2nd Nyayavani National Virtual Moot Court Competition (NNMCC 2.0)

The Nyayavani National Virtual Moot Court Competition (2nd Edition), NNMCC 2.0, is organised by Nyayavani Foundation in collaboration with Ramkrishna Law Firm & Research Centre (RKLFRC). The competition brings together law students from across the country to engage with pressing and contemporary legal themes, offering a platform to sharpen advocacy and research skills while debating issues of national and global relevance. It will be conducted fully online on a pan-India basis from 24 to 27 September 2026. Participants argue a contemporary constitutional law proposition before an eminent panel of judges, including sitting and former judges of the High Court, senior advocates, and academicians, with a total prize pool worth up to Rs 50,000 along with free DharmaBot AI exclusive plans, mementos, and certificates.

Nyayavani Foundation is a registered Section 8 (not-for-profit) Company under the Companies Act, 2013, and is enlisted under NITI Aayog Darpan. The Foundation is dedicated to advancing legal aid, creating awareness, and empowering marginalized sections of society while simultaneously fostering legal education among students and youth. It has conducted debates, awareness programs, and developmental events, run awareness drives in government schools, and organised sessions on the NALSA judgement, transgender rights, inclusivity, and equality. The Foundation has provided free internships and practical training in legal drafting and legal awareness to more than 2,000 students, hosted numerous webinars on contemporary legal issues, and is building a PAN-India Pro Bono Network of law firms and advocates alongside a PAN-India and international student network.

The competition is held in collaboration with Ramkrishna Law Firm & Research Centre (RKLFRC), Chikodi, a firm known for advisory, litigation, and legal research, representing clients before courts, tribunals, and statutory authorities. RKLFRC has organised international conferences on Product Safety, Consumer Advocacy, and IMUN, and published the book Advancing Consumer Justice: Navigating Product Safety in a Changing World. DharmaBot AI is the Tech Partner, Entrepreneurs of India is the Media & Outreach Partner, and Lawctopus is the Media & Knowledge Partner.

The moot proposition is set in the fictional Republic of Indica, a secular democratic country whose written constitution came into force in 1950 and whose economy is dependent on agriculture, standing as the top exporter of beef in the world while its majority Hindu population treats cows as holy. The State of Maratha enacted the Maratha Animal Preservation Act, 1978 to stop cow slaughter. The Amendment Act of 1995 (which received Presidential assent in 2015 and came into force immediately) extended the ban to bulls and bullocks, prohibited their transport, export, purchase, sale and disposal for slaughter, prohibited possession of the flesh of such animals, criminalized possession of beef per se even if lawfully obtained from another state, placed the burden of proof on the accused, and prescribed punishment. A minority community 'X', for whom beef was a traditional and affordable protein source, was drastically affected. Writ petitions challenging the constitutional validity of the Amendment Act of 1995 were filed before the Supreme Court of Republic of Indica, with the Maratha Butchers' Association (a Registered Society) among the petitioners.

The proposition frames four issues for consideration: (1) whether the petition is maintainable before the Supreme Court of Republic of Indica; (2) whether the religious sentiments of the majority community can override the traditional food habits of other communities in a state that calls itself secular; (3) whether Article 48 limits the State to prohibiting the slaughter of cows, calves and other milch and draught cattle only, and whether Article 51A(g) asserts compassion to living creatures only with respect to cows, bulls, calves and bullocks; and (4) whether a secular and democratic State can enact legislation grounded in the religious beliefs of one community and sustain it as a reasonable restriction when its practical enforcement remains in question. A pari materia clause provides that all laws pari materia to India shall apply, and students shall refer to the Maharashtra Animal Preservation Act, 1978 along with its amendments.

• Participation is open to all bona fide law students enrolled in a 3-year LL.B. or 5-year integrated law course at any recognized institution in India.
• Each team shall comprise a minimum of two members (two speakers) and a maximum of three members (two speakers plus one researcher).
• Cross-institutional teams are permitted.
• There is no cap on the number of teams that may register from a single institution.
• No bonafide certificate is required.
• Upon successful registration, each team is allotted a unique Team Code that serves as its identifier throughout the competition.

