I. Introduction
The 1st National Trial Advocacy Competition, 2026, organised by Think India in collaboration with National Law University Delhi, was held on 8 and 9 August 2026 at the National Law University Delhi campus.
The inaugural edition of the competition brought together 22 teams comprising 88 participants from reputed law schools, National Law Universities and other prominent legal institutions from across India. The competition was conceived as an initiative to provide law students with meaningful exposure to the practical dimensions of trial advocacy and courtroom proceedings.
Unlike conventional academic exercises, trial advocacy requires participants to integrate legal research, factual analysis, witness handling, courtroom etiquette, strategic thinking and oral advocacy. The competition was accordingly designed to provide participants with a simulated courtroom environment in which they could put their legal knowledge into practice and develop the skills required for effective advocacy.
The competition also sought to strengthen the connection between legal education and professional courtroom practice by bringing students before experienced advocates, senior members of the Bar, Deputy Advocate Generals, Advocates-on-Record and legal academics.
The two-day event comprised two Preliminary Rounds, Quarter-Finals, Semi-Finals and the Final Round, culminating in a Valedictory Ceremony attended by distinguished personalities from the judiciary, legal academia and public life.
II. Event at a Glance
Day 1 — 08 August 2026
The first day of the competition was marked by a combination of formal inauguration and intense courtroom advocacy. The first day provided participants with an opportunity to experience the competition environment, interact with members of the legal fraternity and test their advocacy skills under competitive courtroom conditions. The progression from 22 participating teams to the top 10 Quarter-Finalists established the competitive foundation for the second day.
III. Inaugural Ceremony
The competition commenced on 8 August 2026 with the Inaugural Ceremony at the campus of National Law University Delhi.
The ceremony brought together participating students, members of the organising team, faculty members, legal professionals and distinguished guests. The presence of eminent personalities from the judiciary, legal academia and the Think India fraternity provided a significant beginning to the inaugural edition.
The ceremony was graced by:
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Hon’ble Mr. Justice Ashok Bhushan — Former Judge, Supreme Court of India
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Sr. Prof. (Dr.) G.S. Bajpai — Vice Chancellor, National Law University Delhi
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Prof. (Dr.) Risham Garg — Registrar, National Law University Delhi
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Mr. Prince Pawaiya — Founder & Director, Samanjasya ADR-ODR Institution
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Mr. Vijjual Mangat Pundir — National Convenor, Think India
The presence of Hon’ble Mr. Justice Ashok Bhushan, former Judge of the Supreme Court of India, added particular significance to the inauguration and reflected the importance of experiential legal education and courtroom training.
The inaugural proceedings set the tone for the competition by emphasising the importance of advocacy, professional competence and practical engagement with the law.
IV. Preliminary Rounds
Following the inaugural proceedings, the participating teams proceeded to the two Preliminary Rounds.
A total of 22 teams participated in the preliminary stage. The teams were assessed on their ability to effectively present their cases and demonstrate the essential skills associated with trial advocacy.
The rounds witnessed active engagement between the participants and adjudicators. The teams were required to present their cases before panels of advocates who evaluated their advocacy skills and overall courtroom performance.
The Preliminary Rounds were adjudicated by 22 members of the legal fraternity. The Preliminary Rounds served as the first major test of the participants’ courtroom preparedness and advocacy abilities.
V. Quarter-Final Rounds
After completion of the Preliminary Rounds, the top 10 teams progressed to the Quarter-Finals.
The Quarter-Final stage represented a significant progression in the competition, as the number of competing teams was narrowed down and the level of advocacy became increasingly demanding.
The Quarter-Final rounds were conducted before three-member benches, giving participants the opportunity to present their cases before multiple adjudicators with varied professional experience.
The Quarter-Final adjudication panel comprised advocates, Advocates-on-Record of the Supreme Court of India and other experienced legal professionals. The Quarter-Finals brought the proceedings of the first day to a close, with the qualifying teams preparing to compete for a place in the Final.
DAY 2 — 09 AUGUST 2026
VI. Semi-Final Rounds
The second day commenced with the Semi-Final Rounds.
