Anoushka Kale has been elected President of the University of Cambridge’s renowned Cambridge Union Society for the Easter term after running unopposed. The 20-year-old British Indian student will reportedly become the first female union president since last Easter term. She is the fourth candidate to become President unopposed in five elections.
Ms Kale is studying English Literature at Sidney-Sussex College, University of Cambridge. She is one of the few female members of South Asian heritage to play the iconic role. As a serving debate officer of the Society, she was on the platform of strengthening ties with the University’s cultural societies like the India Society.
The President-elect received 126 votes to be elected unopposed for the next 2025 Easter term, with 25 members voting to reopen nominations. His campaign focused on improving “diversity and access” at the union. According to a report by Variety, he has promised to “strengthen ties with cultural and access-based societies” and reduce the cost of access tickets.
Ms Black’s pledges follow Cambridge Union’s decision earlier this year to raise its membership fees amid financial pressures and rising “maintenance costs” of the Grade-II listed heritage building.
Following her win, Ms Black told Varsity, “I am very pleased and honored to have been elected as President of the Cambridge Union Society for Easter 2025 and am grateful for the support of the membership.”
“For my tenure, I will strive to expand the diversity and reach of the Union through greater collaboration with cultural groups such as the University’s India Society. I am also particularly looking forward to continuing to host international speakers and global debate motions. Excited, as were the society officials during the debate,” she said.
She added that she is looking forward to delivering on her manifesto promises, “particularly on expanding diversity through community support and reduced admission tickets to the Summer Garden Party.”
“A key component of my platform was to provide more for members, which I will prioritize throughout my term with members’ motion and debate dinner ballots. Bringing new faces to committees and increasing membership engagement will make our elections more competitive again.” is important for, which I pledge to carry forward,” she said
About Cambridge Union Society
The Cambridge Union Society, founded in 1815, is one of the oldest debating societies in the world, known for its commitment to freedom of expression.
Former presidents and officers of the Cambridge Union Society include the renowned English economist and philosopher John Maynard Keynes, novelist Robert Harris and, in recent years, British Indian peer and Cobra Beer founder Karan Bilimoria.
Like the Oxford Union Society of the University of Oxford, the Cambridge Union has a long history of hosting prominent figures from all walks of public life, from US Presidents Theodore Roosevelt and Ronald Reagan to British Prime Ministers Winston Churchill, Margaret Thatcher and John Major. There is tradition. To Stephen Hawking, Bill Gates and the Dalai Lama.
