Xavier's University Debating Society
The Xavier's University Debating Society is an individual student body of St. Xavier's University, Kolkata, and works to promote Debating, Munning and Quizzing skills within the students of the University. With around 145 active members, the society aims to draw students into the arena of public speaking and quizzing, along with helping every member develops their skills in this arena. In order to bolster and sharpen the skills of every interested student, and create a competitive as well as learning atmosphere, the members of the Xavier's University Debating Society (XUDS) zealously organise several events at regular intervals, which witness enthusiastic participation by a large chunk of the students at the University. Members of the society actively and enthusiastically participate in Inter-College Fests and Competitions as well, making the society proud at all times. The Society promotes a culture of inquiry and debate by encouraging students to engage with contemporary social, political, economic, cultural, and international issues. Through debates, Model United Nations conferences, panel discussions, workshops, and inter-college competitions, XUDS nurtures leadership, communication skills, and civic responsibility among students.
Grounded in the Jesuit tradition of holistic education, the Society seeks to create intellectually curious and socially conscious individuals capable of engaging respectfully with diverse perspectives while advocating evidence-based arguments and ethical decision-making.
The society was at the behest of University's inception; in the very year it came into being in 2017. Since then, it has remained active both inside as well outside the premises with enthusiastic quizzers and debaters participating in the events in other institutions. We have tried to build our own events and we have designed a few. Our flagship event is Albert Huart Debate Competition, which is an in-house event, where members from all societies in the university participate. The second in line is XAVORATE which we had just started in 2026, is a national debating competition. The third is XAV-MUN, which again is organised at the national level.
- To cultivate analytical and critical thinking skills among students.
- To develop effective public speaking, argumentation, and communication abilities.
- To encourage informed discussions on contemporary national and global issues.
- To provide opportunities for participation in inter-college and national debating competitions.
- To foster leadership, teamwork, and organizational skills through academic events.
- To promote democratic values, tolerance, and respect for diverse viewpoints.
- To enhance students' awareness of diplomacy, international relations, and policy-making through Model United Nations simulations.
- To create an inclusive platform where students from diverse academic backgrounds can exchange ideas and perspectives.
XAV-MUN 2025
One of the most significant recent initiatives of the Society was the announcement and organization of XAVMUN'25, the flagship Model United Nations conference of St. Xavier's University, Kolkata. Scheduled for August 2025, the event brought together students from various institutions to deliberate on pressing global issues through structured diplomatic simulations. The conference aimed to strengthen students' understanding of international affairs, negotiation, leadership, and consensus-building.
ALBERT HUART DEBATE COMPETITION' 2026
The Albert Huart Memorial Debate 2026, an inter-society debate competition, was held on 18th March, 2026 at Albert Hall, St. Xavier's University, Kolkata. The event was organized by the Core Committee of the Xavier's University Debating Society (XUDS), with dedicated support from the Sub-Core and a team of 21 Organizing Committee members. This event promoted critical thinking, public speaking, and rigorous intellectual discourse. This edition saw twelve societies from the university participate in an intense and well-contested series of debates. The event provided a platform for students to articulate their views, rebut opposing arguments, and showcase their oratory skills. Students and professors from all the departments came to witness the debate and support their respective societies.
Motion: "This House believes that, in an increasingly authoritarian global environment, neither traditional nor alternative media can any longer function independently"
Judges for the event:
Mr. Ranajit Mukherjee
Mr. Srijit Talukdar
The judges were felicitated by the Professor-in-Charge of Xavier's University Debating Society, Dr. Indira Chakraborty Bhattacharya.
XAVORATE 2026
The event took place on 24th and 25th of April and was carefully conceptualized and executed by a dedicated 21-member Core Committee, whose tireless efforts ensured smooth coordination across all departments, including logistics, hospitality, academics, outreach, and operations. Their teamwork and commitment played a crucial role in maintaining the professional standard of the competition.
Event photographs will be added here.