GNLU Legal Services Committee Launches National Essay Competition On Legal Aid And Access To Justice
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 encourages submissions that demonstrate a clear argument, critical analysis, logical structure and engagement with contemporary legal developments. Participants may submit individually or co-author their essays with one other author. The competition carries cash prizes of ₹8,000 for the first position, ₹5,000 for the second position and ₹3,000 for the third position. Submissions must be original and unpublished, maintain a plagiarism similarity of not more than 10%, and comply with the prescribed formatting and anonymity requirements. The last date for registration, payment and submission is 25 September 2026, while the results will be declared on 9 November 2026, National Legal Services Day. By aligning the competition with National Legal Services Day, the initiative seeks to promote research and dialogue on strengthening legal aid and making justice more accessible, equitable and meaningful for all.