NLIU To Organise 1st CRIL Treaty Drafting And Negotiation Competition 2026
Law School Correspondent
10 March 2026 2:59 PM IST
NLIU BHOPAL
Established in 1997, the National Law Institute University (NLIU), Bhopal, is among India's premier institutions for legal education and research. Founded with the vision of reforming and modernising traditional legal learning, the University has consistently adapted to the evolving needs of the legal profession and the justice system. Over the years, NLIU has built a strong reputation for academic excellence, producing graduates who have gone on to distinguish themselves across diverse fields including litigation, corporate law, public policy, academia, and the judiciary.
The University offers a rigorous and comprehensive curriculum designed to combine strong theoretical foundations with practical exposure. Through its multidisciplinary and skill-oriented approach, NLIU encourages students to engage with law not merely as an academic discipline but as a dynamic tool for social and institutional change. The academic environment is enriched by moot court competitions, research centres, legal aid initiatives, internships with leading law firms and institutions, and regular interaction with practitioners, policymakers, and scholars from across the world.
Beyond the classroom, NLIU fosters a vibrant intellectual and cultural community that encourages dialogue, collaboration, and critical thinking. The University hosts numerous academic events, conferences, and student-led initiatives that contribute to legal scholarship and policy discussions in India. With a strong emphasis on research, innovation, and public engagement, NLIU continues to play an important role in shaping contemporary legal discourse and advancing the development of legal education in the country.
About Centre For Research In International Law
The Centre for Research in International Law (CRIL) at NLIU is a student-run body committed to fostering deeper engagement with the field of international law and policy. Established with the objective of creating a vibrant academic space for discussion and research, the Centre seeks to bridge the gap between theoretical understanding and contemporary global developments. By encouraging student-led initiatives and collaboration with reputed organisations, CRIL strives to cultivate an environment where students can meaningfully engage with pressing international legal issues and broaden their perspectives on the evolving international legal order.
Over the years, CRIL has actively contributed to academic discourse within the university by organising lectures and interactive sessions with eminent scholars in the field of international law. These events provide students with valuable opportunities to engage with experts and gain practical insights into international legal practice and scholarship. The Centre also undertakes academic publication initiatives, including its flagship journal, which has successfully published four volumes and serves as a platform for scholarly contributions from students, researchers, and professionals.
In addition to formal academic activities, CRIL works consistently to ensure that students remain informed about ongoing developments in international law. The Centre circulates weekly updates highlighting significant international legal developments and publishes a curated monthly newsletter that captures key global legal and policy trends. Through these initiatives, CRIL aims to promote rigorous academic inquiry, encourage critical engagement with contemporary issues, and nurture a sustained interest in international law among students.
About The Competition
The 1st NLIU-CRIL Treaty Drafting and Negotiation Competition (“Competition”) is an academic initiative being organised with the objective of providing students a practical platform to engage with the process of treaty drafting and negotiation. Treaty negotiation and drafting remain central mechanisms through which States regulate international relations, address global challenges, and establish frameworks for cooperation across diverse fields.
The competition is designed to simulate the real-world processes through which international treaties are conceptualised, negotiated, and formalised. Participants will assume the role of representatives of States and engage in structured negotiations on a contemporary international issue. Through successive rounds of drafting and negotiation, teams will be required to formulate drafts from both sides, reconcile competing national interests, and collaboratively develop a comprehensive treaty text. The exercise aims to mirror the complexities of diplomatic negotiations, requiring participants to balance legal reasoning, strategic negotiation, and consensus-building.
By combining treaty drafting with negotiation simulations, the competition seeks to move beyond traditional mooting formats and expose participants to the practical dimensions of international law. Participants will develop skills in drafting, policy analysis, diplomatic communication, and collaborative problem-solving, while gaining deeper insight into how international agreements are structured and implemented.
Through this initiative, CRIL aims to create a meaningful academic platform that encourages students to engage critically with international law while developing practical skills relevant to careers in diplomacy and international legal practice.
Competition Format
The Competition is structured to simulate the process of bilateral treaty negotiations, combining written drafting with negotiation rounds. To ensure a balanced assessment of both drafting ability and negotiation strategy, the competition will be conducted in two primary stages: a written submission stage and online negotiation rounds.
For the purposes of this competition, teams will be provided with a Problem Statement outlining the subject matter of the proposed treaty and the positions of the negotiating States. Based on this problem statement, each team will be required to prepare and submit written treaty drafts from both sides of the negotiation, reflecting the legal and policy priorities of the respective States.
