1st All India Moot Court Competition, 2026
Day 1: Preliminary Rounds & Inaugural Ceremony (28th April 2026)
The 1st All India Moot Court Competition, 2026, organized by ADG Law School, Dr. Akhilesh Das Gupta Institute of Professional Studies (ADGIPS), New Delhi, commenced on 28th April 2026, bringing together 40 teams comprising nearly 120 law students from prestigious universities and law schools across the country. The competition served as a vibrant platform for aspiring legal professionals to demonstrate their advocacy, analytical, and research skills while engaging with contemporary legal issues.
The day began with participant registration, followed by an orientation session introducing the competition rules, courtroom protocols, and evaluation criteria. Simultaneously, the judges for the preliminary rounds were welcomed and briefed to ensure a fair, transparent, and uniform assessment process.
Following the draw of lots, the competition formally commenced with Preliminary Round I, during which participants presented well-researched memorials and persuasive oral arguments before an esteemed panel of legal professionals. After a lunch break, Preliminary Round II witnessed equally compelling performances, reflecting the participants’ sound legal reasoning, advocacy techniques, and courtroom etiquette. Teams were assessed on their knowledge of law, interpretation of legal principles, articulation, and overall presentation.
Upon the successful completion of the preliminary rounds, the judges were felicitated with mementos and saplings in recognition of their valuable contribution to the competition.
The Inaugural Ceremony marked the formal opening of the event and was graced by Hon’ble Justice (Retd.) M. Karpaga Vinayagam, Former Chief Justice of the Jharkhand High Court, as the Chief Guest. The ceremony commenced with the traditional Lighting of the Lamp and Saraswati Vandana, symbolizing the pursuit of knowledge, wisdom, and justice.
The dignitaries welcomed the Chief Guest by presenting a shawl, memento, and sapling, followed by a warm welcome address by the Director, Prof. (Dr.) Niranjan Bhattacharyya. A captivating Bharatanatyam performance added a cultural dimension to the inaugural proceedings.
In his keynote address, Justice Vinayagam inspired the gathering by emphasizing the importance of integrity, discipline, and humanity in the legal profession. Reflecting on the philosophy of “Aim, Development and Growth (ADG),” he encouraged aspiring lawyers to pursue excellence while upholding the highest standards of ethics and professional responsibility.
The ceremony concluded with a Vote of Thanks, the National Anthem, and the announcement of the teams qualifying for the next stage of the competition.
Day 2: Semi-Final, Final Round & Valedictory Ceremony (29th April 2026)
The second day marked the grand culmination of the 1st All India Moot Court Competition, 2026, as the qualifying teams advanced to the Semi-Final and Final Rounds after two days of intense legal advocacy. The day commenced with the arrival of the participants and the distinguished panel of judges, who were formally welcomed and briefed to ensure consistency and fairness in the evaluation process.
The Semi-Final Rounds witnessed exceptional advocacy, legal reasoning, and courtroom skills as the qualifying teams competed for a place in the finals. The rounds were adjudicated by an eminent panel comprising:
- Mr. Neeraj Sharma – Advocate, Delhi High Court
- Adv. Debabrata Reddy – Advocate-on-Record, Hon’ble Supreme Court of India
- Dr. Dharam Deshna – Senior Central Government Counsel, Central Administrative Tribunal, Delhi
- Prof. Rakesh Kumar – University School of Law & Legal Studies (USLLS), GGSIPU, New Delhi
- Mr. Raman Anand – Retired Senior Public Prosecutor, CBI; presently Special Executive Magistrate, MCD
- Dr. Prerna Gulati – Associate Professor, IILM University
- Dr. Sangeetha Abraham – Associate Professor, IIMT University
- Adv. Abhinav Raghav – Advocate, Hon’ble Supreme Court of India
Their insightful observations and constructive feedback provided the participants with an enriching learning experience while maintaining the highest standards of legal evaluation.
Following the announcement of the semi-final results, the top teams advanced to the Final Round, held in the Institute Auditorium. The finalists argued an intellectually stimulating proposition on “Deepfake Technology and Cyber Crime,” showcasing exceptional research, persuasive advocacy, and critical legal analysis on one of the most significant emerging challenges in cyber jurisprudence.
The Final Round was adjudicated by an esteemed bench comprising:
- Shri Nikhilesh Kumar, Advocate-on-Record, Hon’ble Supreme Court of India, with over 20 years of distinguished legal experience.
- Dr. Arvind P. Bhanu, Research & Development Director and Joint Head, Amity University, Noida, and Adjunct Professor at the University of Adelaide, Australia.
- Ms. Vandna Beri, Advocate, Legal Consultant, and Company Secretary with 18 years of professional experience.
The competition concluded with a grand Valedictory Ceremony, graced by Hon’ble Dr. T.R. Naval, Former Additional District & Sessions Judge, Delhi, as the Chief Guest. The ceremony commenced with the felicitation of the Chief Guest and the members of the final bench, followed by a welcome address and a vibrant cultural performance by the Virsa Society.
Addressing the gathering, Hon’ble Dr. T.R. Naval applauded the remarkable efforts of the participants, judges, faculty members, and the organizing committee. He emphasized that moot court competitions play a pivotal role in nurturing advocacy skills, ethical values, legal research, and courtroom confidence among future legal professionals.
The ceremony reached its most awaited moment with the announcement of the competition results and the presentation of awards.
Competition Results
Winner
- Team Code: TC-34
- Institution: Law Centre-I, Faculty of Law
- Team Members:
- Saloni Rawal
- Abhyansh Dixit
- Aarya Singh
The winning team was felicitated with a Championship Trophy, Certificates of Merit, and a Cash Prize of ₹25,000.
Runner-Up
- Team Code: TC-40
- Institution: IILM University, Greater Noida
- Team Members:
- Lavi Rajput
- Devesh Verma
- Gummadi Harshini
The Runner-Up team was felicitated with a Trophy, Certificates, and a Cash Prize of ₹15,000.
Special Awards
Best Mooter
- Aashman Sharma (TC-36)
- Symbiosis Law School, Pune
Awarded a Trophy, Certificate, and Cash Prize of ₹10,000 for outstanding courtroom advocacy and oral submissions.
Best Researcher
- Pratima Punj (TC-06)
- Central University of Punjab, Bathinda
Awarded a Trophy, Certificate, and Cash Prize of ₹10,000 for excellence in legal research and analytical skills.
Best Memorial
- Team Code: TC-19
- Institution: Geeta Institute of Law, Panipat
Awarded a Trophy, Certificates, and a Cash Prize of ₹5,000 for preparing the best-written memorials in the competition.
The 1st All India Moot Court Competition, 2026 witnessed the enthusiastic participation of 40 teams from leading law institutions across India, representing states including Jammu & Kashmir, Rajasthan (Udaipur), Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh (Lucknow), Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, Delhi, Haryana, and several other regions. Prestigious institutions such as Dr. Ram Manohar Lohiya National Law University (RMLNLU), Lucknow (with two participating teams), National Law University Delhi, Dr. B.R. Ambedkar National Law University, Sonipat, Himachal Pradesh National Law University, Shimla, and numerous other renowned law schools enriched the competition with their exceptional advocacy and legal acumen, making it a truly national event.
