Kala Utsav - National Vocal Music Competition

Kala Utsav is a program of the Department of School Education and Literacy, Ministry of Education, for students in Grades 9 to 12 of any government, government-aided or private school affiliated to a state or central board. It runs at the school, district, state and national levels.

Vocal music has two categories. In the solo category, one student sings classical or semi-classical music. In the group category, up to 4 students sing folk, devotional, patriotic or light music. A performance lasts 4 to 6 minutes, and professional and commercial music tracks are not allowed. Each student takes part in one category only, and professional artists or performers may not take part. Students prepare under the supervision of school authorities, and schools take the parents' permission first.

Students compete at the district and state levels of their state or union territory. Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan (KVS), Navodaya Vidyalaya Samiti (NVS) and Eklavya Model Residential Schools (EMRS) hold competitions among their own schools. Each state, union territory, KVS, NVS and EMRS team may send one entry per category to the national level. There, each category has a separate jury of educators, practitioners or scholars of the art form, and each entry is marked out of 100.

Under the 2025 guidelines, the first, second and third in each national category won ₹25,000, ₹20,000 and ₹15,000 with a trophy and a medal. Two consolation prizes of ₹5,000 with a certificate went to each category, and every national participant got a certificate. A group shares its cash prize equally.