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NLU Jodhpur Centre for Family Law Announces Essay Competition on
The has officially unveiled the first edition of its inter-college essay writing competition, inviting students to explore the critical intersection of legal systems with and . The competition, set to run through September 2026, aims to foster rigorous academic dialogue on issues that lie at the heart of contemporary family law discourse.
A Platform for Emerging Scholars
Established in 2023, the Centre for Family Law has quickly become a hub for progressive conversations on
,
, and evolving family structures. Under the leadership of Executive Director Ms. Preeti Badola, the Centre has organized discussions on
and the
. This essay competition marks its latest initiative to engage students in thoughtful, research-driven writing. The competition theme—
"
&
"
—encourages participants to critically examine legal, constitutional, and policy dimensions through an interdisciplinary lens.
Indicative Sub-Themes and Scholarly Scope
While participants are free to choose any topic within the broad theme, the Centre has provided indicative sub-themes to guide submissions. These include as a question of reproductive choice and state control, and , and the , maternal health and post-partum care, and as an infringement on . The Centre emphasizes that these are merely starting points, and interdisciplinary approaches are warmly welcomed.
Registration, Submission, and Review Process
Interested students must register by , with submissions due by . A nominal fee of ₹300 for single-author entries and ₹600 for co-authored submissions (up to two authors) applies. The competition enforces strict anonymity and originality requirements: submissions exceeding a 15% plagiarism threshold or showing detectable use of generative AI will be disqualified. Submissions must be between 2,500 and 3,000 words, formatted in Garamond font with OSCOLA-style footnoting.
The review process unfolds in three stages. First, a technical screening checks compliance with guidelines. Next, the Editorial Board of the evaluates entries on originality, research quality, depth of analysis, and coherence. The top ten entries then advance to a final round judged by an independent panel of NLU Jodhpur faculty experts, including Dr. Asha Bhandari (Gender Studies), Dr. Sayantani Bagchi (Constitutional Law), and Dr. Rashmi Mathur (Modern Feminism and Intersectionality).
Awards and Recognition
The competition offers substantial incentives for scholarly excellence. The first-place winner will receive a cash prize of ₹5,000, a certificate of achievement, and publication in the Centre’s flagship blog, the . Second and third positions carry prizes of ₹3,000 and ₹2,000, respectively, along with publication opportunities. Additionally, Knowledge Partner will award complimentary one-year subscriptions to its AI Pro platform to the top three authors. Certificates of merit will be given to all shortlisted entries, and participation certificates will be issued to every eligible entrant who completes the review process.
A Call for Meaningful Engagement
In a landscape where family law is increasingly intersecting with and , this competition provides a timely platform for students to contribute to the ongoing legal conversation. As Ms. Preeti Badola noted, the Centre looks forward to fostering “meaningful discussions on , , and the evolving contours of family law.” With cash prizes totalling ₹10,000, publication avenues, and AI research tools at stake, the CFL-NLUJ Essay Writing Competition 2026 promises to be a significant event for legal scholarship in India.
For further details, prospective participants can reach the Centre at familylawcentre@nlujodhpur.ac.in or contact student coordinators Mr. Leela Krishna Reddy and Ms. Saachi Minocha. The registration link and payment portal are available on the Centre’s official website.
