The 1st NUALS International Negotiation Competition 2026 will be held online, with a total prize pool of ₹65,000.
About NUALS Kochi
The National University of Advanced Legal Studies (NUALS), Kochi, Kerala, was established by Act 27 of 2005 of the Kerala State Legislature. The university offers a five-year integrated B.A. LL.B. (Hons.) programme and a one-year LL.M. programme, with admissions taken through the Common Law Admission Test.
The event is organised by the NUALS ADR Society, which was established in 2024 to manage and facilitate alternative dispute resolution activities.
About the Opportunity
The NUALS International Negotiation Competition (NINC) 2026 is the inaugural edition of the competition. It is designed to focus on negotiation as an alternative to traditional litigation, with this year’s edition examining the intersection of technology and its influence on negotiation and dispute resolution.
The competition will begin with a Negotiation Plan Elimination Round, from which the top 16 teams will advance to the knockout stages, including the Octa-Finals, Quarter-Finals, Semi-Finals and Final.
Mode
The competition will be conducted entirely in a virtual format through Zoom Workspace.
Fee
The preliminary registration fee is ₹3,540 for National Teams and ₹4,130 for International Teams.
The 16 teams qualifying from the elimination round will be required to pay an additional advanced rounds fee of ₹4,130, regardless of the team category. All registration fees are strictly non-refundable.
Prizes
The competition features a total prize pool of ₹65,000, along with other rewards such as internships and subscriptions.
The cash prizes are as follows:
- Winner: ₹30,000
- Runner-up: ₹20,000
- Best Negotiation Plan: ₹8,500
- Best Negotiator: ₹6,500
Deadline
The last date for preliminary registration is September 15, 2026. The last date for confirmed registration for the advanced rounds is October 1, 2026.
Eligibility Criteria
- The competition is open to students from universities in India and abroad.
- Each participating team must consist of exactly two members: one Client and one Counsel.
- Cross-institutional teams are permitted to participate.
Roles & Responsibilities
Negotiation and Advocacy
Participants will take part in the Negotiation Plan Elimination Round and, if they qualify among the top 16 teams, proceed to the knockout rounds.
Legal Research and Negotiation Planning
Teams will prepare and submit a Negotiation Plan as part of the competition process.
Contact
Email: nualsninc@nuals.ac.in / adrsociety@nuals.ac.in
Gowri R. Nair (Convenor): +91 94472 45632
Sravanthi Nambirajan (Convenor): +91 93615 59308
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Application Procedure
Registration will take place in two phases:
- Preliminary Registration: Teams must complete the registration form by September 15, 2026, and attach proof of preliminary fee payment.
- Advanced Rounds Registration: The 16 teams qualifying from the elimination round must register separately and pay the advanced round fee by October 1, 2026.
Important dates are as follows:
- August 26, 2026: Commencement of Registration
- August 28, 2026: Release of Rulebook
- September 15, 2026: Last Date for Registration and Release of Proposition
- September 17, 2026: Last Date for Clarification
- September 18, 2026: Release of Clarifications
- September 22, 2026: Submission of the Negotiation Plan
- September 29, 2026: Declaration of Results of the Negotiation Plan Elimination
- October 1, 2026: Last Date of Confirmed Registration for Advanced Rounds
- October 3, 2026: Octa-Finals, Quarter-Finals, and Release of Results of Qualifying Teams
- October 4, 2026: Semi-Finals, Finals, and Valedictory Ceremony
