About NLU Odisha
LexTech, NLU Odisha in collaboration with Shardul Amarchand Mangaldas & Co. invites registrations for the LEXATHON 2026 Paper Presentation Competition on Law, Technology and Governance in the Digital Era.
National Law University Odisha (NLUO) combines academic rigor with a flexible, idea-driven curriculum to prepare students for professional excellence. By blending expert instruction with a focus on emotional intelligence and leadership, the university ensures a well-rounded educational experience. Beyond academics, a vibrant culture of co-curricular activities fosters holistic growth, shaping graduates into versatile leaders in the legal field.
About LexTech
LexTech, the Centre for Law, Entrepreneurship, and Innovation, specializes in the intersection of law and emerging technology, focusing on high-growth areas such as AI, FinTech, and Data Privacy. Through initiatives such as the Lexathon conclave, specialized credit courses, and monthly newsletters, the Centre actively bridges the gap between traditional legal frameworks and modern technological advancements.
Beyond research, LexTech fosters industry engagement through its premier talk show, “Tech Tales: From Code to Courtroom,” which connects students with leading experts and real-world insights. By promoting interdisciplinary collaboration, the Centre catalyzes a more inclusive and tech-adept legal future, solidifying its position as a pioneer in this niche field.
About the event
As a cornerstone of the Lexathon Conclave, this Paper Presentation competition invites participants to conduct in-depth research at the intersection of law, technology, and the startup ecosystem. The event focuses on critical contemporary issues such as FinTech, AI, Data Privacy, and TMT, encouraging thinkers to propose innovative legal frameworks for a rapidly evolving digital world. We are honored to host this competition in collaboration with Shardul Amarchand Mangaldas & Co.
The competition involves a stringent review process, culminating in a final presentation at the NLU Odisha campus on 07 March 2026. The authors of the top eight papers will be invited to present their findings before a panel of esteemed judges, providing a premier platform to showcase academic excellence and influence the future of tech-law jurisprudence.
Eligibility
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Open to undergraduate and postgraduate students from the field of law.
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Participants may register individually or as a team of maximum 2 (two) authors.
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Cross-institutional teams are allowed.
Theme
The theme for the Paper Presentation Competition is ‘Law, Technology and Governance in the Digital Era‘.
Under this, the sub-themes that the participants are encouraged to explore are:
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Analysing the MeitY’s AI Governance Guidelines and the efficacy of a non-legislative framework.
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Evaluating India’s Data Protection regime and its interaction with sectoral and identity-based data regulation.
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Examining the Data Protection regime in light of the booming Financial Services sector.
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India’s approach to regulating VDAs and Cryptocurrencies in a growing digital financial ecosystem.
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Authorship, Infringement, and Liability in the age of unregulated Generative Al and the boundaries of protected data.
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Evaluating India’s liberalised FDI Policy and IN-SPACe framework in light of the global commercial space race.
It should be noted that these subthemes are merely suggestive, and all participants are encouraged to explore novel ideas under the broad theme.
Awards
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Publication: Top five papers will be published in SCC Times
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Winner: Rs. 15,000 along with an internship at Shardul Amarchand Mangaldas & Co.
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First Runner Up: Rs. 10,000
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Second Runner Up: Rs. 5,000
Structure of the Competition
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Paper Submission Round: Participants shall submit a paper based on the themes suggested above.
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Review Process: After receiving the submissions, our team shall screen the entries for AI and plagiarism. After the disqualification of entries, the remaining entries shall be sent for review. Our law firm partner shall select the top 8 entries for presentation.
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Presentation Round: The selected participants will be invited to present their papers before an expert panel. Each team will be given 20 minutes for their presentation, including the Q&A session by the panel of judges.
Formatting Guidelines
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Main Text:
○ Font: Times New Roman
○ Font Size: 12
○ Line Spacing: 1.5
○ Margin: 1 inch on all sides
○ Alignment: Justified
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Footnotes:
○ Font: Times New Roman
○ Font Size: 10
○ Line Spacing: 1
○ Alignment: Justified
Submission Guidelines
The following guidelines must be kept in mind during submission:
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The paper must be an original and unpublished work that is not under review on any other platform and must be written in English.
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The permissible similarity and AI percentage is 15%.
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Disclosure of information concerning the identity of the author(s), including, but not limited to, name, institutional affiliation, professional details, etc., within the body of the manuscript or properties of the document submitted is strictly prohibited.
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Submissions are invited exclusively for manuscripts with a word count of 3000-3500 words. The word count is exclusive of footnotes and the abstract.
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An abstract of 200-250 words must be submitted along with the full paper, providing a concise summary of the key arguments and findings of the author.
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All other rules and regulations are attached below; all participants are requested toadhere to the rules.
Timeline
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8th February, 2026: Registration Closes
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12th February, 2026:Submission of Paper
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24th February, 2026:Release of Results for Top 8
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7th March, 2026: Date of Presentation
CLICK HERE FOR PAYMENT INSTRUCTION, RULEBOOK AND BROCHURE
Contact Information:
For any queries, please contact lextech@nluo.ac.in.