7th Surana & Surana and RGNUL International Arbitral Award Writing Competition 2026 [Online; register by 15 Nov]

The Centre for Alternative Dispute Resolution (CADR) at Rajiv Gandhi National University of Law, Punjab, in collaboration with Surana & Surana International Attorneys, Chennai, presents the seventh edition of the Surana & Surana and RGNUL International Arbitral Award Writing Competition, 2026. Participants draft an arbitral award on the basis of the proposition released for the Competition.

CADR was established to promote the interest of students and researchers in Alternative Dispute Resolution, covering Arbitration, Negotiation, Mediation and Conciliation. The Centre is also known for organizing research paper writing and essay writing competitions.

Surana & Surana International Attorneys, Chennai, has been ranked among the top law firms of India since 1998 by national and international publications and clients. Its services include arbitration, mediation, litigation, corporate, commercial, criminal, cyber, defence, tax, regulatory investigations & compliance, real estate, infrastructure and IPR.

• Students pursuing an undergraduate, postgraduate, doctoral, or any other academic programme, including B.A., LL.B., LL.M., Ph.D., or M.Phil., at any university worldwide as of the date of release of the Competition Problem.
• Participants may register individually or in a team of two (co-authorship). A team is treated as a single entry.
• Cross-teams with authors from different institutions are allowed, as long as each author meets the eligibility criteria individually.
• If a student of Rajiv Gandhi National University of Law (RGNUL) is positioned among the top three, he or she is not eligible for the top three prizes but is felicitated with a special prize by Surana & Surana International Attorneys, Chennai.

• Phase I is the Arbitral Award Submission, conducted online. Participants submit their arbitral awards in accordance with the Submission Guidelines and within the notified deadline.
• All submissions are evaluated anonymously. The top ten (10) entries by Phase I score are shortlisted for Phase II.
• Phase II is the Arbitral Award Presentation, in which shortlisted participants present their awards online before a panel of judges.

Participants draft an arbitral award on the basis of the proposition released for the Competition. The award follows this chronological format, and a Draft Arbitral Award is given in Annexure I of the rulebook for guidance:

• Cover Page
• Background of Facts and Issues
• Arguments of the Claimant(s)
• Arguments of the Respondent(s)
• Decision/Reasoning of the Tribunal
• Conclusion, arranged issue-wise
• Operative Award, including costs
• Signature(s) of the Arbitrator(s)
• Place and Date of Arbitration

The award may favour either the Claimant(s) or the Respondent(s) but must be well-reasoned and thoroughly analysed. The guidelines on structure are directive and not restrictive, and participants may exercise discretion in drafting, provided they comply with the overarching rules of the Competition.

• Font: Times New Roman
• Font size: 12 for the main body of the award, and 10 for footnotes
• Line spacing: 1.5 for the main body, and single spacing for footnotes
• Alignment: Justified
• Margins: 1 inch on all sides
• Pages numbered consecutively
• Citation style: Bluebook: A Uniform System of Citation, 21st edition
• Page limit: the draft must not exceed 30 pages

• Participants must register on or before 15th November, 2026, through the Registration Form. Registration and submission of the award are carried out through separate forms, and completing the Registration Form alone does not constitute submission of the award.
• The award must be submitted by registered participants in both Microsoft Word (.docx) and PDF formats. The files must be named “[Team Code]_ArbitralAward”.
• Awards must be submitted on or before 30th November, 2026, through the Submission Form. Submissions received after the deadline are not considered.
• The use of Generative AI tools in the preparation of the final submission is strictly prohibited. Any violation results in immediate disqualification.
• Requests for clarifications may be submitted through the Clarification Form, with the last date being 15th November, 2026. Responses are shared with all registered participants.
• Only one submission per team is accepted. If a team makes multiple submissions, only the last one received before the deadline is evaluated.

• The top ten (10) entries by Phase I score are shortlisted. The date, schedule, meeting link and other instructions are communicated by the Organising Committee to shortlisted participants or teams.
• Each participant or team presents its own award before a panel of judges.
• Each team has 15 minutes to present, followed by 5 minutes for questions from the panel, a total of 20 minutes. The timekeeper warns when two minutes remain. The panel may grant an extension, pose questions during the presentation, or combine the presentation and questioning segments.
• In case of co-authorship, participants may divide the time between themselves, but teamwork is an integral component of the presentation and is evaluated.
• Participants may use a PowerPoint presentation and may submit a compendium to the bench. Soft copies must be emailed to submissions.cadr@rgnul.ac.in a day prior to the Presentation round, latest by 16th January, 2027. Materials must bear only the participant code, and late or non-submitted materials may not be presented.
• Presentations must be confined to the award as submitted; no new findings that depart from it may be introduced.
• Participants need a stable internet connection, a working camera and microphone, and a quiet environment. Cameras must stay on throughout. Virtual backgrounds and any display of institutional affiliation through logos or attire are prohibited.
• Participants must join the designated platform at least (10) minutes before their slot. A delay exceeding (10) minutes may result in forfeiture of the slot.
• In case of a genuine technical difficulty, the Organising Committee may pause the round, allow a short reconnection window, or reschedule the slot.
• Rounds may be recorded by the Organising Committee. Participants shall not record the proceedings or receive assistance from any third party during the round.

The final score of each shortlisted entry is the aggregate of the Phase I award score (out of 100) normalised to [60]%, and the Phase II presentation score (out of 100) normalised to [40]%. Entries not shortlisted are ranked by their Phase I scores. In the event of a tie, preference is given first to the higher score under Legal Analysis and Reasoning in Phase I, and then to the same parameter in Phase II.

Phase I award criteria (total 100 marks):

• Legal Analysis and Reasoning: 20
• Application of Substantive and Procedural Law, Depth of Research and Legal Accuracy: 20
• Reasoning on Reliefs and Remedies: 10
• Interpretation of Facts and Evidence: 10
• Clarity, Coherence, and Structure: 10
• Formatting, Referencing, Presentation and Compliance with Rules: 10
• Adherence to Arbitration Principles and Enforceability: 10
• Originality and Creativity: 10

Phase II presentation criteria (total 100 marks, 20 each):

• Knowledge and Relevance of the Subject
• Legal Analysis and Reasoning
• Response to Questions
• Structure and Time Management
• Manner of Presentation

• First Prize: INR 25,000
• Second Prize: INR 15,000
• Third Prize: INR 10,000
• Consolation Prize for the next best five entries: INR 1,000 each

No fees will be charged at any stage of the competition: not for registration, submission of the award, or participation in the presentation round.

• Registration opens: 12th October, 2026
• Release of problem: 15th October, 2026
• Last date for seeking clarifications and closing of registration: 15th November, 2026
• Release of clarifications: 20th November, 2026
• Last date for submission: 30th November, 2026
• Shortlisted candidates announced for online presentation: 30th December, 2026
• Online presentation: 17.01.2027

The registration form states the last date to register as 15th November, 2026, 11:59 P.M.

Register through the Registration Form, which asks for the full name, college or university, contact number, email and postal address of Author 1, and the same details for Author 2 if the entry is a team. Only the most recent form submission is considered.

Queries: submissions.cadr@rgnul.ac.in, or Mr. Ritwik Sharma (ritwiksharma22121@rgnul.ac.in), Convenor and Editor-in-Chief, or Ms. Kavya Jain (kavyajain23046@rgnul.ac.in), Managing Editor, CADR-RGNUL. The CADR website is www.rgnulcadr.in. CADR-RGNUL reserves the right to amend the rules, including dates, and amendments are communicated to all registered participants.