National Reel Making and Essay Writing Competition 2026, Act Green Live Clean

The Centre for Research in Environmental Law and Sustainability (CRELS), School of Law, Galgotias University, is inviting students from across India to take part in its National Reel Making and Essay Writing Competition 2026, themed Act Green, Live Clean. The competition pairs short-form digital storytelling with legal writing so you can engage with contemporary environmental issues through awareness, innovation and legal perspectives.

If you care about climate change, sustainability and environmental justice and want a low-cost national platform with cash prizes, certificates and a publication opportunity for the best essays, this is a strong fit. There are two tracks: a reel making contest open to any stream, and an essay writing contest reserved for law students.

Galgotias University is a NAAC A+ accredited university based on the Yamuna Expressway in Greater Noida, Gautam Buddh Nagar, Uttar Pradesh. Its School of Law runs skill based, industry focused programmes spanning litigation, corporate law, mediation and arbitration, and comparative law.

CRELS is the universitys Centre for Research in Environmental Law and Sustainability. It runs an interdisciplinary platform for research and community engagement on climate change, biodiversity conservation, pollution control and sustainable development, and has hosted workshops, guest lectures, symposiums and awareness campaigns including a Constitutionalism and the Environment workshop, a climate change litigation lecture, and World Environment Day activities.

You can enter either or both of two categories.

Reel Making Competition. Create a short video of 60 to 120 seconds on the theme Act Green, Live Clean. You may enter individually or in a team of up to two members. Sub-themes include Climate Change and You, Plastic-Free Future, Save Water Save Life, Biodiversity Conservation, Sustainable Campus Practices, Eco-Friendly Lifestyle, and Environmental Justice. Technical requirements: MP4 or MOV format, minimum 1080p resolution, language English or Hindi. Reels are scored out of 100 on Creativity and Originality (30), Relevance to Theme (25), Clarity of Message (20), Technical Quality (15), and Overall Impact (10).

Essay Writing Competition. Write an individual essay of 1500 to 2500 words (excluding footnotes) on one of these topics: Environmental Impact Assessment, Law vs Implementation; Climate Change and Constitutional Governance; Role of Judiciary in Environmental Protection; Sustainable Development and Intergenerational Equity; or Environmental Justice and Public Participation.

• Reel Making: open to students of any stream at undergraduate or postgraduate level. Individual or team entries, with a maximum of two members per team.
• Essay Writing: open only to undergraduate and postgraduate law students. Individual participation only.
• The competition is national in scope and open to students across India.

• Word limit: 1500 to 2500 words, excluding footnotes.
• Font: Times New Roman, size 12 for text and 10 for footnotes.
• Spacing: 1.5 for text and single for footnotes.
• Margins: 1 inch.
• Citation style: Bluebook (20th or 21st edition) or ILI style.
• File format: submit both PDF and Word.
• Plagiarism limit: maximum 10 percent (excluding footnotes).
• Use of AI is prohibited.

• Entries must be original and unpublished. Plagiarism will lead to immediate disqualification.
• Use of copyrighted material without permission is prohibited.
• Offensive, political or defamatory content is strictly prohibited.
• The Organising Committee reserves the right to publish selected entries with due credit.
• The decision of the judges shall be final and binding.

The participation fee is 150 rupees per entry and is non-refundable. Payment must be completed before registration is treated as complete. Registration is considered complete only after successful payment confirmation.

The whole competition is conducted online. The top two essays receive a publication opportunity, and the winning reel is featured on the official CRELS social media handles.

There are two stages, both via Google Forms.

1. Complete the Registration Form with your participant details and payment confirmation by the registration deadline. The registration form link is provided below.
2. After your registration is confirmed, the Final Submission Form link is shared by email to registered participants. Use it to upload your reel or essay before the submission deadline.

For any queries, email crels@galgotiasuniversity.edu.in.

• Confirm you meet the eligibility for your chosen category (any stream for reels, law students only for essays).
• Pay the 150 rupee entry fee and keep your payment confirmation.
• Complete the Registration Form before 25 June 2026.
• Reel entrants: produce a 60 to 120 second MP4 or MOV at minimum 1080p in English or Hindi.
• Essay entrants: write 1500 to 2500 words, format in Times New Roman with Bluebook or ILI citations, keep plagiarism under 10 percent, and avoid AI.
• Watch your email for the Final Submission Form link and upload your entry before 30 June 2026.
• Ensure your work is original, unpublished and free of offensive or copyrighted material.