The GNLU Legal Services Committee (LSC) is organising the 1st GNLU-LSC National Essay Competition on Legal Aid and Access to Justice as part of the 2026 edition of Abhilekh, the newsletter of the GNLU Legal Services Committee. The competition is open to all undergraduate students across India and seeks to encourage critical engagement with the legal, institutional and socio-economic dimensions of access to justice. With the theme “Legal Aid and Access to Justice,” the competition invites participants to examine the barriers that prevent individuals and communities from effectively understanding, claiming and enforcing their rights. The competition provides an opportunity for students to engage with issues such as constitutional foundations of legal aid, the role of legal services authorities, access to justice for marginalised communities, legal aid in the criminal justice system, women’s and children’s access to legal assistance, legal aid clinics, technology and the digital divide.
The competition seeks to encourage meaningful legal research, critical analysis and discourse on the theme “Legal Aid and Access to Justice.” It aims to examine the constitutional, institutional and socio-economic dimensions that shape an individual’s ability to understand, claim and enforce their rights, while engaging with the barriers that continue to prevent meaningful and equitable access to justice.
The competition is open to all undergraduate students across India. Participants may submit individually or in teams of up to two authors.
The winning entries will be awarded the following cash prizes:
1st Position — ₹8,000/-
2nd Position — ₹5,000/-
3rd Position — ₹3,000/-
The registration fee is ₹200/- for single-author submissions and ₹300/- for co-authored submissions.
The 2026 edition of Abhilekh, the newsletter of the GNLU Legal Services Committee, focuses on the foundational ideals of legal aid and access to justice and seeks to foster critical engagement with questions of law, rights, social justice and access to legal remedies. Further details regarding the competition, including the indicative sub-themes and submission guidelines, are available in the brochure attached herewith.
Important Dates:
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Last Date for Registration & Payment: 30th September 2026
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Last Date for Submission: 30th September 2026
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Date of Results: 9th November 2026, on the occasion of National Legal Services Day
Registration and Submission:
Payment Link: https://axisbpayments.razorpay.com/pl_TTZdxA39RtoAJC/view
For view Brochure click here
