16th Government Law College International Law Summit, 2026- Registrations Open For International Judgment Deliberation Competition And International Treaty Appreciation Competition
The Students for the Promotion of International Law (SPIL), Mumbai, announces the 16th Government Law College International Law Summit, 2026, sponsored by Rungta Steel, scheduled for 6th–7th March 2026. Conceived as a forum for learning, dialogue, and simulation, this Summit brings together students, scholars, and practitioners from across the globe to engage with pressing issues in international law. Registration for two flagship competitions—the International Judgment Deliberation Competition 2026 and International Treaty Appreciation Competition 2026—is now open, with prizes worth INR 2 lakh
About SPIL Mumbai:
SPIL Mumbai is a student-run academic body at Government Law College (GLC), Mumbai, devoted to promoting awareness, research, and scholarship in international law. With fifteen previous editions, this student initiative has hosted conferences, lectures, and competitions, attracting participation from across India and abroad. SPIL's history of fostering legal scholarship and intellectual exchange is well established
About GLC Mumbai:
Government Law College (GLC ) Mumbai, established in 1855, is Asia's oldest law school and serves as a cornerstone of legal education in India. Its distinguished history stretches over more than a century and a half and boasts a legacy of jurists, judges, and statesmen—including Chief Justices, Attorneys-General, and notable political leaders. Located in South Mumbai's legal district, the College maintains its traditions of academic rigor, intellectual excellence, and public service
About the Theme:
The international trading system stands at an inflection point. The foundational discipline governing this architecture, International Trade Law, no longer exists merely as a system of dispute settlement but has evolved into a field that mediates between economics, ethics and interdependence. Against this backdrop, SPIL Mumbai's 16th Government Law College International Law Summit 2026 adopts International Trade Law as its central theme, reflecting our commitment to engage with the most pressing challenges and opportunities shaping the world economy. This year's Summit seeks to explore the multidimensional evolution of International Trade Law through two complementary lenses — dispute resolution and treaty interpretation.
Under this theme, the Summit announces the commencement of registrations the following competitions -
1) The International Judgment Deliberation Competition (JDC), 2026:
About - Simulating the appellate deliberations under the WTO's Multi Party Interim Appeal Arbitration Arrangement (MPIA), the JDC 2026 invites participants to interpret, reason, and decide upon disputes arising from trade measures and environmental regulations. The 2026 case presents a dispute between two WTO Members regarding carbon-adjusted border measures impacting exports, raising critical questions on the balance between sustainability and trade obligations.
Format -
● Written Award Qualifier - Registered teams shall submit a written award by 30th November 2025, 11:59 PM IST.
● Oral Deliberations - Top 12 Qualifying teams shall be invited to the offline Deliberation Rounds at the Government Law College, Mumbai, scheduled to happen on the 6th and 7th of March 2026.
Team Composition - There shall be 2 Participants per team, comprising of a participant Judge and a Judicial Clerk. A maximum of two (2) teams are allowed from each college.
Registrations -
Early Bird Registrations (on or before 15th Nov 2025, 11:59 PM IST): INR 4,999/- or USD 60/-
Regular Registrations (on or before 30th Nov 2025, 11:59 PM IST): INR 6,999/- or USD 80/-
For more details regarding the competition, the Problem, registrations and the schedule, please visit JDC 2026.
2) The International Treaty Appreciation Competition (TAC), 2026:
About - The TAC simulates a formal multilateral forum where participants teams act as State delegations tasked with assessing and shaping the future of a major treaty. Designed to develop skills essential to treaty practice, TAC goes beyond the competitive element and provides a forum for scholarly exchange. The TAC 2026 focuses on the CISG and presents questions that drafters could not have foreseen, through an extraordinary UNCITRAL session, participants representing contracting states must defend, critique or propose reform.
Format -
● Written Critique Qualifier - Registered teams shall submit a written critique by 30th November 2025, 11:59 PM IST.
