The School of Agriculture, Law and Economics (SALE) at Rajiv Gandhi National University of Law (RGNUL), Punjab, in collaboration with Dhir & Dhir Associates, successfully organized the final rounds of the 5th National Essay Writing Competition on 11 March 2026 at the RGNUL campus. The competition was centered on the theme “Regulating the New Economy: Challenges in the Age of Technology and Sustainability.” The final round was conducted in the form of a symposium-cum-paper presentation, bringing together young scholars from across the country to deliberate on pressing issues at the intersection of technology, sustainability, and economic regulation.
The competition witnessed an enthusiastic response from students nationwide, with over 60 essay submissions received. After a rigorous evaluation process, 12 outstanding essays were shortlisted, and the respective authors were invited to the RGNUL campus to present their research in the final offline round.
The event commenced with the traditional lighting of the ceremonial lamp, followed by a Saraswati Vandana, symbolizing the pursuit of knowledge and wisdom. The formal proceedings began with an introduction to the event and the distinguished guests by the Convener of SALE, Mr. Gurmander Singh, and Ms. Harsheen Kaur Luthra.
Subsequently, Dr. Brindrpreet Kaur, Assistant Professor of Economics at RGNUL, formally introduced the theme of the conference and highlighted the significance of regulating emerging economic structures shaped by technological advancements and sustainability imperatives.
The Welcome Address was delivered by Professor (Dr.) Naresh Kumar Vats, Dean (Academics), RGNUL, who spoke about the rapidly evolving nature of global and domestic economic systems. He emphasized the transition from traditional economic models to the digital and data-driven economy, underscoring the importance of developing robust regulatory frameworks to address emerging challenges.
This was followed by an address from Professor (Dr.) Kamaljeet Kaur, Dean (Research), RGNUL, who emphasized the importance of interdisciplinary academic research in understanding and regulating the evolving new economy, particularly in areas influenced by technological innovation and sustainability-driven governance.
The event was further graced by distinguished representatives from Dhir & Dhir Associates, including Dr. Sonal Verma, Partner (ESG Team), Ms. Meghna Talwar, Partner (Disputes Team), Ms. Anshita, Senior Associate (ESG Team), and Mr. Abhijit Kashyap, Associate.
During her address, Ms. Meghna Talwar discussed the growing influence of technology in shaping contemporary legal and economic landscapes and highlighted the importance of interdisciplinary engagement in addressing regulatory challenges.
Dr. Sonal Verma, in his keynote remarks, elaborated on the increasing relevance of sustainability, responsible governance, and emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence in the modern economic framework. He emphasized the need for forward-looking regulatory approaches that balance innovation with sustainability.
Following the inaugural session, the paper presentation round commenced, where the 12 shortlisted teams presented their research papers before an expert panel of judges. The judging panel consisted of Dr. Jasleen Kewalani, Associate Professor of Sociology at RGNUL, Dr. Ankit Srivastava, Assistant Professor of Law at RGNUL, Mr. Abhijit Kashyap, Associate at Dhir & Dhir Associates, and Ms. Anshita, Senior Associate at Dhir & Dhir Associates. The panel carefully evaluated the presentations, engaged the participants through insightful questions, and deliberated extensively before selecting the winners.
After the completion of the presentations and the judges’ deliberations, four teams were recognized for their exceptional contributions. The Winner, First Runner-Up, Second Runner-Up, and Consolation Prize were awarded based on the quality of research, originality, and presentation.
The Winner received a cash prize of ₹4,000, the First Runner-Up received ₹2,000, and the Second Runner-Up received ₹1,000. Additionally, the top four teams were awarded internship opportunities with the ESG Team at Dhir & Dhir Associates. The Winner and First Runner-Up were also granted complimentary courses by Mentblue, while all participants received a 25% discount on Mentblue courses.
The organizers also acknowledged the valuable support of SSC Times, which served as the Media Partner, and Man2Do, which joined as the Knowledge Partner for the event.
The event concluded with a Vote of Thanks delivered by the Co-Conveners of SALE, Mr. Rudraksh Singh Sisodia and Mr. Alok Krishna Chaudhary, who expressed their gratitude to the distinguished guests, judges, partners, participants, and organizing team for their contributions to the successful conduct of the competition.
The program concluded on a patriotic note with the collective singing of the national song “Vande Mataram.”
The event reaffirmed SALE’s commitment to fostering academic dialogue and encouraging young scholars to critically engage with contemporary legal and economic challenges in an era defined by technological transformation and sustainability concerns.
