league that gives school and college debaters a structured ladder to climb — heats, rounds, and a final that decides the year's strongest student team.

  • Schools & Colleges
  • League, multiple rounds
  • Annual
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Celebrity showcase
CDC The Debate

CDC The Annual Exhibition Debate

CDC's marquee public debate, where sitting MPs, journalists, advocates, and other well-known public figures take the floor on the motions that matter most — equal parts argument, performance, and public conversation, decided by a live audience vote.

  • Celebrity showcase
  • Open to the public
  • Annual
  • In partnership with The Telegraph
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Tour & exchange
International Debate Tour

International Visitor Program

CDC carries Kolkata's debating tradition beyond the city — sending and hosting debaters across borders to compete, exchange ideas, and bring new debating styles home. Past exchanges have brought speakers from Oxford, Cambridge, Harvard, Yale, Emory University, the University of Sydney, the London School of Economics, and Harrow School to Kolkata's stage.

  • Tour & exchange
  • International delegates
  • Annual
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Memorial edition
Dr. Sandip Chatterjee Memorial Debate

Dr. Sandip Chatterjee Memorial Debate

An annual memorial debate honouring Dr. Sandip Chatterjee, CDC's late Managing Trustee — celebrating his legacy through the same rigorous argument and public-spirited values he championed throughout his life with CDC.

  • Memorial edition
  • Open entry
  • Annual
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Bengali · Bi-annual
The Bengali Debate

The Bengali Debate

CDC's flagship Bengali-language debate, held every summer and winter, gives debaters a stage to argue with depth and nuance in their mother tongue — proof that rigorous argument and Bengali eloquence have always belonged together.

  • Bengali
  • Parliamentary format
  • Bi-annual
  • Open entry

Summer Edition

Opens CDC's debating year with fresh motions and fresh voices.

Winter Edition

Closes the year with the season's most anticipated motions.

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Hindi
CDC Hindi Debate

CDC Hindi Debate

CDC's Hindi-language debate extends the Circle's tradition of rigorous public argument to India's most widely spoken language — giving debaters a stage to engage policy, culture, and contemporary life with clarity and force in Hindi.

  • Hindi
  • Parliamentary format
  • Annual
  • Open entry
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Annual
L N Birla Debate

L N Birla Debate

Calcutta Debating Circle, which has had a deep and long standing engagement with the L N Birla debate, was represented by Dr Kunal Sarkar (moderator) and Ms. Taniya Bhardwaj (judge) at the 2026 Finals

  • L N Birla Debate
  • Annual
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Want to compete or attend?

Reach out to join a session, register your institution for the Students Debate League, or get updates on every CDC event as it's announced.

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Calcutta Debating Circle
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