The Centre for Human Rights, in association with IQAC, Mar Gregorios College of Law, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, is organising the 1st National Article Writing Competition, 2026, on the theme “Viksit Bharat 2047.” The competition invites students from recognised institutions across India to submit original articles exploring contemporary issues relating to human rights, constitutionalism, social justice and inclusive development.
Participants can compete for cash prizes worth ₹10,000. The last date for registration is 10 December 2026, while the deadline for full paper submission is 10 December 2026.
About Mar Gregorios College of Law
Established in 2012, Mar Gregorios College of Law is located at Mar Ivanios Vidya Nagar, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala. The institution is affiliated with the University of Kerala and approved by the Bar Council of India.
The college has attained the distinction of being Kerala’s first NAAC-accredited law college. It offers five-year integrated B.A. LL.B., B.B.A. LL.B. and B.Com. LL.B. programmes, along with specialised LL.M. programmes in Constitutional Law and Maritime Law.
About the Centre for Human Rights
The Centre for Human Rights at Mar Gregorios College of Law is dedicated to promoting awareness, research and advocacy in the field of human rights. Through academic initiatives and outreach programmes, the Centre seeks to sensitise students and the community to issues of human dignity, equality and social justice.
The Centre aims to cultivate socially responsible legal professionals committed to advancing justice and upholding fundamental rights.
About the Competition
The 1st National Article Writing Competition, 2026, organised by the Centre for Human Rights in association with IQAC, provides a platform for students, researchers and young scholars to explore contemporary legal and social challenges.
Centred on the theme “Viksit Bharat 2047,” the competition encourages academic excellence, critical thinking, innovative legal perspectives and meaningful discussion on issues relating to human rights, constitutionalism, social justice and inclusive development.
The initiative seeks to promote well-researched perspectives and innovative legal solutions while strengthening the values of equality, liberty, human dignity and justice.
Theme
Viksit Bharat 2047
Sub-Themes
Participants may submit articles on the following sub-themes:
- Constitutional Safeguards and Civil Liberties in an Evolving Democracy
- Human Rights in the Era of Digital Public Infrastructure, Cybersecurity and AI
- Access to Justice, Legal Aid and Systemic Reforms for Marginalized Communities
- Socio-Economic Rights and Corporate Accountability in a Rapidly Growing Economy
- Climate Justice, Environmental Rights and Sustainable Development Frameworks
- The Right to Health, Medical Equity and Bioethics Regulation
- Balancing National Security, State Surveillance and Civil Liberties
- The Right to Education and Inclusive Human Capital Development
- Women’s Rights, Intersectional Gender Justice and Social Protection
- The Right to Housing, Anti-Eviction Laws and Inclusive Urban Governance
- The Right to Food, Agrarian Livelihoods and Rural Resource Rights
- Data Privacy, Freedom of Expression and Platform Accountability in Digital Markets
- Labour Rights, Social Security and Protection Against Exploitation in the Modern Workforce
- Rights of Children, Persons with Disabilities and Inclusive Welfare Legislation
Note: The list of sub-themes is indicative and not exhaustive. Papers addressing closely related aspects of the main theme are also welcome.
Eligibility Criteria
Students pursuing undergraduate, postgraduate, diploma or doctoral programmes from any recognised university, college or academic institution in India are eligible to participate.
Participants from all academic disciplines are welcome, including Law, Management, Social Sciences, Humanities, Commerce, Engineering, Technology, Public Policy, Media, International Relations and allied fields.
- Participants may submit entries individually or as co-authors.
- A maximum of two individuals is permitted per team.
- Multiple teams from the same institution are allowed.
Submission Guidelines
Participants must comply with the following guidelines:
- Language: All submissions must be in English.
- Originality: Submissions must be original and must not have been published or be under consideration elsewhere.
- Word Limit: The main body of the article must not exceed 3,000 words, excluding the abstract and footnotes.
- Abstract: 300–400 words, accompanied by a minimum of five keywords.
- Title Page: The abstract must be accompanied by a title page containing the title of the paper, name of the author(s), email ID, contact number, designation and institutional affiliation.
- Accepted Formats: .doc, .docx and .pdf only.
- File Naming: TeamCode.doc / TeamCode.docx / TeamCode.pdf.
- Document Metadata: Participants must remove document metadata before submission.
- Citation Style: Harvard Bluebook, 20th Edition.
Formatting Requirements for Articles:
- Font: Times New Roman
- Font Size: 12 pt
- Line Spacing: 1.5
- Page Size: Standard International A4
- Paragraph Alignment: Justified
Formatting Requirements for Footnotes:
- Font: Times New Roman
- Font Size: 10 pt
- Line Spacing: 1
- Paragraph Alignment: Justified
A similarity threshold may be applied at the discretion of the Organising Committee to ensure academic integrity.
Entries must be submitted through the official link or mode notified by the Organising Committee. Submissions through any other means will not be considered.
In case of disputes regarding the interpretation of rules, the decision of the Organising Committee shall be final and binding.
Registration Fees
- Individual Registration: ₹800
- Co-author Registration: ₹1,000
Payment must be made through the designated online payment gateway.
Prizes and Certificates
The competition offers the following cash prizes:
- First Prize: ₹5,000
- Second Prize: ₹3,000
- Third Prize: ₹2,000
Additionally, Certificates of Merit will be awarded to the top 10 participants/teams under each sub-theme.
Certificates of Participation will be provided to all participants.
Important Dates
- Registration Opens: 4 October 2026
- Last Date for Registration: 10 December 2026
- Full Paper Submission Deadline: 10 December 2026
- Result Publication: 30 December 2026 (Tentative)
How to Register?
Interested participants must complete the registration process through the official Google Form. Further details will be communicated to registered participants via email.
Step 1: Fill out and submit the official registration form.
Step 2: Pay the applicable registration fee through the designated payment gateway.
Step 3: Follow the instructions communicated by the Organising Committee regarding article submission.
Payment Instructions: On the payment portal, navigate to Select Fee Name and then choose Article Writing Competition for Participants/Co-Authorship.
Downloads
Brochure: [Click here to view]
Contact
For further information or clarification regarding the competition, participants may contact:
- Shazila: 89217 40257
- Hridhya: 83010 68739