20th Pro Bono Enviro National Moot Court Competition, 2026–27

About The Tamil Nadu Dr. Ambedkar Law University

The School of Excellence in Law (SoEL) is a constituent school of The Tamil Nadu Dr. Ambedkar Law University (TNDALU), Chennai, a state university dedicated to legal education.

The university's Moot Court Association is a student body that prepares law students for national moot court competitions and organises competitions of its own. The Pro Bono Enviro National Moot Court Competition began in 2006 and is described by the organisers as India's oldest national moot court competition devoted exclusively to environmental law.

About the Competition

The 20th Pro Bono Enviro National Moot Court Competition, 2026–27 invites law students from recognised institutions across India to participate in a national-level moot court competition focused on environmental law.

The competition addresses contemporary environmental challenges, including clean air and water, forest conservation, coastal ecosystems, climate change and accountability for environmental harm. Participating teams will conduct legal research, prepare written memorials for both sides and present oral arguments before benches comprising members of the judiciary, senior advocates and academicians.

The twentieth edition follows a hybrid format, enabling teams from across India to participate in the initial rounds online. The four teams qualifying for the semi-finals will travel to Chennai for the final stages.

Eligibility Criteria

The competition is open to students pursuing:

• A three-year LL.B. programme.

• A five-year integrated LL.B. programme.

• A B.L. programme.

Participants must be enrolled at an institution recognised by the Bar Council of India.

Team Composition:

• Each institution may send one team.

• A team may comprise two or three members.

• In a three-member team, two members act as Speakers and one as the Researcher.

• In a two-member team, one Speaker must also be designated as the Researcher.

Competition Format

1. Qualifier Round

The Qualifier Round consists of two components:

• Memorials: Teams must prepare written memorials for both sides and submit them by 25 November 2026.

• Research and Procedure Assessment (RPA): The team's designated Researcher must take a one-hour online assessment on 23 November 2026, from 7:00 PM to 8:00 PM.

The memorials account for 60% of the Qualifier Score, while the RPA accounts for 40%. The top 24 teams advance to the Preliminary Rounds.

2. Preliminary Rounds and Quarter-finals

The Preliminary Rounds and Quarter-finals will take place online on 12 and 13 December 2026.

3. Semi-finals and Finals

The four qualifying teams will participate in the Semi-finals and Finals in person in Chennai on 9 January 2027. Travel fare will be reimbursed, and accommodation will be arranged for these teams.

Important Dates

Moot proposition released - 18 October 2026

Early registration closes - 31 October 2026

Last date to seek clarifications on the moot proposition - 15 November 2026

Final registration closes - 20 November 2026

Research and Procedure Assessment - 23 November 2026, 7:00–8:00 PM

Memorial submission deadline - 25 November 2026

Preliminary Rounds and Quarter-finals - 12–13 December 2026

Semi-finals, Finals and Valedictory Ceremony - 9 January 2027, Chennai

Payment Details

Payment must be made through NEFT or bank transfer.

• Account Name: Tamil Nadu Dr. Ambedkar Law University Moot Court Association

• Account Number: 67104604033

• Bank: State Bank of India

• Branch: PNSB Branch, Raja Annamalaipuram

• IFSC Code: SBIN0070688

• Branch Code: 70688

Teams must enter the payment reference number, date and receipt during final registration.

Registration Procedure

Interested teams must register through EnviroPort, the competition's official registration and participation portal.

1. Visit the official registration portal.

2. Complete provisional registration if required. This is optional and free, and provides an Enviro Pass or Provisional Registration ID.

3. Complete final registration by entering the team members' details and paying the applicable fee.

4. Enter the payment details and upload the receipt through the portal.

5. Retain the Team Code issued upon submission and check the confirmation email received by each team member.

6. Use the same portal for moot proposition clarifications, memorial submission and the Research and Procedure Assessment.

Teams completing final registration before 14 November 2026 will receive one month of free SCC Online access, from 16 November to 16 December 2026.

Contact Information

For competition-related queries, participants may contact:

• Registrations: Mr Arun, Additional Secretary, MCA — +91 81247 99899

• Memorials, penalties and compliance review hearing: Mr Varshan Shanmuganathan, Joint Secretary, MCA — +91 90808 02403

• RPA, virtual rounds and technical support: Ms Annliya Anil, Additional Secretary, MCA — +91 85477 92427

• General queries and grievances: Ms Anjana Sarvashree, Joint Secretary, MCA — +91 98840 72400

• Convenor: Mr Ashwad Dhinakaran, Convenor, 20th Pro Bono Enviro NMCC and President, Moot Court Association — +91 95514 36255

The official competition page also provides an email contact for general queries and a link to the brochure.