The Indian Institute of Public Administration (IIPA), J&K Regional Branch, in collaboration with the University of Kashmir, today organised a debate competition on the theme “The House Believes that Urban Living Offers Better Prospects for Quality Life and Livelihoods.”
The event witnessed vibrant participation from students representing various universities and colleges across the Kashmir Division. A total of 54 students registered, with 40 participants actively engaging in the debate. Students from several affiliated colleges, as well as SSM College of Engineering, SKUAST-K, and several departments of the University of Kashmir, took part, representing nearly 20 institutions in total.
The function was presided over by Dr. G.N. Qasba, Vice Chairman, IIPA J&K Regional Branch. Prof. Nilofar Khan, Vice Chancellor, University of Kashmir, was the Chief Guest, while Er. Iftikhar Ahmad Hakim, Chairman, Indian Institute of Engineers (IIE), J&K Chapter, was the Guest of Honour. The event was also graced by the Registrar and Dean Students Welfare, University of Kashmir, along with eminent guests including Mr. Farooq Ahmad, Former IGP, and Prof. M. Qadiri.
The debate was inaugurated by Khawaja Bashir Ahmad, Prof. M. Qadiri, Mr. G.M. Andrabi, and Mr. Bashir Ahmad Shah.
Each participant was given five minutes to speak and two minutes were provided for the audience to make rebuttal to the main theme of the debater. After several rounds of articulate and spirited arguments, Ms. Gazifah Mohsin from SKUAST-K, Saaquib from the Department of Law, and Syed Alizah from the Department of Anthropology emerged as winners, receiving trophies and cash prizes. The Department of Law, University of Kashmir, lifted the prestigious IIPA Trophy, with Saaquib and Noha being declared as the Best Team.
The panel of judges included Prof. Javed Ahmad Dar (Department of Political Science), Prof. Qazi Khursheed (Department of English), and Dr. Mantasha Binti Rashid (JKAS officer from 2011 batch), who assessed the participants’ performance based on content, articulation, and presentation.
In his presidential remarks, Dr. G.N. Qasba emphasized the need for informed civic debate on issues shaping urban futures, noting that liveability and sustainability remain critical challenges for cities like Srinagar. Prof. Nilofar Khan lauded IIPA’s efforts in creating a space for youth voices in public discourse and encouraged students to continue engaging with real-life governance challenges. She announced that IIPA , J
J&K Regional Branch and Kashmir University shall be signing “MOU ” for furthering the cause of good governance and extension of knowledge and government programmes for benefit of the youth and general public .
Er. Iftikhar Ahmad, Guest of Honour for the event who supperaunated as Chief Town Planner, emphasized that such debates and symposia serve as catalysts for critical thinking, a competency whose value is surging as AI and machine learning render conventional white-collar roles obsolete. The future job market will be directly correlated with analytical prowess, he remarked. He advised participants to substantiate their arguments with empirical evidence in future debates.
The members of IIPA hailed the decision of the Vice Chancellor who announced that an MOU shall be signed between the University and IIPA in order to organise programmes of public interest on good governance, exchange of knowledge between academic institutions and civil service institutions such that the gap between the two is bridged resulting in effective public policy formulation.
