Paper Presentation Competition - NyayaTech Conclave 2026

About DNLU

Dharmashastra National Law University, Jabalpur (M.P.), India is one of the leading and premier law institutes imparting legal education and research. The University was established in the year 2018 by Madhya Pradesh Dharmashastra National Law University Act 24 of 2018, with the object of advancing the cause of legal education and achieving excellence as a university for imparting value-based legal education. The university emphasizes advocacy skills with professional ethics by providing suitable simulation exercises. The Hon'ble Chief Justice of Madhya Pradesh High Court is the Chancellor of the University. Motto: “सत्यम् वद । धर्म चर ।” (“Speak the truth and practice conduct in accordance with dharma”).

About Vidhimitra- The Legal Aid Cell: Vidhimitra is the Legal Aid Cell of Dharmashastra National Law University, Jabalpur, established in 2018 to make the legal system and justice more accessible to the public and raise awareness about contemporary legal issues and citizens' rights. It provides free legal advice, facilitates connections with lawyers, and engages in outreach, especially in rural areas, to empower marginalized communities with legal knowledge and support. Through awareness drives, counselling, and community engagement, Vidhimitra fosters legal literacy and inclusive access to justice.

About the Collaborator

Madhya Pradesh State Legal Services Authority (MPSLSA): The Legal Services Authorities Act, 1987 has been enacted to achieve the objectives of equal justice and free legal aid as enshrined in Article 39-A of the Constitution of India. Under the said Act, 1987 Legal Services Authorities provide Free & Competent Legal Services to the weaker section of society to ensure that opportunities for securing justice are not denied to any citizen by reason of economic or other disabilities and organize Lok-Adalats to secure the operation of legal system and promote Mediation and other activities. The Court based Legal Services are also provided which include activities such as representation before Court, Legal Aid and Advice and drafting of legal documents etc. Section-12 of Legal Services Authorities Act, 1987 provides certain categories of people who are eligible to get free legal aid & assistance. In that pursuant Madhya Pradesh State Legal Services Authority has been constituted.

About the Conclave

NyayaTech is the blend of two ideas: Nyaya (Justice) and Technology. NyayaTech represents the evolving vision of justice in a world where courts, lawyers, and citizens increasingly rely on digital systems to resolve disputes and access legal support. A digital justice system is not just about speed but also about access, inclusion, and fairness. With this conclave, NyayaTech seeks to bridge the gap between law and technology, ensuring that innovation truly reaches those who need justice the most. NyayaTech provides a platform to explore how technology can transform legal aid, public interest litigation, dispute resolution, and community access to legal services.

About the Paper Presentation Competition

The Paper Presentation Competition provides a platform for students, research scholars, academicians, and advocates to present research on the intersection of law, technology, digital justice, accessibility, and inclusion.

Theme

“BUILDING AN INCLUSIVE DIGITAL JUSTICE SYSTEM FOR NEW INDIA”

Suggested Sub-Themes

Participants may select a topic from the suggested areas below or propose another topic aligned with the main theme:

Role of e-Courts in improving access to justice
Digital divide and exclusion in justice delivery
Online Dispute Resolution (ODR): opportunities and risks
Cyber law, privacy, and data protection in judicial systems
Artificial Intelligence in courts: ethics, accuracy, and accountability
Technology-driven legal aid and community outreach
Public Interest Litigation in the digital age
Legal technology start-ups and innovations for justice delivery
Any other related topic aligned with the main theme.

Competition Format

Preliminary Round

Participants are required to submit a full research paper.

The competition document specifies a preliminary-round paper length of 2,500–3,000 words.

Final Round

Shortlisted participants will proceed to the presentation round, involving:

Presentation: Maximum 15 minutes
Question & Answer: 5 minutes with the evaluators/judges.

Submission Guidelines

The full research paper must comply with the following requirements:

Word Limit: 2,500–3,500 words
Mandatory Policy Recommendation Section: 300–400 words at the end of the paper
The Policy Recommendation section must contain 2–3 specific and actionable recommendations
Font: Times New Roman, 12 pt
Line Spacing: 1.5
Title: Times New Roman, 12 pt, CAPITALS, BOLD and CENTRE-ALIGNED
Footnotes: Times New Roman, 10 pt, single-spaced
Citation Style: Bluebook, latest edition
File Formats: .doc/.docx and .pdf
Plagiarism: Similarity above 10% will result in disqualification
AI-generated content: AI content above 10% will result in disqualification
Papers must be original and unpublished
Co-authorship: Maximum two authors per paper.

Note: The document separately states 2,500–3,000 words for the preliminary-round full research paper and 2,500–3,500 words under the detailed submission guidelines. Participants should follow the latest instructions communicated by the organisers if this is subsequently clarified.

Presentation Guidelines

Shortlisted participants must present their research paper before the evaluators.

Maximum presentation time: 15 minutes
Q&A: 5 minutes
Participants should present their research clearly and address the central issues, analysis, findings, and policy recommendations of their paper.

Evaluation Criteria

The papers and presentations will be evaluated on the following parameters:

Research Depth
Originality
Analysis and Critical Thinking
Presentation Quality
Relevance to the Theme
Citations and Methodology

Rewards

Winner

₹20,000 + Certificate of Merit

Runner-Up

₹10,000 + Certificate of Merit

Publication Opportunity

Selected papers from the competition will be compiled and published in an ISBN-bearing book volume as part of the Legal Aid Cell's flagship edition:

“NYAYA: A Legal Aid Review, Volume I – Digital Justice and Inclusion.”

Who Can Participate?

The Paper Presentation Competition is open to:

Academicians
Advocates
Research Scholars
Students

Participants may register through:

Single authorship, or
Co-authorship with a maximum of two authors per paper.

Registration Fee

The Paper Presentation Competition has the following registration structure:

Preliminary Round

₹1,000 preliminary-round registration fee.

If selected for the final round, the preliminary registration fee is deductible from the final-round registration fee.

Academicians / Advocates

Single Authorship

Without Accommodation: ₹2,500
With Accommodation: ₹3,500

Co-authorship

Without Accommodation: ₹4,500
With Accommodation: ₹6,500

Research Scholars

Single Authorship

Without Accommodation: ₹2,000
With Accommodation: ₹3,000

Co-authorship

Without Accommodation: ₹3,500
With Accommodation: ₹5,500

Students

Single Authorship

Without Accommodation: ₹1,500
With Accommodation: ₹2,500

Co-authorship

Without Accommodation: ₹2,500
With Accommodation: ₹4,500

Important Dates