National Case Study Competition on Hara Bhara Swaraj – Rise & Act: Resilient Initiatives for Social, Environmental & Community Action

About the Organisers

Rajiv Gandhi Foundation (RGF)

The Rajiv Gandhi Foundation (RGF) was established on 21 June 1991 to realise the vision of Shri Rajiv Gandhi for a modern, secular, and progressive India. The Foundation works across diverse sectors including:

• Education

• Health

• Science and Technology

• Women's and Children's Development

• Disability Support

• Natural Resource Management

• Rural Development

The Foundation is presently chaired by Sonia Gandhi.

Rajiv Gandhi Study Circle (RGSC)

The Rajiv Gandhi Study Circle (RGSC) is a national-level trust established in 2005. It promotes:

• Academic engagement

• Civic responsibility

• Progressive thinking

• Research

• Student mentorship

• Intellectual dialogue among students and academicians

About the Competition

The National Case Study Competition on "Hara Bhara Swaraj – Rise & Act: Resilient Initiatives for Social, Environmental & Community Action" is organised to commemorate the 82nd Birth Anniversary of Shri Rajiv Gandhi.

The competition aims to encourage students and young researchers to:

• Document successful community-led environmental initiatives.

• Develop practical, research-backed solutions to unresolved environmental and social challenges.

The Top 20 selected authors will be invited to present their papers during a One-Day Conference on 20 August 2026 at Jawahar Bhawan, New Delhi.

Eligibility

The competition is open to:

• Undergraduate students

• Postgraduate students

• Ph.D. scholars

Participants must be enrolled in recognised colleges or universities across India.

Format

Participants may participate:

• Individually, or

• In teams of up to two members

Submissions may be based on either:

• A case study of a local environmental or social issue successfully resolved through community participation; or

• A research-based proposal providing practical solutions for a local issue requiring intervention.

Themes

Participants may submit case studies or research proposals focusing on environmental and community action initiatives from any part of India.

The paper may analyse:

• Successful community-led interventions.

• Government-supported initiatives.

• Community-government collaborative initiatives.

• Practical solutions for unresolved local issues.

Indicative Sub-Themes

• Water Conservation and Management

• Waste Management and Recycling

• River, Lake and Pond Restoration

• Community Afforestation

• Pollution Mitigation

• Climate Change Adaptation

• Sustainable Agriculture

• Plastic-Free Campaigns

• Community Health and Sanitation

• Local Governance and Public Participation

• Youth-led Environmental Movements

• Renewable Energy at the Community Level

• Deforestation

• Gender, Climate and Environment

Submission Guidelines

• Manuscripts must be original.

• Submissions may be based on:

  • Empirical case study research, or

  • Working papers.

• Word Limit: 4,000–5,000 words

• Language:

  • English

  • Hindi

Formatting Requirements

• Font: Times New Roman

• Font Size: 12 pt

• Line Spacing: 1.5

• APA 7th Edition

Additional Requirements

Participants must submit:

• Plagiarism Report (less than 12% similarity)

• AI Usage Report (less than 30% AI-generated content)

• Supporting material such as:

  • Photographs

  • Interviews

  • Media references

  • Field observations (where applicable)

• Declaration certifying:

  • Originality of the manuscript

  • Absence of plagiarism

  • Disclosure of any conflict of interest

Submission Method

Completed papers must be emailed to:
rajivgandhistudycircledelhi@gmail.com

Registration Procedure

• Participation is free of cost.

• Interested participants must register through the official online registration link.

• Final papers must be submitted via email before the prescribed deadline.

Judging Criteria

Submissions will be evaluated on:

• Originality and relevance

• Depth of research

• Community participation

• Practicality and sustainability of the proposed solution

• Community impact

• Clarity of analysis

• Quality of presentation

Awards

Total Prize Pool: ₹1,35,000

First Prize - ₹50,000

Second Prize - ₹30,000

Third Prize - ₹20,000

Seven Consolation Prizes - ₹5,000 each

Fifteen Best Questioner Awards - ₹1,000 each

Additional Benefits

• Certificates of Participation for all eligible participants.

• Conference Kit for all eligible participants.

• Top 20 case studies will be invited to present at the conference.

• Top 10 presentations will be shortlisted for the final awards.

• Selected papers may also be considered for:

  • Publication

  • Policy outreach initiatives

Important Dates

Abstract Submission Deadline - 4 August 2026

Full Paper Submission Deadline - 10 August 2026

One-Day Conference - 20 August 2026

Registration Fee

No Registration Fee

Venue

Jawahar Bhawan
Dr. Rajendra Prasad Road,
Opposite Shastri Bhawan,
Windsor Place,
New Delhi.

Contact Information

• Shaijal Gupta: +91 9554019993

• Alam (Law Centre II, Faculty of Law, University of Delhi): +91 9142872894

• Rani Singh: +91 8076622418