At this stage, the competition had reached its most advanced phase, with the remaining teams competing for the opportunity to appear in the Final Round.
The Semi-Finals were adjudicated by a distinguished panel comprising senior members of the legal profession and academia:
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DAG Veer Vikrant Singh — Deputy Advocate General
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Sr. Adv. Monika Gussain — Senior Advocate
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Sr. Adv. Sandeep Mahapatra — Senior Advocate
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Prof. (Dr.) Niraj Kumar — Professor / Legal Academic
The Semi-Final proceedings placed particular emphasis on the ability of the participants to present their case in a coherent and persuasive manner while responding effectively to questions from the adjudicators.
The participants demonstrated their preparation, courtroom confidence and understanding of the legal and factual dimensions of their respective cases.
Following the Semi-Final rounds, two teams emerged as finalists.
VII. The Final Round
The Final Round represented the culmination of the competitive proceedings of the 1st National Trial Advocacy Competition, 2026.
The finalists appeared before a distinguished panel comprising:
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Mr. Anil Mehta — Senior Standing Counsel
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Mr. Shridhar Pottaraju — Senior Advocate
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Mr. Balbir Singh — Senior Advocate
The Final Round brought together the two strongest teams of the competition and provided them with the opportunity to demonstrate the advocacy skills they had developed throughout the preceding rounds.
The courtroom proceedings reflected the demanding nature of trial advocacy, requiring the finalists to combine preparation, legal reasoning, factual analysis and effective oral presentation.
The Final Round served not only as the culmination of the competitive process but also as an important learning experience for the participating students, who had the opportunity to present before experienced members of the legal profession.
VIII. Valedictory Ceremony
Following the conclusion of the Final Round, the competition proceeded towards its Valedictory Ceremony.
The ceremony marked the culmination of two days of rigorous courtroom advocacy, academic engagement and practical learning.
The Chief Guest for the occasion was:
Smt. Rekha Gupta
Hon’ble Chief Minister, National Capital Territory of Delhi
The ceremony was also attended by:
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Shri Ashish Chauhan — National Organising Secretary, Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad
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Sr. Prof. (Dr.) G.S. Bajpai — Senior Professor & Vice Chancellor, National Law University Delhi
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Prof. (Dr.) Risham Garg — Professor of Law & Registrar, National Law University Delhi
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Shri Vipin Uniyal — State Organising Secretary, ABVP Delhi
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Ms. Maloti — National Executive Council Member, ABVP
The presence of the Chief Guest and other distinguished guests added significance to the concluding ceremony.
The Valedictory Ceremony provided an opportunity to reflect upon the objectives and achievements of the inaugural edition. The event emphasised the importance of practical exposure, courtroom experience and professional interaction in shaping future members of the legal profession.
The ceremony also brought together participants, adjudicators, faculty members, organisers and invited guests, providing a fitting conclusion to the two-day event.
IX. Conclusion
The 1st National Trial Advocacy Competition, 2026 concluded on 9 August 2026 after two days of rigorous courtroom advocacy, intellectual engagement and practical learning.
From the inaugural ceremony to the Preliminary Rounds, Quarter-Finals, Semi-Finals and Final Round, the competition provided participants with a structured platform to test and develop their advocacy skills.
The participation of 88 students from 22 institutions, coupled with the involvement of a distinguished panel of legal professionals and academics, gave the competition considerable academic and professional value.
The presence of eminent personalities at both the inaugural and valedictory ceremonies further enhanced the significance of the event. Their participation reinforced the importance of creating avenues through which law students can gain practical exposure and develop the competencies necessary for the legal profession.
The competition successfully advanced its central objective of bridging the gap between legal education and courtroom practice. It provided students with an opportunity to transform theoretical understanding into practical advocacy, while also exposing them to the expectations and challenges of professional courtroom proceedings.
The inaugural edition therefore stands as a significant initiative of Think India and National Law University Delhi towards promoting experiential legal education, trial advocacy and professional development among law students.
The competition concluded on a high note, leaving the participating students with valuable courtroom experience and creating a strong foundation for future editions of the National Trial Advocacy Competition.
