Kautilya Society, NUSRL, in collaboration with the Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR), has invited submissions for its First Edition Essay Writing Competition.
About Kautilya Society, NUSRL
Kautilya Society is a student-led initiative established through a collaborative partnership between the National University of Study and Research in Law (NUSRL), Ranchi, and the Vidhi Centre for Legal Policy, New Delhi. The Society aims to bridge the gap between legal academia and public policy by promoting research, dialogue, and policy-oriented legal discourse.
The First Edition of the Essay Writing Competition is being organised by Kautilya Society, NUSRL in collaboration with the Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR), an organisation working towards transparency and accountability in India’s electoral and political systems. The competition is centred on the theme “Governance, Democracy & Constitutional Vision – India @2047.”
About the Opportunity
Kautilya Society, NUSRL has announced the First Edition of its Essay Writing Competition for law students across India. The competition seeks original legal and policy research on issues relating to democratic governance, constitutional values, electoral reforms, and India’s constitutional vision for 2047.
Participants are encouraged to critically engage with contemporary legal and policy issues while contributing to academic and policy discourse through original scholarship.
Deadline
The last date for registration and essay submission is July 25, 2026.
Eligibility Criteria
- The competition is open to students enrolled in undergraduate or postgraduate law programmes at any recognised university in India.
- Only individual submissions are permitted.
- Only one submission per participant will be accepted.
- Essays must be submitted in English.
Awards & Recognition
The competition offers the following awards:
- Winner: ₹5,000 and Certificate of Merit.
- First Runner-Up: ₹3,000 and Certificate of Merit.
- Meritorious Entries: ₹2,000 and Certificate of Merit.
- Top 10 Entries: Publication in an edited book carrying an ISBN (subject to editorial review) along with a Certificate of Merit.
- Two special articles will be selected for publication on the ADR Blog.
Submission Guidelines
Participants must ensure that:
- The essay is between 3,000 and 5,000 words, including references.
- The title does not exceed 12 words.
- The manuscript is typed in Times New Roman, font size 12, with 1.5 line spacing and justified alignment.
- References should be provided as endnotes following OSCOLA 5th Edition.
- The work must be original and unpublished.
- The author’s name must not appear anywhere in the manuscript.
- The plagiarism index must not exceed 15%.
- AI-generated content must not exceed 10% of the submission.
- Essays must be submitted in MS Word (.docx) format.
Contact
Email: kautilyasociety@nusrlranchi.ac.in
Subject Line (for queries): Essay Competition – Query
Application Procedure
Interested participants may apply through the following:
- Complete the registration through the prescribed Google Registration Form.
- Upload the payment screenshot while filling out the registration form.
- Submit the essay separately through the designated Essay Submission Form.
- Pay the non-refundable registration fee of ₹200 before completing the registration process.
- Ensure that both the registration and essay submission are completed on or before July 25, 2026.
