VidhiUtsav 2026 – UPES Law Fest | Grand Prize Pool of ₹5,00,000/-

1. About the Institute

UPES is recognised as one of India’s leading higher education institutions, celebrated for its industry-aligned and future-focused academic approach. Our commitment to academic rigor is evidenced by our recent rankings:

• Ranked No. 1 among private universities in India for Academic Reputation in the QS World University Rankings 2026.
• Ranked 18th in Law as per NIRF 2025.
• Ranked 4th nationally and 3rd in the North Zone in the BW Legal Rankings 2024.

2. About VidhiUtsav 2026

VidhiUtsav is recognised as India’s largest Academic Law Fest, established as a cornerstone of legal academic excellence. The fest is designed to test participants’ critical thinking and advocacy skills while helping them apply legal theory to practical situations. This third edition is our most ambitious so far, featuring 13 flagship national and international competitions across various areas of law.

Specific Competitions in third edition of VidhiUtsav 2026:

1. UPES School of Law International Moot Court Competition: Teams research and argue complex international disputes in a simulated courtroom to master oral advocacy and persuasive litigation.
2. XI UPES Madhyastham Client Counselling Challenge: Participants act as legal consultants, practicing the art of eliciting facts and providing strategic advice in a simulated office setting.
3. III National Pro Bono Service Competition: Students present impact reports on their community service initiatives, fostering a culture of social responsibility and legal aid access.
4. SIYAASAT III National Youth Parliament Competition: A dynamic simulation where students take on legislative roles to debate national issues, honing public speaking and policy analysis skills.
5. International Colloquium on Animal Law: A scholarly forum for presenting research on the evolving legal rights and protections of animals within global frameworks.
6. National Asian Parliamentary Debate Competition: A fast-paced event requiring teams to construct logical, persuasive arguments on diverse motions under strict time limits.
7. VII UPES Madhyastham Mediation Challenge: Tests the ability of neutral student mediators to facilitate collaborative communication and reach amicable settlements outside of litigation.
8. III International Competition on Negotiating Transactional Documents: Students simulate corporate practice by drafting and negotiating commercial contracts while balancing stakeholder interests and legal risks.
9. International Policy Hackathon on AI and Law: An innovative challenge where participants develop policy frameworks to address legal dilemmas in emerging technology and data privacy.
10. You, Amend Your Constitution 7.0: Participants propose and defend creative amendments to the Indian Constitution based on modern societal needs and legal principles.
11. II National Legal Aid Clinic Excellence Award: Recognises institutional legal aid clinics for their contributions to community empowerment and free legal service.
12. Codex Sportivus – International Sports Law Quiz Competition: A high-speed competition testing knowledge of global sports regulations, including anti-doping and broadcasting rights.
13. V UPES Madhyastham Negotiation Challenge: Focuses on bilateral negotiation where teams represent clients to resolve conflicts through strategic communication and bargaining.
14. Who is it for / Eligibility

The competitions are open to all students pursuing a three-year or five-year LLB course in the current academic year. Additionally, eligibility for specific events, such as the Research Conclave or Youth Parliament, may be extended to non-law students. Teams typically consist of two to three members depending on the specific competition guidelines.

4. Mode of the Event (Hybrid Mode)

• Qualifying Rounds: Online Mode
• Advanced Rounds: Offline Mode – UPES (Kandoli Campus), Dehradun, Uttarakhand, India

5. Registration / Submission Procedure

Registrations for Edition III of VidhiUtsav officially opened on January 13, 2026. Interested participants may access the registration form, event brochure, and comprehensive event rulebook through the following link: Linktree

6. Fee Details

• Registration Fee: Varies by competition (typically ranging from ₹250 for individual events up to ₹5,000 for team competitions).
• Accommodation fee: For participants qualifying for offline rounds, an additional accommodation fee will be charged. For more details please refer to competitions rulebook.

7. Prizes

• A grand prize pool of ₹5,00,000/- reflects the scale and excellence that await the winners of VidhiUtsav 2026.
• All participants will receive certificates of participation.
• Students qualifying for the offline rounds will be invited to an exclusive gala evening to network and celebrate the conclusion of the fest.

8. Deadlines / Important Dates

• Registrations Open: January 13, 2026
• Online Rounds: February to March, 2026
• Offline Final Rounds: April 10 to April 12, 2026

9. Contact Information

All competition-specific queries should be referred to the respective rulebook and brochure available on the Linktree.

For any general or overall queries, the undersigned may be contacted:

• Mail ID: vidhiutsav@ddn.upes.ac.in
• Student Executives: +91 89557 93844 / +91 84456 79299