The Kautilya Society is a student-led initiative established through a collaboration between the National University of Study and Research in Law (NUSRL), Ranchi, and the Vidhi Centre for Legal Policy, New Delhi.
About the Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR)
The Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR) is a non-governmental
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organisation established in 1999 by professors from the Indian Institute of Management (IIM), Ahmedabad. ADR works towards promoting electoral transparency, democratic accountability, and political reforms through research, advocacy, election watch programmes, and voter awareness initiatives.
About the Competition
Kautilya Society, NUSRL Ranchi, in collaboration with the Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR), invites submissions for the First Edition of the National Essay Writing Competition on the theme
“Governance, Democracy & Constitutional Vision – India @2047.”
Theme
Governance, Democracy & Constitutional Vision – India @2047
Indicative Sub-Themes
Constitutional Governance and the Democratic Rule of Law
Electoral Reforms: Towards Greater Transparency and Accountability
Federalism and Inter-Governmental Relations in a Changing India
Regulatory Quality and Evidence-Based Policy Making
India’s Democratic Rise: Geopolitics, Soft Power, and Global Governance
Criminalisation of Politics: Challenges and Legal Remedies
Political Finance and Campaign Finance Reforms
Digital Democracy: Technology, Misinformation, and Electoral Integrity
Social Justice, Representation, and Inclusive Governance
Judicial Independence and the Quality of Constitutional Adjudication
Participants may also submit essays on any original topic that falls within the broader theme.
Eligibility
The competition is open to:
Students
Practicing advocates
Academicians
Researchers
Professionals working in law, public policy, governance, and allied disciplines
Only individual submissions are permitted, and each participant may submit only one essay.
Submission Guidelines
Essays must be written in English.
Word limit: 3,000–5,000 words (inclusive of references).
The title should not exceed 12 words.
Font: Times New Roman, Size 12, 1.5 line spacing, justified alignment, and 1-inch margins.
Essays must be original and unpublished.
Author details must not appear anywhere in the manuscript to ensure blind review.
Plagiarism must be below 15%.
AI-generated content must not exceed 10%.
Referencing must follow OSCOLA 5th Edition using endnotes.
The manuscript must be submitted in .docx format.
Non-compliance with the submission guidelines may lead to rejection.
Registration Fee
The registration fee is ₹200 per participant (non-refundable).
Registration Process
Interested participants are required to complete their registration through the official registration form by July 31, 2026, and upload the payment receipt along with the required details.
Upon successful registration, participants will receive access to the official essay submission form.
How to Register?
Check the registration process at the end of the post.
Awards
Winner: ₹5,000 + Certificate of Merit
First Runner-Up: ₹3,000 + Certificate of Merit
Meritorious Entries: ₹2,000 + Certificate of Merit
Top 10 Entries: Publication in an Edited Book (ISBN) + Certificate of Merit
Two Special Articles: Publication on the ADR Blog
Important Dates
Particulars
Date
Announcement of Competition
July 6, 2026
Registration & Submission Deadline
July 25, 2026
Extended Submission Deadline
July 31, 2026
Declaration of Results
August 31, 2026
Contact Details
For any queries, write to kautilyasociety@nusrlranchi.ac.in.
