National Essay Writing Competition @ NLU Delhi – UNICEF: Submit by March 01, 2026!

About NLUD Chair on Justice for Children in collaboration with UNICEF

The Chair works to build a strong body of scholarship on child rights within the criminal justice system, support high-quality legal representation for children in need of care and protection as well as those in conflict with the law, and mentor the next generation of child rights researchers and lawyers.

Guided by Chair Professor Tasneem Deo, the initiative aims to bring together academic insight and practical engagement to ensure that every child’s rights are protected with fairness, dignity, and compassion.

About the Competition

The NLUD Chair on Justice for Children, in collaboration with UNICEF and the Constitutional Law Club, NLU Delhi, presents the 1st edition of the National Essay Competition Small Voices : Big Rights. The competition invites students to think closely about how India’s constitutional framework interacts with the specialised systems that govern child protection and juvenile justice.

The interactions of children with the criminal justice system stand at the crossroads of two powerful branches of law; constitutional law, which lays down the rights and principles that guide our justice system more generally, and criminal law, which defines victimhood and liability.

This competition aims to encourage clear thinking and strong legal analysis on issues surrounding the interaction of these frameworks. It hopes to create a space where students can critically engage with the processes that shape justice for children in India.

About the Constitutional Law Club

The Constitutional Law Club was founded by students of NLU Delhi, with the support of our Hon’ble Vice Chancellor, Prof. (Dr.) G.S. Bajpai, and the guidance of Prof. (Dr.) Niraj Kumar.

The club grew out of a shared wish to build a steady, thoughtful space for engaging with constitutional ideas beyond the classroom. Our work focuses on nurturing a regular culture of discussion around constitutional law.

We host expert lectures, share reading lists that offer diverse perspectives, and run student-led forums that encourage open and informed conversation.

Competition Themes

Participants must write an essay on a topic which corresponds to any one of the following themes:

1. The Role of Dignity under Article 21 in Shaping Juvenile Justice in India.
2. The Interplay of Privacy and Protection under POCSO.
3. Article 39A and Access to Justice for Children.

Key Dates

• Submission Deadline: 1st March, 2026.
• Declaration of Results: 15th March, 2026.

Submission Guidelines

1. Eligibility & Language
   • Open to UG/PG law students enrolled in any recognized university in India.
   • Language: English.
   • Co-authorship is not permitted.
   • No Registration Fees.
2. Formatting Rules
   • Word Limit: 1500-2000 words (excluding footnotes).
   • Font: Garamond, Size 12
   • Line Spacing: 1.5 spacing, Justified alignment.
   • Title: No longer than 12 words.
3. Citations & Integrity
   • Style: OSCOLA 4th Edition.
   • Footnotes: Garamond, Size 10, Single spacing.
   • Similarity: Must be below 20%.
   • Strict Rule: Any use of Generative AI will lead to disqualification.

Awards & Recognition

1. Winner: Certificate of Merit and publication in the NLUD J4C Newsletter.
2. Runner-Up: Certificate of Merit and publication on the NLUD J4C Online Opinion Page.
3. Top 10 Entries: Certificate of Merit.

How to Submit?

Submit via Google form link given at the end of the post.

Click here to Submit Now

Click here for the Official Notification.