About the Organisers
The Rajiv Gandhi Foundation (RGF) was established on June 21, 1991, to realise the vision of Shri Rajiv Gandhi for a modern, secular, and progressive India. Over the years, the Foundation has worked in the areas of education, health, science and technology, women’s and children’s development, disability support, natural resource management, and rural development. It is currently chaired by Sonia Gandhi.
The Rajiv Gandhi Study Circle (RGSC) is a national-level trust established in 2005. It promotes academic engagement, civic responsibility, and progressive thinking among students and academicians through dialogue, mentorship, and research.
About the Competition
The National Case Study Competition on “Hara Bhara Swaraj – Rise & Act: Resilient Initiatives for Social, Environmental & Community Action” is being organised to commemorate the 82nd birth anniversary of Shri Rajiv Gandhi.
The competition encourages students and young researchers to document community-led environmental initiatives or propose practical, community-based solutions to unresolved environmental and social challenges.
Selected authors will have the opportunity to present their papers during the One-Day Conference to be held on August 20, 2026, at Jawahar Bhawan, New Delhi.
Eligibility
The competition is open to all undergraduate, postgraduate, and Ph.D. students studying at recognised colleges and universities across India.
Format
Participants may submit individually or in teams of up to two members.
Submissions may be based on either
- A case study of a local environmental or social issue successfully addressed through community efforts; or
- A research-based proposal offering practical solutions to a local issue that still requires intervention.
Themes
Participants may submit papers on environmental and community action initiatives from any part of India. Papers may focus on successful community-led interventions or propose solutions based on community participation, government initiatives, or a combination of both.
Sub-Themes
Submissions may cover, among others:
- Water conservation and management
- Waste management and recycling
- River, lake, and pond restoration
- Community afforestation
- Pollution mitigation
- Climate change adaptation
- Sustainable agriculture
- Plastic-free campaigns
- Community health and sanitation
- Local governance and public participation
- Youth-led environmental movements
- Renewable energy at the community level
- Deforestation
- Gender, climate, and environment
Submission Guidelines
- Manuscripts must be original and based on empirical case study research or working papers.
- Papers must be 4,000–5,000 words in length.
- Submissions must be in English or Hindi.
- Formatting:
- Times New Roman
- 12 pt font
- 1.5 line spacing
- Papers must follow APA 7th Edition citation style.
- A plagiarism report showing less than 12% similarity must be submitted.
- An AI usage report showing less than 30% AI usage must be submitted.
- Papers should include photographs, interviews, media references, or field observations, wherever applicable.
- A declaration certifying originality, absence of plagiarism, and disclosure of any conflict of interest must accompany the submission.
Papers must be submitted via email to rajivgandhistudycircledelhi@gmail.com.
How to Register?
Check the registration dates at the end of the post.
Judging Criteria
Entries will be evaluated on:
- Originality and relevance
- Depth of research and participation
- Practicality and sustainability of the proposed solution
- Community participation and impact
- Clarity of analysis and presentation
Awards
The competition offers a total prize pool of Rs. 1.35 lakh, including:
- First Prize: Rs. 50,000
- Second Prize: Rs. 30,000
- Third Prize: Rs. 20,000
- Seven Consolation Prizes: Rs. 5,000 each
- Fifteen Best Questioner Awards: Rs. 1,000 each
- All eligible participants will receive certificates of participation and a conference kit.
- The Top 20 selected case studies will be invited to present their work during the conference, out of which the Top 10 will be shortlisted for the final awards.
Selected papers may also be considered for publication and policy outreach initiatives.
Important Dates
- Abstract Submission Deadline: August 4, 2026
- Full Paper Submission Deadline: August 10, 2026
- One-Day Conference: August 20, 2026
Registration
There is no registration fee.
Interested participants may register through the link provided at the end of this post.
Venue
Jawahar Bhawan, Dr Rajendra Prasad Road, Opposite Shastri Bhawan, Windsor Place, New Delhi.
Contact Details
For queries, participants may contact:
- Shaijal Gupta: +91 95540 19993
- Alam (Law Centre II, Faculty of Law, University of Delhi): +91 91428 72894
- Rani Singh: +91 80766 22418
Click here to register!
