HPNLU Article Writing Competition 2026 – ₹23,000 Prize Pool
The Centre for Tribal and Cultural Studies (CTCS), Himachal Pradesh National Law University (HPNLU), Shimla has announced an article writing competition on tribal rights, traditional knowledge and cultural preservation. The HPNLU Article Writing Competition 2026 is open to participants from all backgrounds and accepts individual as well as co-authored submissions.
Participants can submit an original article in English on one of the prescribed themes. The deadline is 12 October 2026.
About HPNLU
The Himachal Pradesh National Law University (HPNLU), Shimla was established by the State Government in 2016 through Act 16 of 2016 and began functioning on 5 October 2016. The university offers five-year integrated B.A. LL.B. and B.B.A. LL.B. programmes and a one-year LL.M. programme.
About the Centre for Tribal and Cultural Studies
CTCS focuses on research, dialogue, advocacy and capacity-building concerning tribal rights and cultural preservation. The centre’s work addresses issues involving traditional knowledge, indigenous cultures, ecological wisdom and community-based traditions.
The competition provides participants an opportunity to examine contemporary legal and policy questions affecting tribal and indigenous communities.
Themes
Participants may write on any one of the following themes:
- Tribal Traditional Knowledge and Intellectual Property Rights: Protection, Ownership and Benefit Sharing
- Tribal Displacement and Development: Reconciling Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Community Rights
- Tribal Autonomy and Self-Governance: Reimagining the Fifth and Sixth Schedules in Contemporary India
Eligibility and Authorship
- The competition is open to all.
- Participation may be individual or in co-authorship with up to two authors.
- Each participant/team may submit only one article.
- Articles must be submitted in English.
- The submission must be original, unpublished and not under consideration elsewhere.
Submission Guidelines
| Requirement | Details |
|---|---|
| Word limit | 1,200–1,500 words |
| Font | Times New Roman, 12 pt |
| Headings | 14 pt, bold |
| Footnotes | Times New Roman, 10 pt |
| Line spacing | 1.5 |
| Footnote spacing | Single |
| Alignment | Justified |
| Margins | 1 inch |
| Paper size | A4 |
| File format | Microsoft Word (.doc/.docx) |
| Citation style | Chicago style |
The word limit excludes footnotes, the title and bibliography. Authors must use footnotes for citations.
Articles with a similarity index above 10% may be rejected. In addition, the article must not disclose the author’s name, institutional affiliation, contact details, institutional logo, acknowledgements or other identifying information.
The guidelines also state that AI-generated content must not exceed 20% of the submission.
Evaluation Criteria
The organising committee will evaluate submissions on:
- Originality
- Quality of research
- Depth of analysis and logical reasoning
- Engagement with contemporary developments
- Clarity, structure and coherence
- Language and presentation
- Referencing and citations
Prizes
| Position | Prize |
|---|---|
| Winner | ₹11,000 + Certificate of Excellence |
| Runner-up | ₹7,000 + Certificate of Excellence |
| Third Prize | ₹5,000 + Certificate of Excellence |
Every participant will receive a Certificate of Participation, subject to payment of the registration fee.
Registration Fee
The registration fee is non-refundable:
- Single authorship: ₹350
- Co-authorship: ₹500
Deadline and Submission
The deadline is 12 October 2026.
Registered participants must submit their articles virtually through the prescribed submission form. Late submissions may not be considered, and submissions made through email will not be accepted.
For complete rules and requirements,
Contact
Student Convenor: Kashish Chalana — +91 83025 39110
Student Co-convenors:
- Ishika Trivedi — +91 9565519922
- Shubham Verma — +91 8219246100
Participants should review the complete competition guidelines before submitting their articles.
