Established in 1997 by an Act of the Madhya Pradesh Legislature, the National Law Institute University, Bhopal, stands among India's leading National Law Universities. Recognised by the University Grants Commission (UGC) and the Bar Council of India (BCI), NLIU was the second institution to be founded under the National Law University system.

The Student Bar Association (SBA) of NLIU functions as a democratic and representative student body that bridges communication between the student community and the university administration. The SBA is instrumental in maintaining the institution's legacy of academic and co-curricular excellence. It engages in policymaking, infrastructure enhancement, and the promotion of student welfare while supporting diverse student-led initiatives.

Founded in 2007, Jus Cultura serves as NLIU's premier cultural body and umbrella organization for the Literary Society (LitSoc), Debating Society (DebSoc), and Quizzing Society (QuizSoc). The body enriches campus life by encouraging creativity, analytical thinking, and cultural engagement. While the LitSoc nurtures literary appreciation, the DebSoc sharpens critical thinking and oratory through debates, and the QuizSoc enhances awareness and recall through dynamic quizzes. Collectively, these societies contribute to the intellectual and cultural vibrancy of the NLIU campus.

About the Event

The Jus Cultura, in collaboration with the Student Bar Association, is organising the NLIU National Debate Competition, 2025, for law students from across India. The competition will follow the standard British Parliamentary format, providing a platform for participants to showcase reasoning, persuasive speaking, and teamwork.

Each debate will have four teams, two on the Government side and two on the Opposition side, with two speakers per team. Teams will be evaluated on the strength of their arguments, clarity, rebuttal skills, and overall coordination. Participants will discuss relevant legal and social issues, learning to think critically, respond quickly, and structure their ideas effectively.

The event is scheduled to be held offline on the 4th and 5th of November, bringing together students from multiple law schools to compete and collaborate. By following the British Parliamentary format, the competition encourages strategic thinking, adaptability, and teamwork in a structured setting.

This proposed debate aims to provide an intellectually stimulating environment where students can challenge themselves, explore diverse perspectives, and engage in high-quality discussions on contemporary topics. The event promises a dynamic experience that combines rigorous competition with skill development and meaningful exchange of ideas.

British Parliamentary Style of Debating

The British Parliamentary (BP) style is one of the most prestigious and widely used formats in competitive debating, involving four teams, two each on the Government and Opposition sides, with two speakers per team. Each of the eight speakers delivers a seven-minute speech, with the first and last minutes protected from interruptions. During the middle section, Points of Information (POIs) allow opponents to challenge or question the speaker, keeping debates dynamic and requiring quick thinking.

Debates begin with the Opening Government, which defines the motion and sets the initial case, followed by the Opening Opposition, which directly rebuts and provides alternatives. Closing Government and Closing Opposition, then add new perspectives, with Whip speakers summarizing the debate and crystallizing the key clashes without introducing new arguments. Covering motions ranging from policy debates to philosophical positions, BP debating emphasizes clear argumentation, rebuttal, and comparative analysis. It ultimately rewards not only strong rhetoric but also teamwork, critical thinking, and persuasive communication.

Event Details

· Adjudicator Policy: N=N

· CAP: 2 teams per Institution

· Participation: Invite only, open to law students.

Registration Fees:

· Without Accommodation: ₹2000 per Team

· With Accommodation: ₹4000 per Team

Prize Pool: ₹58,000

· Winner: ₹21,000

· Runner-up: ₹14,000

· 2nd Runner-up: ₹10,000

· 3rd Runner-up: ₹7,000

· Best Adjudicator: ₹6,000

Links:

Registration Link: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSc-crhsbo-__O6c6Kqkbv3PjDn3ilaf_CkHSJHDPNANNimZNg/viewform

Payment Link: https://ums.nliu.ac.in/AccSoft_NLIU/MiscellaneousPayment.aspx

Contact Information

The organisers request the assistance of institutions in disseminating this announcement and encouraging their students to participate. The detailed brochure for the event is attached for further reference.

For any queries, interested participants may contact the following:

· Priyanshu Gupta (President, SBA): +91-9098367133
· Gati Jhamb (Secretary, Debating Society): +91-9669771245
· Anoushka Naveen (Convenor, Jus Cultura): +91-76673 46297
· Khushi Dhingra (Co-Convenor, Jus Cultura): +91-93108 66508

Email: jc@nliu.ac.i.   or   sba@nliu.ac.in