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The 29th Annual H.M. Seervai Essay Competition in Constitutional Law 2026 organised by National Law School of India University (NLSIU) Bangalore invites submissions from law students across India. This prestigious competition encourages participants to engage in rigorous academic writing on important themes in Indian constitutional law.
Instituted in 1997, the competition has become one of the most respected essay competitions for law students in India. Each year, students from leading law schools submit essays addressing pressing constitutional questions and policy debates.
The last date to submit entries for the 2026 edition of the competition is 30 May 2026.
About NLSIU
NLSIU was the first National Law University established in India in 1986. The premier law school was set up with a mission to pioneer legal education reforms, and to anchor the transformation of the Indian legal system through research and policy interventions.
Consequently, NLSIU was one of the first institutions in the country to introduce the five-year integrated law degree at the undergraduate level with the commencement of the first batch in 1988. And for over 35 years now, the University has irrefutably remained a leader in the field of legal education in the country. This long-standing record has been possible due to the strong collaborations between legal academics, the Bar, the Bench and the State Government of Karnataka.
About the Competition
The H.M. Seervai Essay Competition was established in 1997 by Senior Advocate Navroz Seervai. The competition honours the legacy of the renowned constitutional jurist Hormasji Maneckji Seervai, one of the most influential legal scholars in Indian constitutional law.
H.M. Seervai is widely regarded as one of India’s greatest constitutional experts. His work significantly shaped the understanding of constitutional interpretation, federalism, and the rule of law in India. Through this competition, the organisers aim to encourage law students to engage critically with constitutional questions and contribute to the development of legal scholarship.
The competition awards a Gold Medal for the best original essay, recognising exceptional research and analytical writing.
Over the years, the competition has attracted submissions from students across various law universities in India. The growing number of entries each year reflects the continued relevance of constitutional debates and the enduring respect for the legacy of H.M. Seervai.
Previous Winner
In the most recent edition of the competition, the Gold Medal was awarded to Niharika Mukherjee from National Law School of India University Bangalore for her essay titled:
“The Right to Contest Elections and Internal-Party Democracy: A Constitutional Proposal.”
Her essay examined the relationship between democratic participation and constitutional principles within political parties, demonstrating the depth of scholarship encouraged by the competition.
Essay Topic for 2026
Participants are required to submit essays on the following topic:
“A Decade in the Making of the GST (Goods and Services Tax): Gateway to a Single National Market or a Challenge to Federalism?”
This topic invites participants to critically analyse the constitutional implications of the Goods and Services Tax (GST) regime introduced in India. The GST has transformed India’s indirect tax structure by creating a unified taxation system across states.
However, the introduction of GST has also generated debates regarding the balance of fiscal powers between the Union and the States, raising questions about federalism, cooperative governance, and constitutional design.
Participants are encouraged to examine the legal, economic, and constitutional aspects of GST and evaluate whether the system strengthens national integration or poses challenges to the federal structure envisioned in the Constitution.
Eligibility
The competition is open to law students enrolled in regular law degree programmes in India.
Eligible participants include students currently pursuing:
- LL.B.
- BA LL.B.
- BBA LL.B.
- B.Com LL.B.
Students must be enrolled in a recognised law school, college, or university in India at the time of submission.
Submission Guidelines
Participants must follow the submission guidelines carefully to ensure their essays are considered for evaluation.
Originality
Each essay must be original and unpublished work. Submissions should not have been published or submitted elsewhere.
Authorship
Entries must be single-authored. Co-authored submissions are not permitted for this competition.
Word Limit
The essay must be between 7,000 and 10,000 words, inclusive of footnotes.
Participants are expected to present a well-researched and comprehensive analysis within the prescribed word limit.
Formatting Requirements
Submissions must adhere to the following formatting guidelines:
- Font: Times New Roman
- Font Size: 12
- Line Spacing: Double-spaced
- Page Size: A4
All citations must follow the OSCOLA citation style.
Plagiarism Check
All essays must pass an anti-plagiarism check before submission. The organisers maintain strict standards of academic integrity and originality.
Bonafide Certificate
Each submission must include a bonafide certificate signed by the Registrar, Vice-Chancellor, or another appropriate authority from the participant’s institution. This certificate confirms that the author is a bona fide student and that the work is original.
Evaluation Criteria
Essays submitted to the competition will be evaluated based on:
- Originality and novelty of the argument
- Depth of legal research and analysis
- Understanding of constitutional principles
- Clarity of writing and structure
- Use of authorities and citations
The judges will select the essay that best demonstrates critical constitutional reasoning and scholarly excellence.
Why Participate?
The H.M. Seervai Essay Competition is widely regarded as one of the most prestigious essay competitions in constitutional law in India.
Participation offers several benefits:
- Opportunity to engage deeply with constitutional law and public policy issues
- Development of advanced legal research and writing skills
- Recognition at a national level within the legal academic community
- Contribution to scholarly discussions on constitutional governance
Students interested in constitutional law, public policy, and legal research will find the competition particularly valuable.
Submission Deadline
Last Date to Submit Essay:
30 May 2026
Participants are encouraged to begin their research and writing early to produce high-quality submissions.
How to Submit
Entries must be submitted through the official submission form.
Contact Information
For any queries regarding the competition, participants may contact the organisers at:
Email: hmse@nls.ac.in
Official Notification: Click here to Check