1st Axiom5-CLE National Article Writing Competition 2026 on Competition Law in a Changing Market Order, CNLU Patna [Fee Rs 600 - Rs 1,000; First Prize Rs 20,000 + Internship; Register by 10 November]

The Centre for Law and Economics (CLE), Chanakya National Law University (CNLU), Patna, is organising the 1st Axiom5-CLE National Article Writing Competition, 2026, on the theme "Competition Law in a Changing Market Order". Building on the Centre's essay-writing competition series, this first edition centres on the economics of antitrust and competition law.

Axiom5 Law Chambers LLP is the Title Partner and Assessment & Internship Partner, and Chandhiok & Mahajan, Advocates and Solicitors is the Internship Partner. The competition is accompanied by a virtual panel discussion on the same theme.

A single question runs through all four themes: how far should competition law act in advance of harm, and how far should it wait and correct after the fact?

• Theme 1: Regulating Digital Markets and Platform Power - ex-ante versus ex-post regulation and the future of the Draft Digital Competition Bill; data as a parameter of competition; platform conduct; merger control in the digital economy.
• Theme 2: Abuse of Dominance and the Shift to Effects-Based Analysis - from form to effects; exploitative versus exclusionary abuse; rebates, discounts and vertical restraints; defining dominance in digital and multi-sided markets.
• Theme 3: AI, Algorithms, and Antitrust - algorithmic collusion and the "agreement" problem; hub-and-spoke arrangements; information exchange and data pooling; designing enforcement.
• Theme 4: Cartels and Collusion Beyond Product Markets - labour-market cartels; employment restraints; bid-rigging in public procurement; detection and deterrence.

The themes and sub-themes are indicative, not exhaustive. An article that engages seriously with one of the four themes will be considered even if it does not map onto a specific sub-heading.

• Open to all undergraduate and postgraduate students enrolled in a recognised law university, college or institution in India.
• Co-authorship is permitted, with a maximum of two authors per entry. Cross-institutional teams are permitted.
• Each participant may be part of only one submission.
• There is no cap on the number of entries from a single college or university.

• The article must be original, unpublished and not under consideration at any other competition, journal or platform.
• It must be analytical and argumentative; purely descriptive submissions will be marked down.
• Language: English.
• Word limit: 3,000 words, excluding footnotes, abstract and references. Submissions exceeding the limit by more than 10% will not be evaluated.
• Abstract of 250 words and a maximum of five keywords.
• Body in Garamond, font size 12, justified, 1.5-line spacing, one-inch margins; headings in font size 14, bold.
• Footnotes in Garamond, font size 10, single spacing, following The Bluebook (20th ed.).
• Plagiarism: similarity of not more than 10% is accepted; higher similarity means rejection without evaluation.
• Use of AI tools to draft, substantively edit or generate any part of the article is strictly prohibited; submissions will be screened for AI-generated content.
• The manuscript must not name the author(s) or institution, in the text or in the file properties and metadata. Entries are reviewed anonymously by an allotted submission code.
• Submissions containing offensive, defamatory or derogatory content, or content that misrepresents facts or law, will be rejected at the sole discretion of the Centre.
• The Centre and the Organising Committee reserve the right to accept or reject any submission; their decision on all matters relating to evaluation is final and binding.

• Single authorship: Rs 600
• Co-authorship (two authors): Rs 1,000

The registration fee is non-refundable under all circumstances. Bank account, UPI and QR details for payment are in the official brochure.

Register only through the Centre's Google Form (linked as the registration link on this page) by 10 November 2026. The brochure gives the date only and does not state a closing time. Pay the registration fee to the CNLU account given in the official brochure (bank account, UPI and QR details are in the brochure). The brochure states that the payment receipt or transaction ID must be attached at the time of submitting the article.

After successful registration, the Centre will send an official confirmation and further submission instructions by email from cle@cnlu.ac.in. Articles are due by 30 November 2026. Submissions made through any other channel, including email, will not be considered.

A virtual panel discussion on "Competition Law in a Changing Market Order" will be held on 10 January 2027 at 2:00 pm, open to all. Announced panellists: Mr. Avinash Amarnath (Partner, Chandhiok & Mahajan), Mr. Pranjal Prateek (Partner, Khaitan & Co.) and Ms. Shruti Aji Murali (Knowledge Management Counsel, Axiom5), with a fourth panellist to be declared. Moderator: Ms. Anicham Tamilmani (Senior Associate, Axiom5).

The top three entries receive cash prizes with an internship each (see prizes below). The top ten entries overall receive a Certificate of Merit, and every participant who makes a valid submission receives a digital Certificate of Participation.