From a Karnataka state-level championship in 2005 to international online competitions — the key moments that shaped Verbattle.
Mr. Deepak Thimaya coined “Verbattle” and the first competition began in Karnataka.
Continuous development of the original three-team debate format and championships.
Hundreds of competition events across Karnataka, Indian states, national and international programmes.
Physical and online programmes reaching diverse linguistic and cultural communities.
milestones
Key events in Verbattle's growth from 2005 to the present.
Verbattle Karnataka 2026 — statewide debate and speech championships across multiple zones
Verbattle Karnataka 2025 — large-scale zonal preliminaries and state-level championships
Continued expansion of category tracks, training programmes and institutional partnerships across Karnataka
Introduction of Verbattle International online 2020
Introduction of Verbattle junior + 2019 bangalore
Introduction of Verbattle Kannada 2014, Hubli and Tipture
Introduction of Verbattle beginner 2010, Bangalore
Introduction of Verbattle Senior 2009, Bangalore
Introduction of Verbattle junior state level tournament 2005 (junior 2008, Mangalore)
Formation of verbattle, 1st event started from 2005
Competition formats over the years
Each milestone introduced a new way for students to engage with debate and dialogue.
Junior Debate
The junior category was among the earliest Verbattle formats, establishing the foundation for school-level debate championships in Karnataka.
- Junior state level tournament 2005 (Junior 2008, Mangalore)
- Verbattle Junior competitions across Karnataka and South India
Senior Debate
Senior debate brought older students into the Verbattle fold, expanding the platform's reach to more advanced debaters.
- Introduction of Verbattle Senior 2009, Bangalore
Beginner Debate
The beginner category opened Verbattle to younger students, making debate accessible to those just starting their journey.
- Introduction of Verbattle beginner 2010, Bangalore
Kannada Debate
Verbattle Kannada extended the platform into regional language debate, reaching students in Hubli and Tiptur.
- Introduction of Verbattle Kannada 2014, Hubli and Tipture
Junior Plus
Junior Plus added a new competitive tier for students ready to advance beyond the standard junior format.
- Introduction of Verbattle junior + 2019 bangalore
International Online
The international online format brought Verbattle to a global audience, enabling participation beyond geographical boundaries.
- Introduction of Verbattle International online 2020
Where Verbattle grew
Cities and regions that hosted milestone Verbattle events.
| City / Region | Milestone Events |
|---|---|
| Bangalore |
|
| Hubli |
|
| Tiptur |
|
| Online |
|
Every milestone in detail
Verbattle Karnataka 2026 — statewide debate and speech championships across multiple zones
Verbattle Karnataka 2025 — large-scale zonal preliminaries and state-level championships
Continued expansion of category tracks, training programmes and institutional partnerships across Karnataka
Introduction of Verbattle International online 2020
Introduction of Verbattle junior + 2019 bangalore
Introduction of Verbattle Kannada 2014, Hubli and Tipture
Introduction of Verbattle beginner 2010, Bangalore
Introduction of Verbattle Senior 2009, Bangalore
Introduction of Verbattle junior state level tournament 2005 (junior 2008, Mangalore)
Formation of verbattle, 1st event started from 2005
Two decades of Verbattle
Photographs from competitions, finals, and celebrations across twenty years of debate.
From Karnataka to the world
Formation of verbattle in 2005 marked the beginning of India's largest professional debating organization. The introduction of Verbattle International online 2020 extended the platform's reach globally, building on over a decade of state-level, regional, and national competitions including Junior, Senior, Beginner, Kannada, and Junior Plus formats across Bangalore, Hubli, Tiptur, and beyond.
Be part of the next milestone
Register for upcoming Verbattle competitions and add your chapter to our growing story of debate and democratic dialogue.