1st All India Maharaja Surajmal Moot Court Competition 2026 | Hybrid Criminal Law Moot | ₹1 Lakh Worth Prizes | Register by Oct 15
Aequitas – The Moot Court Society of Maharaja Surajmal Institute (MSI), New Delhi, is organising the 1st All India Maharaja Surajmal Moot Court Competition 2026 on 13th and 14th November 2026. The competition follows a hybrid model, with the initial rounds conducted online and the semi-finals and finals held offline at Maharaja Surajmal Institute, New Delhi.
The competition focuses on Criminal Law and will test participants on advocacy, legal research, reasoning, and courtroom argumentation.
About Maharaja Surajmal Institute
Maharaja Surajmal Institute is affiliated with GGSIP University, New Delhi, accredited with NAAC ‘A’ Grade, and approved by the Bar Council of India (BCI).
Through the 1st All India Maharaja Surajmal Moot Court Competition, the institute aims to provide law students with an opportunity to engage with contemporary legal issues while developing practical advocacy and research skills.
About the Moot Court Competition
The 1st All India Maharaja Surajmal Moot Court Competition 2026 is a national-level criminal law moot organised by Aequitas – The Moot Court Society of Maharaja Surajmal Institute.
The competition will take place in a hybrid format. Consequently, the Researcher’s Test, preliminary rounds, and quarter-finals will be conducted online, while the semi-finals and finals will take place offline at Maharaja Surajmal Institute, New Delhi.
Theme
Criminal Law
Moot Problem Highlights
The moot proposition deals with complex issues arising under the new criminal laws, including:
- Circumstantial evidence and the ‘Last-Seen’ theory
- Reversal of acquittal by High Courts
- Constitutional validity of Trial in Absentia under Section 356 of the BNSS for proclaimed offenders
Eligibility
The Maharaja Surajmal Moot Court Competition 2026 is open to students who meet the following criteria:
- Students pursuing 3-year or 5-year LL.B. degree courses
- Students must belong to a recognised university or institution in India
- Each team must consist of 3 members
- 2 Speakers
- 1 Researcher
- A maximum of 3 teams per institution is permitted
Registration Fee
₹2,000 per team
Prizes and Incentives
The competition offers a total cash prize pool of ₹1,00,500.
| Category | Prize |
|---|---|
| Winner | ₹21,000 |
| Runner-Up | ₹11,000 |
| Best Speaker | ₹5,000 |
| Best Researcher | ₹5,000 |
| Best Memorial | ₹5,000 |
| Total Cash Prize Pool | ₹1,00,500 |
In addition, all participants will receive free 1-month access to SCC Online Web Edition, stated to be worth ₹3,100 per participant.
The winners will also receive a 1-year SCC Online subscription.
Important Dates
| Particular | Date |
|---|---|
| Registration Opens | 25 September 2026 |
| Registration Deadline | 15 October 2026 |
| Clarifications Deadline | 19 October 2026 |
| Memorial Submission Deadline | 25 October 2026 |
| Online Rounds | 2–4 November 2026 |
| Offline Rounds | 13–14 November 2026 |
The online rounds will include the Researcher’s Test, Prelims and Quarter-Finals. Meanwhile, the offline rounds will consist of the Semi-Finals and Finals at Maharaja Surajmal Institute, New Delhi.
Registration Process
Interested teams can register by completing the online registration form and paying the prescribed registration fee through the official payment scanner or gateway provided for the competition.
Important Links
Contact Details
Email: mcs.msilaw@msijanakpuri.com
Phone: +91-8851253018
