The NLIU-IALR Arbitral Award Drafting and Presentation Competition is an initiative of the Indian Arbitration Law Review (IALR) at NLIU Bhopal, aimed at honing practical skills in drafting arbitral awards and oral advocacy in arbitration disputes. The second edition will occur physically at the NLIU campus on 24-25 January 2026, in collaboration with Shardul Amarchand Mangaldas & Co.
About NLIU Bhopal
Established in 1997 by the Madhya Pradesh State Legislature, the National Law Institute University (NLIU) Bhopal is India’s second National Law University. It offers UG, PG, and doctoral programs recognized by the Bar Council of India and UGC, emphasizing interdisciplinary legal education, research, and journals.
About IALR
The Indian Arbitration Law Review (IALR), a student-run annual journal from NLIU Bhopal since 2018, focuses exclusively on arbitration law. Published by Eastern Book Company (EBC) and indexed on SCC Online and HeinOnline, it features articles, case comments, and book reviews for professionals and students.
Competition Format
The event unfolds in two phases centered on a construction arbitration problem drafted by experts from Shardul Amarchand Mangaldas.
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Phase I (Online — Award Submission): Teams draft and submit an arbitral award after the problem statement release; top 15-20 teams qualify based on scoring.
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Phase II (Offline — Award Presentation): Shortlisted teams present drafts in elimination rounds, advance top 4 to semi final rounds and top 2 to final rounds, with judging on content, reasoning, and Q&A responses. Includes a panel discussion on arbitration themes. Detailed rules accompany the case record.
Eligibility
Open to students in 5-year integrated LL.B., 3-year LL.B., or LLM programs from recognized law schools, universities, or institutions in India or abroad.
Important Dates
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Registration Closing: 31 December 2025
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Submission Deadline: 07 January 2026
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Qualifying Teams Announcement: 10 January 2026
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Offline Rounds at NLIU: 24-25 January 2026
Awards & Recognition
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First Prize: Rs. 55,000 cash + Free Manupatra Academy course + Internship at Shardul Amarchand Mangaldas
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Second Prize: Rs. 35,000 cash + 75% discount on Manupatra Academy course + Internship at Shardul Amarchand Mangaldas
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Third Prize: Rs. 25,000 cash + 50% discount on Manupatra Academy course
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Best Draft & Best Presenter: Rs. 10,000 each
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Additional perks: Publication of top 4 submissions on IALR website, merit certificates for Phase II teams, participation certificates for all.
Registration Details
Register via Google Form (Phase 1: Individual INR 550 / Team INR 800); Phase 2 offline includes meals/accommodation (Individual Rs. 5500 / Team Rs. 8000). The problem can be found herein.
Payment link: https://ums.nliu.ac.in/AccSoft/NLIUMiscellaneousPayment.aspx.
Registration: https://forms.gle/qrB5UfALW9YNAT56
Contacts
Akhila Hebbar (Editor-in-Chief, +91 63661 64006),
Divyank Dewan (Managing Editor, +91 98188 13438)
Email ID: ialr@nliu.ac.in
To know more click on IALR_Brochure, Final_IALR_Problem and IALR_Rulebook