• Each team must prepare Memorials for both sides, Petitioner/Appellant and Respondent.
• Required sections: Cover Page, Table of Contents, List of Abbreviations, Index of Authorities, Statement of Jurisdiction, Statement of Facts, Statement of Issues, Summary of Arguments, Arguments Advanced, and Prayer.
• Paper: A4 size. Font: Times New Roman, size 12, 1.5 line spacing. Margins: 1 inch on all sides.
• Citations: Bluebook 20th Edition, uniformly applied.
• Page limit: not more than 40 pages in total, with a maximum of 25 pages for Arguments Advanced.
• Cover page colour scheme: Petitioner/Appellant in Blue, Respondent in Red. Team Code must be mentioned on the top-right corner.
• Memorials must not contain any identifying marks, photographs, annexures, or exhibits.
• Soft copies (Word plus PDF) must be submitted by email to nyayavani.mootcourt@gmail.com with the subject line: Memorial Submission, Team Code (for example NVF-01 Appellant / NVF-01 Respondent).
• Non-compliance will invite penalties at the discretion of the organizers.

• All oral rounds are conducted virtually and in English. Each team's side (Appellant/Petitioner or Respondent) is decided by a draw of lots before every round. Teams identify themselves only by their Team Code; disclosure of names or institutions may result in disqualification.
• Preliminary Round: each team argues once, no rebuttal or surrebuttal; 30 minutes per team (maximum 15 minutes per speaker). Shortlisted teams advance to the Quarter-Finals.
• Quarter-Finals: teams argue once with up to 2 minutes for rebuttal and surrebuttal; 35 minutes per team (maximum 17 minutes per speaker). Winning teams advance to the Semi-Finals.
• Semi-Finals: up to 5 minutes for rebuttal and surrebuttal; 40 minutes per team (maximum 20 minutes per speaker, rebuttal/surrebuttal included).
• Finals: top two teams compete with up to 5 minutes for rebuttal and surrebuttal; 50 minutes per team (maximum 25 minutes per speaker, rebuttal/surrebuttal included).
• Researcher's Test: conducted online, 25 multiple-choice questions on the moot proposition, relevant laws and contemporary legal developments, 15 minutes duration, plus 1 for each correct answer and minus 0.25 for each incorrect answer.
• Marking: Memorials out of 100 (Knowledge of Facts 10, Knowledge of Law 10, Analysis 10, Original Thought 10, Grammar & Style 10, Format & Citation 10, Extent & Use of Research 20, Clarity & Organization 20). Oral Submissions out of 100 per speaker across ten criteria of 10 marks each (Facts, Issues, Legal Principles, Authorities & Precedents, Response to Questions, Presentation, Clarity & Logical Flow, Poise & Demeanour, Strategy, and Ingenuity).
• Dress code: formal courtroom attire. Male participants: white shirt, black trousers, black tie, black coat, black shoes. Female participants: white shirt, black trousers/salwar or skirt, black coat, black shoes.

• Early Bird Registration: Rs 1,500 per team, available till 1 August 2026.
• Regular Registration: Rs 1,800 per team, after the early bird deadline.
• Teams must register through the official Google Form registration link provided by the Organizing Committee.
• The last date to register is 15 September 2026.

• Register online through the official form at https://forms.gle/3tF8R3CjEE8G1VYB9.
• Teams may seek clarifications on the Moot Proposition or Rules until the announced date. Queries must be submitted in writing to nyayavani.mootcourt@gmail.com with the subject line: Clarification Request, Team Code [NV-].
• Clarifications are compiled and released in a single document that forms part of the Moot Proposition and is binding on all participants.
• Submit both sides of the memorial by email before the memorial submission deadline as per the format above.