16th Edition Checkmate 2026; AIL National Moot Court Competition
Law School Correspondent
9 Sept 2026 8:54 PM IST
Army Institute of Law, Mohali was established in July 1999 under the aegis of the Army Welfare Education Society (AWES). Inaugurated by Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam on 1 December 2003, AIL has since developed a strong tradition of academic excellence and advocacy. Guided by its motto, “Aspire & Achieve,” the Institute promotes legal research and practical learning, with a strong emphasis on analytical ability, ethical values and discipline. AIL has successfully conducted 15 editions of the Checkmate AIL National Moot Court Competition, fostering a vibrant culture where students are given opportunities to engage with contemporary legal issues and develop practical advocacy skills.
Details of the event- The 16th Checkmate 2026 is scheduled to be held from 15th to 17th October 2026 at the Army Institute of Law, Mohali. The competition is designed to provide law students from across India with a rigorous platform to engage in legal research, memorial drafting, and oral advocacy. Each participating team may comprise either two Speakers or two Speakers and one Researcher.
Eligibility- The competition is open to bona fide students pursuing either a 3-year LL.B. course or a 5-year integrated law course.
Location (country/state/city) (offline/online)- Offline at Army Institute of Law, Mohali, Punjab.
Registration/submission procedure- The deadline for provisional registration is 10 September, 2026. Teams should send an email to ail.checkmate2026@gmail.com for the same. A maximum of 32 teams will be registered to participate in the competition on a first-come, first-served basis. The registration fee for memorial-based selection is Rs 2000, which shall be non-refundable for each participating team, deadline for depositing the fee being 14 September, 2026. The fee for Memorial round to be submitted through online transaction by clicking on the following link:
https://onlinesbi.sbi.bank.in/sbicollect/icollecthome.htm?corpID=593474.
The scanned copy of the receipt of payment along with the duly filled registration form (attached with the brochure) should be sent via e-mail to ail.checkmate2026@gmail.com with the following details of payment of the registration fee with following details:
a. College Name
b. Transaction ID
c. Bank Name
d. Date of payment
After the Memorial Round, the top SIXTEEN teams will qualify for oral rounds. The deadline for the payment of fee for oral rounds is 5th October, 2026, by
1500 Hours, via the link:
https://onlinesbi.sbi.bank.in/sbicollect/icollecthome.htm?corpID=593474
Note: *Only information regarding accommodation will be provided by the
organisers, and the teams will have to make their own arrangements for
stay/transportation during the competition.
Important Dates-
• 22 August 2026 – Release of Proposition
• 10 September 2026 – Deadline for Provisional Registration
• 14 September 2026 – Deadline for Final Registration and Memorial Round Fee
• 14 September 2026 – Deadline for Seeking Clarifications
• 16 September 2026 – Release of Clarifications
• 23 September 2026 – Deadline for Submission of Soft Copies of Memorials
• 29 September 2026 – Declaration of Memorial Round Results
• 5 October 2026 – Deadline for Payment of Oral Round Fee
• 15 October 2026 – Reporting and Registration at the AIL Campus
• 16 October 2026 – Octa-Final, Quarter-Final and Semi-Final Rounds
• 17 October 2026 – Final Round
Fee details- The registration fee for the Memorial Round is ₹2,000 per team, while the fee for teams qualifying for the Oral Rounds is ₹5,000, exclusive of accommodation.
Prizes- The competition carries a total prize pool of ₹1,32,000 ,with awards including:
• Winners: ₹45,000 + Certificate
• Runners-Up: ₹36,000 + Certificate
• Third Semi-Finalists: ₹9,000 + Certificate
• Fourth Semi-Finalists: ₹6,000 + Certificate
• Best Memorial: ₹18,000 + Certificate
• Best Speaker: ₹10,000 + Certificate
• 2nd Best Speaker: ₹8,000 + Certificate
All participants will also receive certificates of participation.
Contact Information- FACULTY COORDINATORS
1. Dr Kulpreet Kaur
(Assistant Professor of Law)
2. Dr Anmolpreet Kaur
(Assistant Professor of Law)
https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-anmol-bajwa-886600433/
3. Dr Shivanshi Thakur
(Assistant Professor of Law)
https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-shivanshi-thakur-728500141?trk=contact-info
STUDENT CONVENORS
1. Ms. Anwesha Anant
+91 9110056136
https://www.linkedin.com/in/anwesha-anant-606044250/
2. Ms. Ibadat Kaur Sarao
+91 9501074071
https://www.linkedin.com/in/ibadat-kaur-sarao-0a2326298/
Official Link- https://www.ail.ac.in/
Social Media handles-
Instagram- https://www.instagram.com/ail.mcs/?hl=en
LinkedIn- https://www.linkedin.com/in/moot-court-society-a-i-l-80004520a/
