K.M. Bashir Memorial Student Constitutional Forum 2026: Eligibility, Rules, Prize & Details | Vakkom Moulavi Foundation Trust

K.M. Bashir Memorial Student Constitutional Forum 2026: Eligibility, Rules, Prize & Details

The K.M. Bashir Memorial Student Constitutional Forum 2026, organised by the Vakkom Moulavi Foundation Trust (VMFT), is an academic initiative aimed at encouraging students to understand constitutional values, democratic institutions and contemporary challenges facing Indian democracy.

The Forum will be conducted on 25 September 2026 from 1:30 PM to 5:30 PM. It follows the 17th K.M. Bashir Memorial Lecture, scheduled for 24 September 2026 at 4:30 PM at the Science and Technology Museum Auditorium, PMG Junction, Thiruvananthapuram.

Theme of the Constitutional Forum

The central theme of the 2026 Forum is:

“Has the Constitution Failed Us, or Have We Failed the Constitution?”

The theme encourages students to examine the Constitution not merely as a legal document but as a framework governing rights, responsibilities, institutions and democratic life.

Students may explore issues such as:

• Constitutional governance and public institutions
• Fundamental rights and responsibilities
• Gender equality and social justice
• Protection of vulnerable communities
• Contemporary challenges to democracy
• Constitutional principles and citizens’ everyday lives
• Historical and recent developments affecting constitutional governance

K.M. Bashir Memorial Lecture 2026

The Memorial Lecture preceding the Forum will feature Dushyant Dave, Senior Advocate, Supreme Court of India (Retd.), who will speak on the broader constitutional theme. Adv. Fathima Thahiliya, Member of the Kerala Legislative Assembly, is scheduled to deliver a special address.

Eligibility and Team Structure

The Forum is intended for selected colleges and university departments, particularly institutions offering law, political science and related programmes.

• Each participating institution may nominate two students.
• Undergraduate and postgraduate students may participate.
• Ph.D. scholars are not eligible.
• Co-educational institutions are encouraged to nominate one female and one male student.
• A designated faculty member may guide the team during preparation.
• Faculty members cannot assist students during the Forum.

Forum Format

The competition will have three stages:

1. Opening Presentation: Each team will make a 10-minute presentation on the central theme.
2. Assigned Question: Teams will receive questions through random selection, get 15 minutes for preparation and have up to 8 minutes to respond.
3. Constitutional Dialogue: A structured 30-minute discussion will allow teams to engage with different constitutional perspectives.

Presentations and discussions will be conducted in English. Students may use notes during the opening presentation, while electronic devices such as mobile phones, laptops and tablets will not be permitted during the Forum.

Judging and Prize

Teams will be evaluated on constitutional understanding, analytical reasoning, relevance to citizens, constructive engagement and teamwork.

The assessment carries 100 marks:

• Opening Presentation – 40 marks
• Assigned Questions – 35 marks
• Constitutional Dialogue – 15 marks
• Teamwork – 10 marks

The winning team will receive the Constitution and Citizens Prize of ₹10,000. Certificates will also be provided to participants.

About Vakkom Moulavi Foundation Trust

The Vakkom Moulavi Foundation Trust (VMFT) is associated with initiatives focusing on education, social development, research, civic engagement and democratic awareness. The Trust was established by K.M. Bashir with an emphasis on education, social justice and constructive engagement among communities.

The Student Constitutional Forum reflects this broader vision by providing young people with a platform to research constitutional issues, develop arguments and participate in informed public dialogue.

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