29th H.M. Seervai Essay Competition in Constitutional Law (2026), NLSIU

The 29th Annual H.M. Seervai Essay Competition in Constitutional Law 2026 has been announced by the National Law School of India University (NLSIU), Bengaluru. This prestigious national-level essay competition offers law students across India an opportunity to win the H.M. Seervai Gold Medal and get their work published in a reputed law journal.

This competition is one of the most respected constitutional law essay contests in India, encouraging original thinking and scholarly research among law students.

About the H.M. Seervai Essay Competition

The competition was established in 1997 by Senior Advocate Navroz Seervai to honour the legacy of the eminent constitutional jurist H.M. Seervai.

Key highlights:

• 🥇 Winner receives the prestigious H.M. Seervai Gold Medal
• 📖 Winning essay is published in the National Law School Journal
• 🇮🇳 Open to law students across India
• 🎓 Recognized as one of the most prestigious constitutional law essay competitions

Over the years, thousands of law students have participated, making it a platform for showcasing academic excellence and constitutional expertise.

Essay Topic for 2026 Competition

Topic:

“A Decade in the Making of the GST (Goods and Services Tax): Gateway to a Single National Market or a Challenge to Federalism?”

This topic allows students to critically analyze:

• GST’s impact on India’s federal structure
• Constitutional implications of tax reforms
• Economic and legal dimensions of GST
• Centre-State relations under GST framework

Eligibility Criteria

Students who meet the following requirements can participate:

• Must be enrolled in:
  • LL.B.
  • BA LL.B.
  • BBA LL.B.
  • BCom LL.B.
• Must be studying in a recognized law school, college, or university in India
• Only regular mode students are eligible

Submission Guidelines (Important Rules)

Participants must follow these instructions carefully:

Essay Requirements:

• ✔ Essay must be original and unpublished
• ✔ Only single author submissions allowed
• ✔ Language: English
• ✔ Must pass anti-plagiarism check
• ✔ Must include Bonafide Certificate signed by university authority

Formatting Rules:

• Font: Times New Roman
• Font Size: 12
• Line Spacing: Double spaced
• Paper Size: A4
• Citation Style: OSCOLA

Word Limit:

• Minimum: 7,000 words
• Maximum: 10,000 words
• Footnotes included in word count

Important Dates

Previous Winner

The previous Gold Medal was awarded to:

• Niharika Mukherjee, National Law School of India University
• Essay Topic:
  Right to Contest Elections and Internal-Party Democracy: A Constitutional Proposal

This reflects the competition’s high academic standard and national recognition.

Benefits of Participating

Participating in this competition offers several advantages:

• 🥇 Chance to win Gold Medal
• 📚 Publication in reputed law journal
• 🎓 Enhances academic and research profile
• ⚖ Helps in career opportunities in:
  • Litigation
  • Judiciary
  • Academia
  • Civil services
• 🧠 Improves constitutional law research skills

How to Submit

Participants must submit their essay through the official submission link provided by the organizers.

For queries, contact: 📧 Email: hmse@nls.ac.in