7th Surana & Surana and RGNUL International Arbitral Award Writing Competition 2026

About the Organization

Rajiv Gandhi National University of Law (RGNUL), Punjab, established by the State Legislature of Punjab under Act No. 12 of 2006, is a premier national law university dedicated to legal excellence and research. The Centre for Alternative Dispute Resolution (CADR) at RGNUL actively fosters interest in arbitration, negotiation, mediation, and conciliation through flagship competitions and academic initiatives.

Surana & Surana International Attorneys is an esteemed, multi-disciplinary law firm headquartered in Chennai. Consistently ranked among India’s leading law practices since 1998, the firm has distinguished expertise across dispute resolution, international arbitration, corporate advisory, and commercial litigation.

Competition Overview & Structure

The 7th edition of the International Arbitral Award Writing Competition provides students worldwide with a practical platform to draft a reasoned arbitral award. The competition is conducted in two progressive phases:

• Phase I – Arbitral Award Submission: Participants prepare and submit a reasoned arbitral award based on the competition problem in compliance with the rulebook. Submissions are reviewed anonymously, and the top 10 highest-scoring entries qualify for the final round.
• Phase II – Arbitral Award Presentation: The shortlisted top 10 participants present and defend their awards before an expert panel of judges in an online presentation round.

Eligibility & Team Composition

• Open to students currently enrolled in undergraduate, postgraduate, doctoral, or other academic programmes (including LL.B., B.A. LL.B., LL.M., Ph.D., and M.Phil.) at any recognized university globally.
• Participation is open to individual entries or teams of two. Cross-institutional teams are permitted provided both members satisfy the eligibility criteria.
• Special Provision: If an RGNUL student team finishes in the top three positions, they will receive a special award from Surana & Surana International Attorneys and will not take the general top-three prize slots.

Awards & Cash Prizes

The total prize pool stands at ₹55,000 distributed as follows:

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

Important Dates & Schedule

• Registrations Open: 12 October 2026
• Release of Problem: 15 October 2026
• Clarification Deadline: 15 November 2026
• Registration Deadline: 15 November 2026
• Release of Clarifications: 20 November 2026
• Award Submission Deadline: 30 November 2026
• Shortlist Announcement: 30 December 2026
• Online Presentation Round: 17 January 2027

How to Apply & Registration Details

Registration and participation in the competition are completely free of cost (Zero fees).

• Complete the initial registration via the official Google Form before the registration deadline: 15 November 2026.
• Submit clarifications using the official Clarification Form before 15 November 2026.
• Submit the drafted Arbitral Award via the designated Submission Form before 30 November 2026.

Official Brochure / Rulebook

📄 Click here to view / download the official PDF brochure