1st RGNUL-CCL National Essay Writing Competition 2026 on Consumer Law by the Chair on Consumer Law, RGNUL Punjab [Online; Free; Cash Prizes Rs 22,000]

Rajiv Gandhi National University of Law (RGNUL), Punjab, was established by the Punjab State Legislature under the Rajiv Gandhi National University of Law, Punjab Act, 2006. It is approved by the Bar Council of India, registered with the UGC under Sections 2(f) and 12-B of the UGC Act, 1956, and accredited with an 'A' grade by NAAC. The university offers a five-year integrated programme, an LL.M. and a Ph.D. programme on its residential campus at Patiala.

The competition is organised by the Chair on Consumer Law (CCL) at RGNUL, set up under the aegis of the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, Government of India, as one of the Ministry's Chairs on Consumer Law at National Law Universities. The Chair works on research, discourse and awareness around consumer rights and remedies in an increasingly digital marketplace, including dark patterns, data privacy, misleading advertising and cross-border consumer protection.

Participants write on any one theme. The list is indicative, not mandatory: an essay on any other topic within the ambit of consumer law is also accepted.

• Dark Patterns: Manipulating Choice in the Digital Marketplace (deceptive design and consumer autonomy; regulation of dark patterns; dark patterns in e-commerce)
• Consumer Law Meets Competition Law: Rethinking Consumer Welfare (consumer welfare as a common objective; anti-competitive practices and consumer harm; digital markets and Big Tech)
• Influencers, Misleading Advertising and the Psychology of Consumer Choice (influencer responsibility and disclosure; psychology of persuasion in advertising; misleading advertising and regulatory enforcement)
• AI and Consumer Law: Rights, Risks and Accountability in the Algorithmic Age (algorithmic decisions and consumer rights; AI bias and consumer discrimination; liability for AI-driven harm)
• Food Safety and Consumer Protection: The Regulatory Role of FSSAI (food safety regulation; food labelling and consumer awareness; e-commerce and food safety)
• Greenwashing: Deceptive Sustainability Claims and the Rise of the Green Consumer (anatomy of greenwashing; legal regulation of green claims; the green consumer)
• Dynamic Pricing and Digital Price Tags: Is the Consumer Getting a Fair Price? (algorithmic and personalised pricing; price transparency; fairness and regulation of dynamic pricing)
• UPI and Fintech: Transforming Consumer Spending in a Digital Economy (UPI and the changing consumer; digital payment fraud; fintech regulation and consumer rights)
• The Digital Consumer: How Technology Is Driving Consumption (personalisation and consumer behaviour; social media and digital consumption; data-driven consumerism)
• Product Liability in the Age of AI: Who Bears Responsibility When Technology Fails? (AI-enabled and defective products; liability in the AI supply chain; consumer remedies for AI-related harm)
• The Right to Return: Evolving Consumer Rights in E-Commerce (return, refund and replacement rights; 'no-return' policies; cross-border e-commerce remedies)

• Open to all individuals with a genuine interest in consumer law and policy, including students of any academic level or discipline, researchers, professionals, and representatives of NGOs and consumer forums.
• An essay may be written by one author or jointly by a maximum of two authors.
• Multiple entries are not allowed. Any later submission by the same author, alone or with a co-author, will not be reviewed and will be disqualified.

• Language and file: English, in Microsoft Word (2007 or later) format (.doc/.docx).
• Length: 1,500 to 3,000 words, excluding the abstract and footnotes.
• Abstract and title: an abstract of no more than 30 words at the top of the manuscript; a title of no more than 30 words.
• Formatting: title in Times New Roman 14, line spacing 1.5; main body in Times New Roman 12, line spacing 1.5; footnotes in Times New Roman 10, single spacing.
• Citation: Bluebook (21st edition). Speaking endnotes are not allowed.
• Originality: the work must be original, unpublished and not under consideration for publication or another contest. Permitted similarity index is up to 10%, as per UGC guidelines.
• AI use: strictly prohibited.
• Anonymity: no identification mark in any form may appear in the essay; any such mark leads to immediate disqualification.
• Submissions that do not comply with the guidelines may be rejected by the Chair.

Essays are marked out of 100, with 20 marks each for:

• Research analysis
• Knowledge and understanding
• Relevance and originality
• Language and structure
• Style and clarity

Neither the official brochure, the university's notice nor the registration form mentions any registration fee.

Participants first register through the official registration form by 15 October 2026, filling in the name, email, phone number, institutional affiliation (with course of study) and year of study for each author. The Chair then shares the submission link with registered participants by email, and the essay must be submitted through that form by 20 October 2026. Results will be declared on 10 November 2026.

Winners will be felicitated during the National Consumer Rights Day 2026 celebrations organised by the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, Government of India, in New Delhi.

Submissions are treated as the authors' own views, for which the Chair is not responsible. The Chair reserves the right to use participants' submissions, and to cancel the competition without notice if suitable entries are not received or for reasons outside its reasonable control.