2nd IDIA – NLIU CBCL National Essay Writing Competition [Cash Prizes Rs 60K]: Register by May 31

About Increasing Diversity by Increasing Access

Increasing Diversity by Increasing Access (IDIA) is a non-profit organisation that aims to empower underprivileged and marginalized children by giving them access to quality legal education, in a bid to enhance the diversity in law schools across India.

To this end, IDIA sensitizes students from across the country to pursue law as a career option; selects underprivileged and marginalized students with an aptitude for law; trains them, and provides scholarships to the students on gaining admission to law schools. Conceptualized in 2010 as the brainchild of Late Prof. (Dr.) Shamnad Basheer, IDIA has since expanded to over 1000 volunteers across 20+ states.

About National Law Institute University (NLIU), Bhopal

National Law Institute University (NLIU), Bhopal, established in 1997, is a premier public law school ranked among India’s top National Law Universities (27th in NIRF 2025). Located on Kerwa Dam Road, it offers elite, merit-based legal education, featuring flagship B.A. LLB (Hons.) and B.Sc. LLB (Hons.) programs with strong placement records in corporate law.

About Centre for Business & Commercial Laws

Established in 2008 as a Centre of Excellence, the Centre for Business & Commercial Laws (CBCL) at National Law Institute University (NLIU), Bhopal, is a distinguished academic activity hub dedicated to fostering scholarship and professional engagement in regards to business and corporate law, which is chaired by Prof. (Dr.) Ghayur Alam, a seasoned legal scholar and the Senior Professor of Business Laws and Intellectual Property Rights at NLIU.

CBCL functions under adept leadership and is known for its multifaceted initiatives, including The CBCL Blog one of India’s oldest corporate law blogs; the NLIU Trilegal Summit on Corporate & Commercial Laws, a prestigious annual research summit culminating in a Summit Book; the peer-reviewed NLIU Journal of Business Laws; as well as certificate courses and workshops in collaboration with leading law firms and legal experts.

About the Competition

The “2nd IDIA – NLIU CBCL National Essay Writing Competition” offers a platform for legal scholars to address contemporary legal issues and contribute to social empowerment. It is organized by IDIA MP Chapter and NLIU CBCL, and sponsored by S&R Associates. The competition aims to promote diversity in thought and intellectual discourse, with the opportunity to contribute to IDIA’s vision. Further, the Competition offers more than just monetary incentives, with the NLIU CBCL providing a platform for legal enlightenment and academic discourse.

Important Dates

• 27 January 2026: Registration Open
• 31 May 2026: Registration Closed
• 07 August 2026: Deadline for submission of Manuscript
• 31 August 2026: Declaration of the Result

Eligibility

• Students currently pursuing LL.B./ LL.B.(Hons)/ LLM/ Ph.D. from a recognised university, and working professionals in the field of law are eligible to participate.
• Individual participation as well as co-authorship (up to two authors) is allowed. 

Awards

• Winner(s): Cash prize of INR 25,000/- along with an internship with S&R Associates (for Law Students) and publication of the manuscript in the NLIU CBCL Blog, subject to compliance with submission guidelines.
• 1st Runner(s)-up: Cash prize of INR 20,000/- and publication of the manuscript in the NLIU CBCL Blog, subject to compliance with submission guidelines.
• 2nd Runner(s)-up: Cash prize of INR 15,000/- and publication of the manuscript in the NLIU CBCL Blog, subject to compliance with submission guidelines.
• Certificate of Merit shall be awarded to the Top 10 manuscripts.
• All participants shall be presented with the Certificate of Participation.

Registration

• Fee for single authored entries: INR 300/-
• Fee for co-authored entries: INR 500/- (Co-authorship, up to two authors are allowed)
• In order to keep the event inclusive and accessible, a nominal registration fee of INR 100/- is applicable for authors who are IDIA Scholars, CAN Foundation Scholars, or persons belonging to the PwD category.

Note: All registration proceeds will go towards supporting IDIA’s mission of making quality legal education accessible to underprivileged and marginalized students.

Registration Procedure

Click Here To Register.

For any queries or clarifications, feel free to reach out to:

• Mohit Jain: (Fundraising Team Head, IDIA MP Chapter): +91 7999913552
• Siddhi Mishra: (Fundraising Team Co-Head, IDIA MP Chapter): +91 7073889778
• Email: [email protected]

Contact Details

• Loveneesh Dhakad: (Team Leader, IDIA MP Chapter): +91 72249 46506
• Ayush Agarwal: (Co-Team Leader, IDIA MP Chapter): +91 70679 98810
• Gungun Anand: (Convenor, CBCL): +91 60064 84658
• Purava Rathi: (Co-Convenor, CBCL): +91 86918 21369

The brochure is here.