SPARDHA 3.0

  CBS LINE

Volume 4(10)

Beyond the Classroom, Beyond Boundaries: SPARDHA 3.0 Makes Its Mark!

Six events, 100+ participants, one united student community—and a celebration of what collective effort can achieve.

On September 29 and 30, 2026, the Centre for Budget Studies (CBS), Cochin University of Science and Technology (CUSAT), became a meeting ground for ideas, ambition and spirited competition as it hosted SPARDHA 3.0, its national-level intercollegiate fest. Welcoming more than 100 participants from educational institutions across India, the third edition brought together students for two days of intellectual challenges, strategic thinking, creativity and collaboration.

For a young academic centre with a student community of approximately 100, hosting a fest that drew more than 100 participants from outside its own community was a significant milestone. Beyond the competitions and celebrations, SPARDHA 3.0 reflected the ambition of a growing academic community and the collective effort required to turn that ambition into reality.

A Promising Start to Two Days of Excellence

The fest commenced on September 29 with an inaugural ceremony attended by distinguished representatives of the university and the academic community. Prof. Dr. Manoj N., Controller of Examinations, CUSAT, delivered the inaugural address, while Prof. Dr. Santhosh Kumar P. K., Director of CBS, delivered the presidential address. Dr. Haseena Akbar, Faculty Coordinator, delivered the welcome address, marking the beginning of two days centred on learning, competition and student engagement.

Adding a distinctive visual identity to the occasion, the venue featured decorations inspired by the Game of Thrones theme. The creative setting complemented the imaginative names of the competitions, giving the fest a recognisable character while keeping its focus firmly on academic engagement, student participation and healthy competition.

Where Intellect Met Imagination

SPARDHA 3.0 featured six events, each offering participants a different opportunity to demonstrate their knowledge, analytical abilities, communication skills and teamwork.

The first day opened with House of Bids, an IPL auction simulation that challenged participants to build competitive squads through strategic choices and budget management. House of Coins, the Best Economist Team competition, tested economic knowledge, analytical reasoning and decision-making. Meanwhile, Scrolls of the Citadel provided a platform for paper presentations, encouraging research, fresh perspectives and academic discussion.

The second day brought a different set of challenges. Raven’s Riddle tested participants’ knowledge, speed and teamwork through a quiz competition. Council of Lords encouraged critical thinking, logical reasoning and persuasive communication through debate. Adding an exploratory dimension to the programme, Beyond the Wall challenged teams to follow clues, solve riddles and work together in a treasure hunt.

Together, the six events extended learning beyond textbooks and lecture halls. From economic reasoning and research to argumentation, quick thinking and collaborative problem-solving, the programme brought together diverse dimensions of student ability in a shared competitive environment

One Team, One Vision, Countless Efforts

While the competitions formed the public face of SPARDHA, the effort behind the scenes was equally important. The fest was made possible through the collective involvement of the CBS student community, supported by faculty guidance and a coordinated organising structure.

Mariyam Susan Manoj served as the core student coordinator, helping bring together the various elements of the event. Second-year postgraduate students led the coordination of all six competitions, while first-year postgraduate students served as sub-coordinators. First-year undergraduate students contributed as volunteers, with students across batches working towards a common objective.

The organising effort received the support and guidance of Dr. Santhosh Kumar P. K., Director of CBS; Dr. Haseena Akbar, Faculty Coordinator; and Dr. Elizabeth Joy.

A range of committees supported the planning and execution of the fest. The registration committee contributed to participant management, while the finance committee handled financial responsibilities. The sponsorship and marketing committees supported resource mobilisation and outreach, helping extend the event's reach beyond the campus. The media committee documented and communicated the proceedings, while the event coordination committee supported the organisation of the competitions and related activities. The food committee attended to food arrangements for participants and organisers, and the decoration committee contributed to the visual identity and atmosphere of the venue.

Each team formed part of a larger organisational effort that required planning, coordination and cooperation. The involvement of students from different academic levels also created opportunities to take responsibility, work across teams and gain practical experience beyond the classroom.

For a centre of CBS's size, the experience demonstrated how shared responsibility, student initiative and faculty support can help translate an ambitious idea into a national-level gathering.

The Finale—and a Promise to Return

The two-day fest concluded on September 30 with a valedictory ceremony and prize distribution. Dr. Harigovind P. C., Registrar of CUSAT, delivered the valedictory address, while Hareesh Kumar, Deputy General Manager, attended as Guest of Honour. The ceremony marked the conclusion of the competitions and recognised the achievements of the participants.

As SPARDHA 3.0 drew to a close, its significance extended beyond the results of individual events. It brought students from different institutions together, created opportunities for academic and extracurricular engagement, and highlighted the capacity of a young academic centre to undertake an event of national reach.

Just as importantly, the fest offered a glimpse of the people and processes behind such an undertaking. The coordinators, sub-coordinators, volunteers, committee members and faculty worked within a shared framework, each contributing to an experience that reached beyond their individual roles.

For the CBS community, SPARDHA 3.0 stands as a moment of achievement and a foundation for what lies ahead. The lessons of planning, collaboration and collective responsibility will continue to inform future initiatives, while the connections formed during the fest add to its lasting value.

SPARDHA 3.0 has concluded, but its story is still unfolding. As the CBS community looks towards the next edition, it carries forward the experience of these two days, with new ideas to explore, fresh challenges to embrace and an ambition that continues to grow.