Following evaluation of the written submissions, the top 16 teams will qualify for the online negotiation rounds. These rounds will simulate bilateral treaty negotiations, where teams will engage in structured discussions to develop and negotiate treaty provisions. During the Preliminary Rounds, each team will represent both negotiating sides once, ensuring parity and a comprehensive evaluation of negotiation skills. A total of eight preliminary negotiation sessions will be conducted across two preliminary rounds.
Based on the cumulative scores from the preliminary rounds, the top 8 teams will qualify for the Quarter-Final rounds, followed by the Semi-Finals. Teams that do not advance to the final after the semi-final stage will compete in a Third-Place Round, which will determine the Second Runners-Up. The competition will culminate in the Final Round, where the top two teams will negotiate the provisions of the treaty.
Stage | Description | Teams Advancing |
Problem Release & Written Submissions | Teams receive the Problem Statement / Background Brief and submit treaty drafts representing both negotiating sides. | — |
Written Evaluation | Written drafts are evaluated on criteria provided in the Competition Rules. | Top 16 Teams qualify |
Preliminary Round 1 | Online bilateral negotiation simulation. Each team represents one negotiating side. | Top 8 Teams qualify |
Preliminary Round 2 | Teams switch roles and represent the opposite side. Total 8 negotiation sessions conducted across preliminaries. | |
Quarter-Finals | Knock-out negotiation rounds between the qualifying teams. | Top 4 Teams qualify |
Semi-Finals | Knock-out negotiation rounds between the qualifying teams. | Top 2 Teams qualify for Final |
Third-Place Round | The two teams not advancing from the Semi-Finals compete to determine the Second Runners-Up. | Second Runners-Up determined |
Final Round | Final negotiation round between the top two teams. | Winner & Runner-Up |
Eligibility & Team Composition
The Competition is open to students currently enrolled in any recognised university, college, or academic institution in India, pursuing an undergraduate or postgraduate degree programme. Participation in the Competition shall be in teams only, with each team consisting of a maximum of two members.
There is no restriction on institutional representation. Universities and institutions may choose to send institutional teams; however, participants are also permitted to form teams with students from different programmes, universities, or academic institutions. Cross-institutional and cross-programme teams are therefore allowed.
Registration Fee
A registration fee of ₹1000 per team shall be charged at the time of registration for participation in the Competition.
Teams that qualify for the second stage of the competition (i.e. Online Negotiation Rounds) shall be required to pay an additional fee of ₹1500 per team, over and above the initial registration fee.
*For Problem Statement, Competition Rules and other details you may refer to our website here.
Important Dates
Event | Date |
Registrations Open | 6 March, 2026 |
Registration Deadline | 25 March, 2026 |
Deadline for Submission of Draft | 4 April, 2026 |
Declaration of Qualifying Teams | 7 April, 2026 |
Final Oral Rounds | 11–12 April, 2026 |
Prize Money & Awards
The Competition will recognise performance through a range of awards and prizes. The Competition carries a total prize pool of ₹42,500, along with trophies and certificates acknowledging the achievements of participants.
Prize Money
Category | Prize |
Winner | ₹15,000 along with a trophy |
Runners-Up | ₹10,000 along with a trophy |
Second Runners-Up | ₹7,500 |
Best Negotiator | ₹5,000 along with a trophy |
Best Draft | ₹5,000 along with a trophy |
Total Prize Pool | ₹42,500 |
- Certificate of Participation will be awarded to all registered participants.
- Certificate of Appreciation will be awarded to teams qualifying for the negotiation rounds.
- Certificates of Merit will be awarded to the Winner, Runners-Up, Second Runners-Up, Best Negotiator, and Best Draft
How To Register?
- Make the payment through the link: https://ums.nliu.ac.in/AccSoft_NLIU/MiscellaneousPayment.aspx
- Fill in your details and choose “1st NLIU-CRIL Treaty Drafting and Negotiation Competition” in the Details of Payment
- Once the payment is made, kindly take a screenshot of the payment or download the payment receipt.
- To register yourself , kindly fill the google form: https://forms.gle/q2pJZuVuQEXhFMer7
Contact Us
Reach out at cril@nliu.ac.in or contact the undersigned.
Jay Sharma (Convenor): +91 9993903175
Anoushka Naveen (Co-Convenor): +91 7667346297
Kindly use the following link to access the brochure of the competition for more details: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1-6mlxUI4zb9-chSqGnqZWZQSgtnvEraK/view
We look forward to your participation!