NLU Odisha Invites Submissions For National Essay Writing Competition 2025

The National Law University Odisha (NLUO), established under Act 4 of 2008. Since beginning its academic activities in 2009, NLUO has built a reputation through the achievements of its students in moot courts, debates, and conferences, as well as the research output of its faculty. The University offers a academic environment that nurtures student potential across disciplines.NLUO is recognized by the UGC under Section 12(b) and its degrees are approved by the Bar Council of India. It is NAAC-accredited, ISO 9001:2015 certified, and participates in national academic networks like INFLIBNET and the National Knowledge Network.

The Centre for Disability Law and Advocacy (CDLA) at National Law University Odisha is committed to advancing the rights of persons with disabilities through research, policy engagement, and awareness. As a platform of students and faculty, CDLA fosters inclusive legal scholarship and strives to bridge the gap between theory and practice in disability rights. In furtherance of its mission, CDLA in collaboration with CEGC is announces its Inaugural National Essay Writing Competition on Disability Law and Rights. This competition invites students across disciplines to engage with issues in disability jurisprudence, social justice, and inclusive policy.

With a cash prize of ₹10,000, publication opportunities, and certificates for top entries, the competition offers an opportunity to build academic credentials, contribute to a growing field of law, and get your work reviewed by experts.

The Competitive Examinations Guidance Committee at NLUO works to create a space for students aiming to succeed in various national and international examinations such as Judicial Services, UPSC Civil Services, CLAT-PG, UGC NET, SEBI, RBI Legal Officer, and State PCS (J). It focuses on building not only knowledge of the law but also the skills needed for competitive success through workshops, interactive sessions, mock tests, and mentorship.

The Inaugural 1st National Essay Writing Competition on Disability Law and Rights (AKSHAR), organized by the Centre for Disability Law and Advocacy (CDLA) at National Law University Odisha (NLUO) in collaboration with the Competitive Examinations Guidance Committee (CEGC), is a platform for students across the country to engage with pressing issues of disability law, accessibility, and human rights. The competition seeks to foster innovative research, educate the public, and raise awareness of the need to strengthen legal and policy frameworks to guarantee the inclusion, equality, and dignity of people with disabilities.

Themes

• Intersectionality of Caste and Gender in social and legal spheres for Disability
• Federal designing of disability rights framework: Central, state and regional-level governance in India
• Legal aspects of Artificial Intelligence and modern technology in disability law framework
• India's Global commitments for people with disability with respect to inclusivity, accessibility and empowerment.
• Social and Cultural Barriers and Stigma in the Lived Experiences of Persons with Disabilities
• Reasonable Accommodation: A Pillar of Inclusive Equality in Disability Rights and Beyond.

Registration Guidelines

In order to encourage inclusive participation from various academic and professional backgrounds, the registration structure has been revised as follows:

Registration Fees- Different categories of participants shall pay the registration fee according to the following slab:

1. Students:

• Single Author – ₹300/-
• Co-Authorship (maximum of two authors) – ₹500/-

2. Faculty / Professionals:

• Single Author – ₹700/-
• Co-Authorship (maximum of two authors) – ₹1200/-

PLEASE REGISTER IN THE GOOGLE FORM AND UPLOAD THE PAYMENT RECEIPT.

Formatting Guidelines

• All essays must be original, unpublished work and must not have been submitted elsewhere for consideration.
• To ensure comprehensive analysis and depth of research, the maximum word limit is to 3,000–3,500 words, excluding footnotes.
• The permissible level of plagiarism and AI is strictly capped at 10%; all submissions will be screened using reliable plagiarism detection software.
• All submissions must adhere to the Bluebook: A Uniform System of Citation (21st Edition) for referencing and footnoting.
• Essays must be written in English, formatted in Times New Roman, 12 font size, with 1.5 line spacing and justified alignment for clear readability. Footnotes are to be formatted in 10 font size and 1.0 spacing.
• During submission, the final draft should be submitted in DOC format in Google Forms, and the file name should only be the title. No identification mark should be present in the document during submission. Participants are also expected to submit their AI and Plagiarism reports.

Further guidelines for the submission will be provided after the registration.

Timeline and Method of Evaluation

The Essay Writing Competition will be conducted according to a structured timeline to ensure smooth participation and evaluation. Registrations will open till 15th September 2025, giving students ample time to prepare and submit their essays by the final deadline of 15th October 2025.

To maintain academic fairness, the competition will follow a two-fold evaluation method. Essays will be assessed by both faculty members and peer reviewers.

Attractive prizes have been announced to recognise outstanding contributions.

Prizes

• The first prize winner will receive ₹10,000,
• The second prize will receive ₹7,000,
• The third prize will be awarded ₹5,000.

Beyond these, the best ten essays will be selected for publication in the Centre's official newsletter, providing participants with an opportunity to showcase their work to an academic audience.

Fee Payment

Procedure for depositing Fees online using ICICI Bank Collect Facility

1. Visit https://eazypay.icicibank.com

2. Enter Institution Name as 'National Law University' and click on 'Go'

3. Fill the details.

a. Email Id

b. Mobile No.

c. Amount

d. Student Name (Enter your name)

4. Roll or Enrolment No. (Enter your Roll / Enrolment number for NLUO student and enter 131 for others)

5. Semester (Enter your Semester number for NLUO student and enter 11 for others)

6. Year

7. Payment Date

8. Purpose (Mentioned Event Name / Credit Course Name / Seminar Name)

9. Once required data is filled in click on 'Submit' after enter the captcha and OTP.

10. After the payment you will get the auto generated payment receipt.

PLEASE UPLOAD THE PAYMENT RECEIPT IN THE GOOGLE FORM LINK GIVEN IN THE REGISTRATION GUIDELINES.

For more details refer to the brochure here.