Pradnya Bharati National Level Paper Presentation Competition 2026 on Indian Knowledge System: Bharatiya Dnyana Parampara [Online; Free Registration; Cash Prizes]

Bharati Vidyapeeth's New Law College, Kolhapur (affiliated to Shivaji University, Kolhapur) invites papers for Pradnya Bharati, a national level paper presentation competition on Indian Knowledge System: Bharatiya Dnyana Parampara. It is an IQAC initiative under the college's Shaastrarth Mandal (Jurist Club). The competition aims to provide a national academic platform for students and research scholars to explore and critically examine Indian Knowledge Systems (IKS) and their contemporary relevance to law, society, governance, economics, history, political thought and other interdisciplinary fields.

Mode: online. Presentations may be made in Marathi, Hindi or English.

Participants may select any topic connected with Indian Knowledge Systems/Bharatiya Dnyana Parampara. The brochure lists illustrative, non-exhaustive themes under these heads:

• IKS and Law: Dharma and the concept of justice, Nyaya and Indian jurisprudence, Rajadharma and constitutional governance, Dandaniti and contemporary criminal justice, Arthashastra and governance, Narada and Brihaspati Smriti, customary law, ancient judicial institutions, panchayat and traditional dispute resolution, mediation, duties and rights, environmental jurisprudence, Uniform Civil Code and IKS, IKS and constitutional values, BRICS declaration and Bharat's international policy
• IKS and Family Law: Vivaha, joint family, Stridhan and property rights, adoption, contemporary family law through an IKS perspective
• IKS and Economics: Kautilya's Arthashaastra, taxation, trade and commerce, sustainable and ethical economics
• IKS and Sociology: Indian social institutions, women and society, social justice in Bharatiya thought
• IKS and History: Gurukul system, Takshashila and Nalanda, ancient administrative systems, colonial historiography
• IKS and Political Science: Rajadharma, Saptanga theory, Kautilya's theory of state, diplomacy in Arthashastra
• Interdisciplinary IKS: law combined with sociology, economics, history, political science, philosophy, management, education, environmental studies, technology, literature, psychology or governance

Open at the national level to regular Class XII, UG, PG, M.Phil. and Ph.D. students from a recognised university, college or institute, in four categories:

• Category I: Higher Secondary (Class XII)
• Category II: Undergraduate (B.A., B.Com., B.Sc., B.A.LL.B., LL.B. and other UG programmes)
• Category III: Postgraduate (LL.M., M.A., M.Com., M.Sc. and other PG programmes)
• Category IV: M.Phil./Ph.D. research scholars

Participation may be individual or in a team of two students.

• Abstract: approximately 200 words with 4 keywords.
• Full paper: original, unpublished research; suggested length 1,300 words including bibliography, references and footnotes.
• The paper should carry the title, author name(s), institution, course/programme, category, email ID, contact number, abstract and keywords, and the main paper should include introduction, concept, research gap, objectives, methodology, major arguments/findings, and conclusion and suggestions.
• Format: Microsoft Word (.doc or .docx), A4, 1-inch margins; Times New Roman for English and Unicode for Marathi/Hindi; main text 12 pt, justified, 1.5 spacing; title 16 pt bold centred; level 1 headings 14 pt bold; level 2 headings 12 pt bold.
• Similarity index must be below 10%.
• Citation style: Journal of the Indian Law Institute/Bluebook, with DOI links for cited journal articles wherever available.

Selected participants present before a panel of judges: 5 minutes of presentation and 2 minutes of questions. The organising committee will communicate the final schedule.

Suggested weightage: relevance to IKS 20; originality, research contribution and interdisciplinary/contemporary relevance 25; research methodology, academic integrity and referencing 20; depth of analysis and quality of presentation 25; response to questions 10.

Registration is free for all participants. A publication fee per participant applies for publication of the research paper in an ISSN journal:

• Class XII to undergraduate students: Rs 550
• Postgraduate students: Rs 650
• Ph.D./research scholars: Rs 750

The fee covers paper-processing charges and proposed publication-related expenses and is non-refundable. Selected papers may be published in an ISSN-bearing peer-reviewed academic journal/proceedings, subject to editorial scrutiny, peer review where applicable, plagiarism screening, formatting compliance, acceptance by the editorial committee/publisher and a copyright declaration form. Payment of the fee does not automatically guarantee publication. Payment (UPI) details are in the official brochure.

A Certificate of Presentation will be awarded to participants whose papers are accepted and presented before the panel. The winner, runner-up, best research paper and best speaker/presenter each receive a certificate with a cash prize. Details given at registration will be used for certificates and no change requests will be entertained later.

Register through the official Google Form (registration is free). Email the soft copy of the abstract, and later the full research paper, to bvnlckiqac2026.27@gmail.com. The last date for abstract submission has been extended to 15 October 2026 (from 7 October 2026) by the college's notice dated 9 October 2026.

The detailed brochure and the registration form give the paper presentation date as 26 October 2026, with the concluding ceremony and declaration of results on 27 October 2026 at 12:30 pm. The college's posters (including the extension notice of 9 October 2026) show 26 October 2026 at the top but list the paper presentation as 27 October 2026 under Important Dates, so confirm the final schedule with the organising committee. The extension notice still lists acceptance of abstracts as 10 October 2026 and the last date for the full paper and publication fee as 21 October 2026.