Kavita Singh PPE Essay Competition

2025 Kavita Singh Prize Winners

Thank you to everyone who entered the 2025 Kavita Singh competition. This year, we had 347 entries. The prizes were awarded as follows:

Philosophy

Pavithra S – Sevamandir Post Basic Higher Secondary School, Kerala (gap year)

If a scientist predicts, on the strength of a well attested theory, that some event will occur, while someone else has a strong premonition that some incompatible event will occur, why should we defer to the former rather than to the latter?

Politics

Nas Frost – Hills Road Sixth Form College, Cambridge (Year 12)

“We cannot understand support for the populist right without accounting for its economic determinants.” Discuss.

Economics

Kami Lieu – London Academy of Excellence, Stratford (Year 12)

Can we address climate change at the same time as maintaining positive economic growth? Discuss.

Congratulations to all three winners!

Next year’s Kavita Singh competition will open in January 2026.

2024 Kavita Singh Prize Winners

Philosophy

Hugo King – London Oratory School (Year 13)

Can you be certain of anything other than what goes on inside your mind? If not, what makes you think that there is anything else?

Politics

Daniel McClean – Ripon Grammar School, North Yorkshire (Year 12)

“Democracy will not help us solve the issues facing the world today”. Discuss.

Economics

David He – Forge Valley School, Sheffield (Year 13)

The most important consequence of introducing a universal basic income would be the effect on labour supply. Do you agree or disagree? Argue for your standpoint.

Who is Kavita Singh?

Kavita Singh, St. Hugh’s Alumna, is a pioneer in India’s college admissions space. As CEO of Futureworks, she’s coached 10,000+ students, sits on several scholarship committees, created breakthrough education programs and helped established tertiary educational institutions to widen access.

Kavita Singh