National Essay Writing Competition by Kautilya Society, NUSRL

About Kautilya Society, NUSRL Ranchi

The Kautilya Society is a student-led initiative established through a collaboration 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 policymaking by promoting research, policy dialogue, and reform-oriented public discourse.

About the Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR)

The Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR) is a non-governmental organisation established in 1999 by professors from the Indian Institute of Management (IIM), Ahmedabad. ADR works towards promoting electoral transparency, democratic accountability, and political reforms through research, advocacy, election watch programmes, and voter awareness initiatives.

About the Competition

Kautilya Society, NUSRL Ranchi, in collaboration with the Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR), invites submissions for the First Edition of the National Essay Writing Competition on the theme

“Governance, Democracy & Constitutional Vision – India @2047.”

The competition aims to encourage legal and policy scholarship on issues relating to democratic governance, constitutional values, electoral reforms, regulatory accountability, and India’s evolving role in the global democratic order.

Theme

Governance, Democracy & Constitutional Vision – India @2047

• Indicative Sub-Themes
• Constitutional Governance and the Democratic Rule of Law
• Electoral Reforms: Towards Greater Transparency and Accountability
• Federalism and Inter-Governmental Relations in a Changing India
• Regulatory Quality and Evidence-Based Policy Making
• India’s Democratic Rise: Geopolitics, Soft Power, and Global Governance
• Criminalisation of Politics: Challenges and Legal Remedies
• Political Finance and Campaign Finance Reforms
• Digital Democracy: Technology, Misinformation, and Electoral Integrity
• Social Justice, Representation, and Inclusive Governance
• Judicial Independence and the Quality of Constitutional Adjudication

Participants may also submit essays on any original topic that falls within the broader theme.

Eligibility

The competition is open to:

• Students
• Practicing advocates
• Academicians
• Researchers
• Professionals working in law, public policy, governance, and allied disciplines

Only individual submissions are permitted, and each participant may submit only one essay.

Submission Guidelines

• Essays must be written in English.
• Word limit: 3,000–5,000 words (inclusive of references).
• The title should not exceed 12 words.
• Font: Times New Roman, Size 12, 1.5 line spacing, justified alignment, and 1-inch margins.
• Essays must be original and unpublished.
• Author details must not appear anywhere in the manuscript to ensure blind review.
• Plagiarism must be below 15%.
• AI-generated content must not exceed 10%.
• Referencing must follow OSCOLA 5th Edition using endnotes.
• The manuscript must be submitted in .docx format.
• Non-compliance with the submission guidelines may lead to rejection.

Registration Fee

The registration fee is ₹200 per participant (non-refundable).

Registration Process

Interested participants are required to complete their registration through the official registration form by July 31, 2026, and upload the payment receipt along with the required details.

Upon successful registration, participants will receive access to the official essay submission form.

How to Register?

Check the registration process at the end of the post.

Awards

• Winner: ₹5,000 + Certificate of Merit
• First Runner-Up: ₹3,000 + Certificate of Merit
• Meritorious Entries: ₹2,000 + Certificate of Merit
• Top 10 Entries: Publication in an Edited Book (ISBN) + Certificate of Merit
• Two Special Articles: Publication on the ADR Blog

Important Dates

Contact Details

For any queries, write to kautilyasociety@nusrlranchi.ac.in.

Click here to register!

Click here to submit your essay!