Aequitas – The Moot Court Society, Department of Law, Maharaja Surajmal Institute (MSI), New Delhi, is organising the 1st All India Maharaja Surajmal Moot Court Competition 2026. The competition will be conducted in a hybrid format, with online rounds from November 2-4, 2026 and offline rounds on November 13-14, 2026. The last date for registration is October 15, 2026.
About Maharaja Surajmal Institute
Established in 1999, Maharaja Surajmal Institute (MSI), New Delhi, is affiliated with Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University (GGSIPU). The Institute is committed to imparting quality professional education through innovative and contemporary learning methodologies.
MSI is NAAC ‘A’ Grade accredited, rated Category ‘A’ by SFRC and ‘A’ by JAC, Government of NCT of Delhi. The Institute is approved by the Bar Council of India (BCI) and AICTE and recognised under Section 2(f) of the UGC Act.
About the Department of Law
The Department of Law at Maharaja Surajmal Institute, affiliated with GGSIPU, New Delhi, is committed to providing quality legal education that responds to the evolving needs of the legal profession.
The Department emphasises experiential learning and provides students with opportunities to develop their legal research, advocacy, analytical and professional skills through moot courts, internships, seminars, conferences and legal aid initiatives.
About Aequitas – The Moot Court Society
Aequitas, the Moot Court Society of the Department of Law, Maharaja Surajmal Institute, is a student-led society dedicated to fostering excellence in advocacy, legal research, drafting and oral argumentation.
The Society organises moot court competitions, training sessions, workshops and other academic initiatives to help students bridge the gap between theoretical knowledge and practical application.
About the Competition
The 1st All India Maharaja Surajmal Moot Court Competition 2026 is being organised as an academic platform for law students from across India to showcase and enhance their skills in advocacy, legal research and courtroom argumentation.
The competition seeks to provide participants with exposure to contemporary legal issues through a simulated courtroom environment and aims to promote legal research, oral advocacy, critical analysis and judicial reasoning.
Mode of the Competition
The competition will be conducted in a hybrid mode (Online + Offline).
- Online Rounds: November 2-4, 2026
- Offline Rounds: November 13-14, 2026 at Maharaja Surajmal Institute, New Delhi
Eligibility
- The competition is open to students pursuing a 3-year or 5-year LL.B. degree course from any recognised university or institution in India.
- Each team shall consist of 3 members – 2 Speakers and 1 Researcher.
- A maximum of 3 teams per institution is permitted.
Theme
Criminal Law.
Moot Problem Highlights
The Moot Proposition revolves around issues arising under the new criminal laws, including the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 (BNS), Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 (BNSS) and Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam, 2023 (BSA).
The key issues include:
- Circumstantial evidence and the ‘Last-Seen’ theory.
- Reversal of acquittal by High Courts.
- Constitutional validity of Trial in Absentia under Section 356 BNSS for Proclaimed Offenders.
Registration Fee
The registration fee is ₹2,000 per team.
Registrations shall be accepted on a first-come, first-served basis, subject to the eligibility criteria and availability of slots.
Prizes and Incentives
- Winner: ₹21,000
- Runner-Up: ₹11,000
- Best Speaker: ₹5,000
- Best Researcher: ₹5,000
- Best Memorial: ₹5,000
Exclusive Benefit for All Participants: 1-month access to SCC Online Web Edition worth ₹3,100 per participant.
The competition material also provides for SCC Online subscriptions for the winners.
Important Dates
- Opening of Registration: September 25, 2026
- Closing of Registration: October 15, 2026
- Release of Clarifications: October 20, 2026
- Memorial Submission Deadline: October 25, 2026
- Researcher’s Test: November 2, 2026 – Online
- One-Hour Training Session on SCC Online for All Participants: November 2, 2026 – Online
- Inaugural Ceremony & Preliminary Round: November 3, 2026 – Online
- Quarter-Final Round: November 4, 2026 – Online
- Semi-Final Round: November 13, 2026 – Offline
- Final Round: November 14, 2026 – Offline
Registration Process
Interested teams are required to complete the online registration process and pay the prescribed registration fee.
Registration shall be deemed complete only upon successful submission of the registration form and payment of the prescribed registration fee.
The proof of payment is required to be emailed to Aequitas at [email protected].
Downloads
Contact
Email: [email protected]
Phone: +91-8851253018