About the Organizers
National Law University Odisha (NLUO), Cuttack, was established in 2008 by the Odisha State Legislature to promote excellence in legal education, research, and professional training. The university has several dedicated research centers and student societies that encourage academic engagement across diverse areas of law.
The Constitutional Law Society (CLS), NLUO, established in 2018, promotes research, scholarship, and informed discourse in constitutional law and allied subjects through seminars, conferences, lectures, research projects, and publications.
About the Essay Writing Competition
The Constitutional Law Society, National Law University Odisha, is inviting registrations for the 3rd NLUO-CLS Essay Writing Competition. The competition provides students with an opportunity to critically engage with contemporary constitutional law issues and compete for cash prizes and publication opportunities.
Themes
Participants may choose one of the following themes:
Theme I: The Proportionality Test: Rights, Restriction, and Dissent in Constitutional India
Suggested Sub-Themes:
- The Threshold for Bail under the UAPA and the Presumption of Guilt
- Regulating Hate Speech in India: Doctrinal Gaps Between Free Expression and Public Order
- The Special Intensive Revision of Electoral Rolls: Verification or Disenfranchisement?
- Morality and Decency: An Unreasonable Restriction on Freedom of Speech in India?
- The Right to Protest, Civil Disobedience, and the Doctrine of Constitutional Morality
Theme II: Borrowed Constitutions: Transplant, Translation, and Transformation in Comparative Constitutionalism
Suggested Sub-Themes:
- Judicial Borrowing and the Use of Foreign Precedent by the Supreme Court of India
- Comparative Models of Federalism
- Constitutional Amendment Design
- U.S. First Amendment Jurisprudence in Indian Free Speech Cases
- Directive Principles of State Policy: Indigenous Innovation or Constitutional Transplant?
The list of sub-themes is illustrative and not exhaustive. Participants may refer to the competition brochure for additional details.
Eligibility
The competition is open to:
- Students pursuing a 3-year or 5-year LL.B. program.
- Students pursuing a 1-year or 2-year LL.M. program.
- Students pursuing any other undergraduate or postgraduate law degree from a recognized university.
Prizes
- Winner: ₹7,500
- Runner-up: ₹5,000
- Second Runner-up: ₹2,500
The top three entries will also be considered for publication on the NLUO-CLS Blog. All participants will receive certificates.
Submission Guidelines
- Manuscript must be submitted in .doc/.docx format.
- Word limit: 1,500–2,500 words (excluding abstract).
- Abstract: 50–100 words.
- The manuscript should not contain the author’s identity.
- Citations should be through hyperlinks. Where hyperlinks are unavailable, a uniform endnote format may be used.
- The submission must be original, plagiarism-free, and AI-generated content is strictly prohibited.
Formatting Guidelines
- Font: Times New Roman
- Font Size: 12
- Line Spacing: 1.5
- Alignment: Justified
Registration Fee
- Single Author: ₹300
- Co-Author: ₹500
Important Dates
| Particulars | Date |
|---|---|
| Call for Submissions | July 30, 2026 |
| Last Date for Registration | August 28, 2026 |
| Last Date for Submission | September 18, 2026 (The brochure mentions 2025, which appears to be a typographical error.) |
| Declaration of Results | October 18, 2026 |
How to Register?
After paying the applicable registration fee, participants must complete their registration through the registration form linked at the end of this post.
How to Submit?
After successful registration, participants must submit their manuscripts through the Google Form linked at the end of this post.
Contact Details
Constitutional Law Society, National Law University Odisha, Cuttack, CDA Sector 13, Cuttack, Odisha – 753015, India
- Email: editorial.cls@nluo.ac.in
- Phone: +91 85828 02714
Click here to register!
Click here to submit!
