Oriental University Announces National Moot on AI, Environmental, and Constitutional Law

INDORE – The Faculty of Law at Oriental University, Indore, has officially announced its flagship annual event, the 3rd Dr. K. L. Thakral Memorial Moot Court Competition for the 2025-26 academic year. The national-level competition invites law students from across India to engage with some of the most pressing and complex legal issues of our time, focusing on the intersection of Constitutional Law, Environmental Law, and the rapidly evolving fields of Cyber and Artificial Intelligence (AI) Law.

The competition is designed to be a premier platform for aspiring legal professionals to hone critical skills essential for a successful career in law. According to the university's announcement, the event is "aimed at nurturing advocacy, research, and drafting skills among law students." By simulating a courtroom environment, the competition provides a practical, hands-on experience that bridges the gap between academic theory and real-world legal practice.

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A Spotlight on Evolving Jurisprudence

The selection of themes for this year's competition is particularly noteworthy for legal professionals and academics. The organizers have chosen to focus on "contemporary issues in Constitutional Law, Environmental law and Cyber/AI Law, encouraging participants to explore evolving jurisprudence." This thematic trifecta reflects the shifting landscape of the legal profession, where traditional principles are constantly being challenged and redefined by technological advancements and pressing global concerns.

• Constitutional Law: As the bedrock of India's legal system, constitutional law remains a perennial and vital area of study. Moot problems in this domain often require students to grapple with fundamental rights, separation of powers, and the dynamic interpretation of the constitution in light of contemporary social and political issues.

• Environmental Law: With climate change and environmental degradation becoming central global challenges, this field of law has grown exponentially in importance. Participants will likely tackle complex issues involving environmental regulations, corporate liability, sustainable development, and the constitutional right to a clean environment.

• Cyber & AI Law: Perhaps the most forward-looking theme, the inclusion of Cyber and AI law signals a recognition of the urgent need for legal frameworks to govern the digital world. Students will be challenged to apply established legal principles to novel situations involving data privacy, AI ethics, liability of autonomous systems, and cybercrime, areas where jurisprudence is still in its nascent stages.

The competition's focus on these cutting-edge topics ensures that the next generation of lawyers is not only well-versed in established legal doctrine but also prepared to navigate the legal frontiers of the future.

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Competition Structure and Key Dates

The 3rd Dr. K. L. Thakral Memorial Moot Court Competition will be conducted in a hybrid format, combining online preliminary rounds with on-campus final stages, making it accessible to a wider range of participants. The detailed schedule provides a clear roadmap for participating teams:

• Release of Moot Proposition: 1st September 2025
• Last Date of Registration: 5th October 2025
• Memorial Submission (Soft Copy): 10th October 2025
• Researcher's Test & Preliminary Rounds (Online): 14th & 15th October 2025
• Quarter-Finals, Semi-Finals & Finals (On-Campus): 30th & 31st October 2025

The structure, which includes a dedicated Researcher's Test, underscores the organizers' commitment to rewarding thorough and rigorous legal research—a cornerstone of effective advocacy. The competition culminates in an on-campus event in Indore, where the qualifying teams will present their oral arguments before panels of esteemed judges.

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Eligibility, Registration, and Awards

The competition is open to all students pursuing 3-year or 5-year LL.B. programs, as well as LL.M. students, from any university or institution recognized in India. This broad eligibility ensures a diverse and highly competitive pool of participants.

Teams can register via an official Google Form, with fees set at ₹3000 per team without accommodation and ₹4500 with accommodation.

To incentivize excellence, the competition offers a substantial prize pool totaling ₹65,000, along with trophies and certificates. The breakdown is as follows:

• Winner: ₹30,000
• Runner-Up: ₹20,000
• Best Memorial: ₹5,000
• Best Speaker: ₹5,000
• Best Researcher: ₹5,000

In addition to the specific awards, all participants will receive certificates of participation, recognizing their engagement in this high-level academic exercise.

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The Enduring Value of Mooting in Legal Education

For the legal community, events like the Dr. K. L. Thakral Memorial Moot Court Competition are more than just student activities; they are vital training grounds for future litigators, judges, and legal scholars. They compel students to move beyond rote learning and engage in deep analysis, persuasive writing, and articulate public speaking.

The emphasis on research and memorial drafting teaches students how to construct logical, well-supported legal arguments, while the oral advocacy rounds build courtroom presence, confidence, and the ability to think critically under pressure. By tackling complex problems in emerging areas like AI law, these competitions also contribute to the broader academic discourse, encouraging fresh perspectives on how the law should adapt to a changing world.

Law firms and senior practitioners often look to performance in such national-level competitions as a key indicator of a candidate's potential, making this an invaluable opportunity for students to distinguish themselves.

Interested teams are encouraged to review the official brochure and complete their registration before the 5th October 2025 deadline.

For further details, prospective participants can contact the Faculty Coordinator, Ms. Poorva Vaishnav, or the Student Coordinator, Ms. Aashika Jadon, at mootcourt@orientaluniversity.in .