Essay Writing Competition 2026 - NLUO-CLS

4th NLUO-CLS Essay Writing Competition 2026 The Constitutional Law Society of National Law University Odisha, Cuttack invites submissions for the 4th

4th NLUO-CLS Essay Writing Competition 2026

The Constitutional Law Society of National Law University Odisha, Cuttack invites submissions for the 4th NLUO-CLS Essay Writing Competition 2026.

ONLINE ESSAY COMPETITION

Registration Deadline: 28 August 2026
Last date to submit the essay: 18 September 2026.

Competition Overview

Competition	4th NLUO-CLS Essay Writing Competition 2026
Organiser	Constitutional Law Society, National Law University Odisha
Mode	Online
Eligibility	Law Students and Legal Professionals
Registration Deadline	28 August 2026
Submission Deadline	18 September 2026
Maximum Prize	₹7,500 + Publication + Certificate
Essay Word Limit	1,500 – 2,500 words, excluding abstract

About NLUO

National Law University Odisha, Cuttack was established by Act 4 of 2008 by the Odisha State Legislature.

The university focuses on advancement of learning, teaching, research and diffusion of knowledge in the field of law. It also aims to cater to the needs of society by developing professional skills among those intending to pursue careers in advocacy, judicial services, legal services and related fields.

About the Essay Writing Competition

The Constitutional Law Society is delighted to announce the 4th NLUO-CLS Essay Writing Competition 2026.

The competition focuses on contemporary constitutional questions involving rights, restrictions, dissent, comparative constitutionalism, judicial borrowing and the use of foreign constitutional precedents.

Objective: The competition aims to promote thoughtful engagement with important constitutional issues and encourage innovative perspectives on pressing questions of constitutional law.

Eligibility

The competition is open to law students and legal professionals, including students pursuing the following programmes:

• Five-Year LLB programmes
• Three-Year LLB programmes
• One-Year LLM programmes
• Two-Year LLM programmes
• Any other undergraduate or postgraduate law degree from a recognised university

Essay Themes

Theme 1

“The Proportionality Test: Rights, Restriction, and Dissent in Constitutional India”

Theme 2

“Borrowed Constitutions: Transplant, Translation, and Transformation in Comparative Constitutionalism”

Suggested Sub-Themes

The competition covers diverse constitutional law issues, including:

• Threshold for bail under the UAPA
• Regulation of hate speech
• Judicial borrowing
• Comparative federalism
• Constitutional amendment design
• Use of foreign precedents in Indian constitutional jurisprudence

Note: Participants should refer to the official brochure for further details regarding the themes and suggested sub-themes.

Competition Guidelines

• Submissions must be made in DOC or DOCX format (Word 2007 or later).
• Submissions must be made through the designated Google Form.
• The file name should contain the name of the author(s).
• Example: John Davidson.docx or John Davidson, Jay David.docx
• The submission form will require the participant's name, email and contact number(s).
• Contact details used for registration should be consistent with the details provided in the submission process.
• No indication of the author's identity should appear inside the submitted manuscript.
• Any breach of the anonymity requirement may result in outright rejection of the submission.
• Manuscript word limit is 1,500–2,500 words, excluding the abstract.
• An abstract of 50–100 words must appear at the beginning of the manuscript and will not be counted within the total word limit.
• Citations should preferably be provided through hyperlinks.
• Where hyperlinks are unavailable, a uniform method of end-noting may be used.
• The essay must be free from grammatical, spelling and punctuation errors.
• The paper must be original and plagiarism-free.
• Use of AI is strictly prohibited.

Formatting Guidelines

Font	Times New Roman
Font Size	12
Line Spacing	1.5
Alignment	Justified
Abstract	50–100 words
Main Essay	1,500–2,500 words, excluding abstract

Registration Fees

NLUO Students

Single Authorship ₹250

Co-Authorship ₹400

Non-NLUO Students

Single Authorship ₹300

Co-Authorship ₹500

Prizes & Awards

Winner

₹7,500

Cash Prize
+ CLS Blog Publication*
+ Ranked Certificate

Runner Up

₹5,000

Cash Prize
+ CLS Blog Publication*
+ Ranked Certificate

Second Runner Up

₹2,500

Cash Prize
+ CLS Blog Publication*
+ Ranked Certificate

All Participants: Certificate of Participation will be provided to all participants.

*Publication in the CLS Blog is subject to incorporation of reviewer comments as specified by the organisers.

Important Dates

Last Date to Register 28 August 2026

Last Date to Submit Essay 18 September 2026

Important: Registration must be completed by 28 August 2026, while the completed essay must be submitted on or before 18 September 2026.

How to Register?

Interested participants should complete the registration process through the official Google Form and carefully follow the competition guidelines.

• Complete the registration form.
• Provide accurate name, email and contact details.
• Select single or co-authorship as applicable.
• Pay the applicable registration fee.
• Prepare the essay according to the prescribed formatting rules.
• Submit the final essay in DOC/DOCX format before 18 September 2026.

Register for NLUO-CLS Essay Competition 2026

Complete your registration through the Google Form before 28 August 2026.

REGISTER NOW DOWNLOAD BROCHURE

Please read the complete brochure carefully before registering and submitting your essay.

Contact Details

Constitutional Law Society, NLUO

Email: editorial.cls@nluo.ac.in

Quick Summary

Competition	4th NLUO-CLS Essay Writing Competition 2026
Organiser	Constitutional Law Society, NLUO
Mode	Online
Registration Deadline	28 August 2026
Submission Deadline	18 September 2026
Top Prize	₹7,500
Essay Length	1,500–2,500 words + 50–100 word abstract
Contact	editorial.cls@nluo.ac.in

Disclaimer

The information provided in this post is based on the competition details supplied for the 4th NLUO-CLS Essay Writing Competition 2026. Participants should carefully verify the latest eligibility criteria, registration fee, submission requirements, formatting rules, deadlines, prizes and other conditions from the official brochure before registering or submitting their essay.