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Meaningful legal education begins in the classroom, but it reaches its fullest expression when students are invited to test doctrine against facts, evidence, professional responsibility and the demands of real advocacy. Guided by this belief, the Xavier Society of Law and Justice (XSLAJ), established in 2020 under the aegis of Xavier Law School, St. Xavier's University, Kolkata, has consistently worked to create rigorous platforms for legal learning, research, dispute resolution and courtroom practice.

Inspired by the Jesuit ideal of Magis and the University's commitment to forming socially responsible professionals, XSLAJ has grown into one of the University's leading student-run academic bodies. Through flagship initiatives such as the Xavier Mediation Competition, Vox Legis Xaveriana and the Ignatius Trial & Advocacy Competition, the Society brings students into sustained engagement with judges, advocates, academics, law firms, chambers and legal organisations.

IGNITAC represents the Society's conviction that advocacy cannot be mastered through written submissions and legal propositions alone. It must be practised in the presence of witnesses, tested through questions, refined under pressure and anchored in a disciplined understanding of evidence and procedure.

ABOUT THE IGNATIUS TRIAL & ADVOCACY COMPETITION 2026 (IGNITAC'26)

The Xavier Society of Law and Justice proudly presents the Third Edition of the Ignatius Trial and Advocacy Competition, to be held in person from 4th to 6th November 2026 at St. Xavier's University, Kolkata. IGNITAC'26 is a national-level competition designed for law students who want to move beyond conventional mooting and experience the structure, strategy and intensity of a criminal trial.

The competition asks participants to build a case from the ground up. Teams must work with a detailed trial proposition, pleadings, witness statements, medical and forensic material, electronic evidence, seizure records and competing factual narratives. They must then translate that preparation into opening statements, examination-in-chief, cross-examination and closing arguments before an adjudicatory panel.

At the heart of IGNITAC'26 lies a demanding circumstantial-evidence problem involving alleged murder, attempted murder, destruction of a dwelling by fire, criminal conspiracy and common intention. The proposition raises questions concerning motive, witness identification, a Test Identification Parade, digital communications, forensic recoveries, medical findings and the legal standard governing an unbroken chain of circumstances. It gives participants space to think simultaneously as researchers, case strategists and courtroom advocates.

ELIGIBILITY

Students pursuing any three-year or five-year integrated LL.B. or integrated law programme from a law school, college, university or institution recognised by the Bar Council of India are eligible to participate. LL.M. students are also eligible. Students from any year or semester may form a team. Cross-semester and cross-institution participation is permitted. A maximum of two official teams may participate from one university or college. Independent Teams are also permitted. Further, registrations are confirmed on a first-come-first-served basis, subject to the intake capacity of the competition.

TEAM COMPOSITION

Each team must consist of exactly three members:

· Speaker 1

· Speaker 2

· Researcher

The designated roles cannot be changed after confirmation of registration, except at the discretion of the Organising Committee.

MODE, VENUE AND DATES

IGNITAC'26 will be conducted entirely in offline mode at St. Xavier's University, Kolkata, from Wednesday, 4th November, 2026 to Friday, 6th November, 2026.

REGISTRATION FEE

The team registration fee is INR 5,400, inclusive of all taxes, payable cumulatively by the team as a whole. Hostel accommodation is optional and charged separately.

CASH PRIZES AND RECOGNITION

IGNITAC'26 offers a total cash prize pool of INR 2,50,000:

· Best Team - INR 1,00,000

· Runner-Up Team - INR 50,000

· Best Memorial - INR 30,000

· Best Speaker - INR 30,000

· Best Researcher - INR 20,000

· Best Witness - INR 20,000

All winners will also receive exclusive trophies, medals and paid internship opportunities. Additional academic and professional rewards for winners and participants will be announced separately.

IMPORTANT DATES

· 26th October, 2026 at 11:59 p.m. - Last date for team registration and hostel registration.

· 1st November, 2026 at 11:59 p.m. - Last date for online memorial submission.

· 4th, 5th & 6th November, 2026 - Competition dates.

IMPORTANT LINKS

Team Registration Form: https://forms.gle/E2L8rSdufwoa96iMA

Official Documents (Event Brochure, Trial Proposition, Notifications and Clarifications): https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1OJ4J96V8ZVh1YvhN1HtRNjqRvtdYShA7

ORGANISING COMMITTEE

IGNITAC'26 is being organised by the Xavier Society of Law and Justice under the academic guidance of Dr. Siddhant Chandra, Convenor, and Dr. Subhajit Chakraborty, Co-Convenor. The student organising team is led by Mr. Debdeep Giri, Student Convenor, with Mr. Swayam Bhattacharya serving as Joint Student Convenor.

CONTACT US

For queries and clarifications concerning IGNITAC'26, participants may contact the Organising Committee through the official channels below.

Email: ignitac26.xslaj.sxuk@gmail.com

Event Representatives:
Ms. Riya Sarkar - +91 87988 21639
Ms. Shreya Manoj - +91 89764 41735
Ms. Ankita Banerjee - +91 90382 99488

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/xslaj_sxuk/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/xavier-society-of-law-and-justice-xslaj/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@xslajsxuk

SXUK Website: https://www.sxuk.edu.in/

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