Varanasi: The fifth edition of the National Youth Parliament, hosted by Banaras Hindu University, brought together more than 500 students from across the country for three days of debate, discussion and deliberation on key national and international issues. The event concluded with prize distribution and a qawwali performance by Jasminder Singh on Tuesday.The event was organised by Rhetorica: The Debating Society in association with the City Delegacies, in academic collaboration with the Institute of Management Studies and the Institute of Medical Sciences, BHU. It was held under the aegis of dean of students Prof Ranjan Kumar Singh.Students from Assam, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana and other parts of India participated in nine specialised committees. They deliberated on issues such as the Constitution (130th Amendment) Bill, caste census, the Rwanda crisis and international diplomacy.Addressing the participants, Prof Ranjan Kumar Singh said such platforms help students develop personality, communication and leadership skills. He added that participation in such events also supports preparation for competitive examinations, including the Civil Services Examination.Additional superintendent of police, Azamgarh, Chirag Jain, shared his journey from engineering and the corporate sector to the Civil Services and eventually Indian Police Service. Emphasising determination and focus, he advised aspirants to pursue their goal with complete commitment, especially during their first two attempts, without keeping an alternative career plan.Former assistant collector, Govt of Odisha, Samarjeet Mishra, addressed students’ queries and explained how civil services preparation can begin at the undergraduate level alongside regular academic studies.