CNLU Launches 1st Arbitral Award Writing & Presentation Competition 2026–27

CNLU is equipped with state-of-the-art infrastructure to facilitate the highest standards of legal education. A number of retired Judges of the Supreme Court and High Courts, Senior Advocates, and eminent educationalists have offered their expertise to assist CNLU in its teaching and research programmes, making education at CNLU a distinctive and enriching experience. Debating, Mooting, ADR competitions and co-curricular activities form an integral part of the CNLU student experience, giving students the opportunity to put their academic knowledge to practical use.

About CCADR

The Chanakya Centre for Alternative Dispute Resolution (CCADR), established in 2021 at Chanakya National Law University, Patna, serves as a premier hub for academic research, practical skill-building, and professional engagement in the field of dispute resolution. Accessible via its official platform at ccadr.cnlu.ac.in, the Centre facilitates an interdisciplinary study of conflict ranging from commercial and institutional to state-level disputes, focusing on frameworks such as the Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996 and international standards including the UNCITRAL Model Law.

CCADR operates with a clear and ambitious vision: to develop a congenial environment within CNLU and beyond for students, researchers, and practitioners to further their interest in ADR and to compete at the national and international levels. Towards this end, the Centre regularly organises national and intra-college ADR competitions, panel discussions, workshops, training sessions, lectures and interactive engagements with practitioners, academicians, and industry experts.

CCADR's flagship initiatives include the CNLU National Mediation Competition (NMC), now in its fifth successful edition; the National Client Counselling Competition (NCC), the bimonthly newsletter Samvaad, the ADR blog Untangled, and curated engagement series such as ADR Radio and ADR'o Clock. Over the years, CCADR has collaborated with leading law firms, ADR institutions and organisations including Kochhar & Co., Singhania & Partners, TT&A, HSA Advocates, PSL Advocates & Solicitors, King Stubb & Kasiva, the Mumbai Centre for International Arbitration, IAMC Hyderabad, Manupatra, SCC Online, LiveLaw and others.

Introduction to the Competition

The Chanakya Centre for Alternative Dispute Resolution (CCADR), CNLU Patna, is pleased to announce its first arbitral award writing competition. The competition will primarily lie in the domain of Construction Arbitration and seeks to immerse participants in the adjudicatory process of construction arbitration, tackling disputes involving delay claims, variations, defects, payment disputes, and contractual interpretation. It emphasises the application of substantive and procedural law, evidentiary assessment, and construction industry standards in crafting enforceable, reasoned awards. By simulating arbitral proceedings, the event cultivates precision in legal drafting, analytical acuity, and impartial decision-making, bridging theoretical learning with practical, industry-specific dispute resolution.

Objectives

● To enhance participants' knowledge of arbitration principles, procedures, and the legal framework governing arbitral proceedings, both domestic and international.

● To develop practical legal drafting skills by drafting reasoned and well-structured arbitral awards.

● To encourage participants to identify, analyze, and resolve typical challenges in construction arbitration, such as delay claims, variations, and quantification of loss, fostering sound legal and factual analysis.

● To promote critical analysis and problem solving.

Mode / Authorship

The final award has a tentative submission date in December 2026, with release of results by 15 January 2027. The competition shall be conducted in Hybrid mode, with the top 8 teams presenting their award in offline mode at CNLU on 14^th February 2027. Individual participation, as well as participation in a team of two (i.e., co-authorship), is allowed.

Eligibility

● Students pursuing Five-Year/Three-Year LL.B. discipline;

● Students pursuing One-Year/Two-Year LL.M. discipline;

● Students pursuing any other undergraduate or postgraduate law degree from any recognised university.

Competition Guidelines

● Submissions shall be made in .doc/.docx and PDF format.

● All submissions are to be made via a Google Form.

Complete details regarding the theme, registration, detailed rules, formatting requirements, and evaluation criteria shall be released shortly through the formal Competition Brochure.

Important Timelines

Release of Brochure Cum Rulebook – 18^th October, 2026

Last Date for Registration- 2^nd December, 2026

Tentative Release of Problem – 15^th November, 2026

Last Date for Submission of Final Award- 15th December, 2026

Release of Results for Advanced Rounds – 15th January, 2027

Offline Presentation Dates – 13 – 14^th February, 2027

Pre – Invite Drive Link Here- https://drive.google.com/file/d/12FImdhm-mH2poiwQqMJbOyZupNp8rkZb/view?usp=drive_link

AAWPC Final Registration Link Here -https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdOBsTzY23ECrRBAgqb9VVuURrSsivzm1mPhOx0wioB2bDxzQ/viewform?usp=dialog

Contact Us

We look forward to your participation, collaboration and support in making the maiden edition of this Competition a success. For any queries or clarifications, please reach out to:

● Ankita Kumari (Convenor) - +91 9304685878

● Priyanshu Lucky (Editor-in-Chief) - +91 9798701071

● Priyasha Priyadarshni (Co-Convenor) - +91 9971545406

● Sumedha Singh (Co-Convenor) - +91 9142337424

● Shalini Singh (Deputy Editor-in-Chief) - +91 9905823548

Or write to us at events.ccadr@cnlu.ac.in

For further updates, follow CCADR at ccadr.cnlu.ac.in and on our social media handles.