CFL NLU Jodhpur Essay Writing Competition 2026 on Reproductive Rights & Bodily Autonomy: Registration, Themes, Cash Prizes & Submission Guidelines
The Centre for Family Law (CFL), National Law University, Jodhpur (NLUJ) has announced the First Edition of the CFL-NLUJ Essay Writing Competition 2026. The competition invites students, researchers, academicians, and legal enthusiasts to submit original essays on the contemporary theme “Reproductive Rights & Bodily Autonomy.”
Participants will have the opportunity to compete for cash prizes, complimentary CaseMine AI Pro subscriptions, publication opportunities, and certificates of recognition.
About National Law University, Jodhpur
National Law University, Jodhpur (NLUJ) is one of India’s premier law universities, established in 1999 in Jodhpur, Rajasthan. The university is known for:
- High-quality legal education
- Research-driven academic environment
- Experienced faculty members
- Modern learning infrastructure
- Focus on constitutional values, human rights, and social justice
- Practical legal training through research centres, moot courts, and academic initiatives
Over the years, NLU Jodhpur has developed a reputation for producing competent legal professionals, researchers, policymakers, and scholars.
About the Centre for Family Law (CFL)
The Centre for Family Law (CFL) was established in 2023 at NLU Jodhpur to encourage research and academic discussions on evolving issues in family law.
The Centre focuses on:
- Family law reforms
- Gender justice
- Marriage and family rights
- Constitutional perspectives
- Civil rights
- Emerging legal developments
Under the leadership of Ms. Preeti Badola (Executive Director), the Centre regularly conducts seminars, discussions, academic events, and research initiatives on contemporary family law issues.
About The Family Law Chronicle
The Centre publishes its flagship academic blog, The Family Law Chronicle, which serves as a platform for scholarly discussions on emerging family law issues.
The blog encourages:
- Original legal research
- Analytical articles
- Interdisciplinary perspectives
- Contributions from students, academicians, researchers, and legal professionals
Selected essays from this competition may be considered for publication after editorial review.
Knowledge Partner
The competition is supported by CaseMine, an AI-powered legal research platform widely used by law firms, universities, legal professionals, and researchers.
As part of this collaboration:
- Top three winners will receive a one-year CaseMine AI Pro subscription
- Winners will also receive cash awards and publication opportunities
Theme of the Essay Competition
Reproductive Rights & Bodily Autonomy
The competition encourages participants to critically examine how law regulates reproductive choices, bodily integrity, healthcare access, and evolving family relationships.
Participants are expected to adopt interdisciplinary approaches while exploring legal, constitutional, ethical, and social dimensions of the theme.
Indicative Sub-Themes
Participants may write on any relevant issue under the main theme. Suggested topics include:
- Abortion: Reproductive Choice and State Control
- Female Genital Mutilation and Bodily Integrity
- Surrogacy Laws in India
- Assisted Reproductive Technology (Regulation) Act, 2021
- Maternal Health and Postpartum Rights
- Child Marriage and Reproductive Autonomy
- Access to Reproductive Healthcare
- Gender Equality and Family Law
- Constitutional Protection of Reproductive Rights
The above topics are only illustrative, and participants are free to choose other relevant subjects related to the central theme.
Important Dates
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Registration Opens | 27 July 2026 |
| Last Date for Registration | 24 August 2026 |
| Essay Submission Deadline | 10 September 2026 |
| Review Stage I & II | September 2026 |
| Final Review | First Week of October 2026 |
| Result Declaration | Mid-October 2026 |
Registration Fee
Single Author
- ₹300
Co-Authored Submission
- ₹600
- Maximum two authors allowed
Applicants must complete registration before submitting their essays.
Submission Guidelines
Participants must ensure that their essays comply with the following requirements:
- Microsoft Word (.doc/.docx) format
- Word limit: 2,500–3,000 words
- Maximum two authors
- Original and unpublished work only
- Author identity must not appear in the manuscript
- Similarity index should not exceed 15%
- References should preferably be provided through hyperlinks
- OSCOLA citation style must be followed where footnotes are used
Formatting Requirements
- Font: Garamond
- Main text: Size 12
- Footnotes: Size 10
- Line spacing: 1.5
- Justified alignment
Review Process
The evaluation will be conducted in three stages.
Stage I – Technical Screening
Entries will be checked for:
- Formatting compliance
- Anonymity
- Originality
- Plagiarism
- Submission requirements
Submissions exceeding the prescribed plagiarism limit or violating competition rules will not proceed further.
Stage II – Editorial Review
The Editorial Board of The Family Law Chronicle will assess:
- Quality of research
- Originality
- Legal analysis
- Structure
- Clarity
- Contribution to contemporary family law discourse
Stage III – Faculty Evaluation
The top shortlisted entries will be evaluated by an independent panel of faculty members specializing in:
- Family Law
- Constitutional Law
- Gender Studies
- Socio-Legal Research
The final decision of the reviewers will be binding.
Prize Structure
First Prize
- Cash Prize: ₹5,000
- Certificate of Achievement
- Publication in The Family Law Chronicle
- One-Year CaseMine AI Pro Subscription
Second Prize
- Cash Prize: ₹3,000
- Certificate of Achievement
- Publication Opportunity
- One-Year CaseMine AI Pro Subscription
Third Prize
- Cash Prize: ₹2,000
- Certificate of Achievement
- Publication Opportunity
- One-Year CaseMine AI Pro Subscription
Additional Recognition
Participants may also receive:
- Certificate of Merit for shortlisted entries
- Publication opportunities for selected essays
- Participation Certificates for eligible participants
Publication remains subject to editorial review and publication standards.
Faculty Review Panel
The final evaluation will be conducted by faculty members of National Law University, Jodhpur, including experts in:
- Family Law
- Constitutional Law
- Gender Studies
- Legal Research
- Humanities and Social Sciences
Any tie in final scores will be resolved by the Executive Director of the Centre for Family Law.
Important Links
Brochure: NLUJ_50821785408571.pdf
Registration Link: Registration Form | First CFL Essay Writing Competition
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