1st International Article Writing Competition 2026 by DPIIT-IPR Chair, NLUJAA in collaboration with The LawCademy

For law students with an interest in Intellectual Property, this competition offers a rare combination of academic recognition, publication opportunity, and cash prizes — all through a single article submission. Writing for a nationally organised, internationally open competition hosted by an NLU is a meaningful credential that signals both substantive knowledge and the ability to produce research-quality work.

The publication opportunity is perhaps the most significant draw. Having your article published in the NLUJAA Journal of Intellectual Property — a blind peer-reviewed, ISSN-registered journal — adds genuine weight to your academic and professional profile, whether you are targeting clerkships, academic roles, law firm positions, or postgraduate admissions. Even participants outside the top 10 receive a Certificate of Participation, which documents your engagement with contemporary IP scholarship.

Beyond the credentials, the process of researching and writing a focused 1,500–2,500 word article on a live IP issue sharpens skills that matter throughout a legal career: legal analysis, structured argumentation, citation discipline, and the ability to engage with interdisciplinary material. The attached workshop at the time of result declaration adds a learning and networking dimension that extends the value of participation beyond the competition itself.

This competition is notably broad in its eligibility, welcoming participants from multiple disciplines and career stages. The following categories are eligible to apply:

• Undergraduate and Postgraduate Students from disciplines including Law, Technology, Economics, and Social Sciences
• Research Scholars (pursuing doctoral or similar research programmes)
• Academicians and Researchers
• Legal Professionals and Industry Experts
• Policymakers and Regulatory Authorities
• International Participants interested in Intellectual Property and related legal issues

There is no restriction on the institution type or nationality of the applicant — both Indian and international participants are welcome. The competition accepts both single-author and co-authored submissions, with a maximum of two authors per submission. There is no mention of a restriction on the number of submissions per participant, but it is advisable to confirm this with the organisers directly.

Note that registration fees vary depending on the applicant's category and whether the submission is single-authored or co-authored — so ensure you select the correct category at the time of registration.

A well-prepared submission can make the difference between a commendable effort and a top-10 placement. Here is how to approach the competition strategically:

• Choose your sub-theme carefully: Pick a topic where you can bring genuine depth and a fresh perspective. Broad or descriptive treatments of well-covered topics rarely stand out. Look for an angle that is analytically distinct — a gap in existing legal frameworks, a comparative dimension, or a novel application of established principles.
• Prioritise legal analysis over description: Evaluation criteria explicitly include the quality of legal analysis. Avoid spending too much of your word count explaining what the law is — spend it on what the law means, where it falls short, and what should change.
• Follow the OSCOLA 4th Edition citation style precisely: Incorrect or inconsistent citation is a common reason submissions are marked down. Use a reliable OSCOLA guide and cross-check every footnote before submitting.
• Keep your plagiarism well below 10%: The UGC norm of 10% is the ceiling, not a target. Run your draft through a plagiarism checker early, and paraphrase or properly attribute any borrowed material. Block quotes, even if cited, can inflate your similarity score.
• Write for a global audience: This is an international competition. If your article focuses on Indian law, contextualise it comparatively or explain its broader relevance. Avoid assuming the reader is familiar with Indian statutory or case law without adequate explanation.
• Respect the word limit: Submissions must be between 1,500 and 2,500 words. Going significantly over or under this range may affect your evaluation. Be precise and edit ruthlessly.
• Start early: The submission window runs from 20 May to 20 July 2026 — nearly two months. Use the full window. A first draft written in haste and submitted the day before the deadline will almost always be weaker than a piece written, reviewed, and revised over several weeks.