● Oral Deliberation - Top 12 Qualifying teams shall be invited to the offline Deliberation Rounds at the Government Law College, Mumbai, scheduled to happen on the 7th of March 2026.
Team Composition - There shall be 2 Participants per team. A maximum of two (2) teams are allowed from each college.
Registrations -
Early Bird Registrations (on or before 15th Nov 2025, 11:59 PM IST): INR 4,999/- or USD 60/-
Regular Registrations (on or before 30th Nov 2025, 11:59 PM IST): INR 6,999/- or USD 80/-
For more details regarding the competition, registrations and the schedule, please visit TAC 2026.
3) Rules on Eligibility and Registration for both the Competitions:
1.1. Indian Nationals: Individuals currently enrolled in any recognised institution / university / college, recognised by the Bar Council of India, on a full-time or part-time basis, pursuing either the 3-year LL.B. or the 5-year integrated B.A. / B.L.S. / B.B.A. / B.Com / B.Sc./ B.Tech. LL.B. programme at the time of the Competition, are eligible to participate in the Competition.
1.2. Foreign Nationals: Individuals currently enrolled in their first law degree or an undergraduate law degree, in any recognised institution / university / college outside India are eligible to participate in the Competition. The Participants shall strictly not be enrolled in a Masters level or a post-graduate level law programme.
1.3. Team and Team Composition: Participants shall register for the Competition as a team. A team shall consist of 2 (two) members for both the Competitions. Both the Team members shall be from the same institution.
1.4. Students enrolled in any year of their undergraduate law degree programme are eligible to participate, provided they have not completed their final semester examinations before the commencement of the Competition.
1.5. Participants must not be engaged in full-time legal practice, employment, or bar enrolment at the time of the Competition. Individual holding any form of professional legal licence or currently employed in a legal capacity shall be ineligible. Even recent graduates, who have passed their undergraduate degree and currently awaiting enrolment are not eligible to participate.
1.6. Cross-Institutional Teams: Teams must comprise students enrolled in the same institution. Cross-institutional teams shall not be permitted.
1.7. Institutional Limit: Each institution may register a maximum of 2 (two) Teams. However, SPIL Mumbai reserves the right to permit additional teams from the same institution if slots remain unfilled after the initial registration deadline.
1.8. Dual Registration Restriction: A participant shall not be permitted to register for both the International Judgment Deliberation Competition 2026, and the International Treaty Appreciation Competition, 2026 in the same year. Each participant may compete in only one competition forming part of the Summit.
1.9. Institutional Verification/ ID Requirement: All registered participants must submit a valid student identity card or a proof of tuition fee payment or a bona fide certificate from their institution verifying current enrolment at the time of registration confirmation. Teams must submit the name of the dean or the head of their institution or the faculty-in-charge or the head of their institution's moot court society or the head of the student body. SPIL Mumbai shall reach out to such persons as well, for the confirmation of registration.
1.10. Team Institutional Nomination or Official Endorsement: In furtherance of the above Clause, each participating Team must be officially nominated or endorsed by the dean, head of department, faculty-in-charge, or the head of the moot court society or the head of the student body of their respective institution. SPIL Mumbai reserves the right to seek documentary proof of such nomination or endorsement and may verify the same directly with the concerned authority. Teams registering without institutional nomination will be considered provisional until the official endorsement is confirmed.
4) Awards and Recognition
The Summit carries total prizes worth INR 2 lacs! Winners will also be featured on the official SPIL Mumbai platforms and recognised at the Valedictory Ceremony attended by leading academics, practitioners, and diplomats!
Together these events explore the intricate relationship between law, policy and provide a holistic exploration of trade law. We encourage you to participate in this year's Summit and contribute to the discussions that will shape perspectives and test ideas in rigorous debate and to contribute to the summit's continuing legacy of scholarly excellence and collegial exchange.
For more details refer to the brochure here