The Uttar Pradesh State Institute of Forensic Science (UPSIFS), Lucknow, has announced registrations for the 1st UPSIFS National Moot Court Competition 2026. Organised by the Moot Court Committee of the School of Law, Forensic Justice & Policy Studies, the competition aims to provide law students with practical exposure to legal research, memorial drafting, oral advocacy, and courtroom argumentation.
UPSIFS, affiliated with the National Forensic Sciences University (NFSU), Gandhinagar, and functioning under the Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India, is known for its interdisciplinary “Law-with-Labs” approach that integrates legal education with forensic sciences.
The competition will be conducted in two stages. The Online Preliminary Rounds are scheduled for 15–16 October 2026, while the Offline Rounds, including the Researcher’s Test, Quarter-Finals, Semi-Finals, and Final Round, will be held at UPSIFS, Lucknow, on 30–31 October 2026.
The moot proposition focuses on contemporary constitutional and criminal law issues, particularly those involving technology, forensic investigation, and the criminal justice system. Through this initiative, UPSIFS seeks to encourage critical legal thinking and advocacy skills among aspiring legal professionals.
Students enrolled in 3-year LL.B. and 5-year integrated law programmes are eligible to participate. Teams may comprise two or three members, and multiple teams from the same institution may register subject to compliance with the prescribed requirements.
The registration fee is ₹3,000 per team. Teams qualifying for the offline rounds will additionally be required to pay accommodation and hospitality charges. The last date for registration is 5 October 2026.
The competition offers attractive prizes, including cash awards, merit certificates, trophies, medals, SCC Online subscriptions, and paid internship opportunities with Advocate-on-Record Aditya Giri before the Supreme Court of India. The winning team will receive a cash prize of ₹30,000, while the runners-up will receive ₹20,000.
With its interdisciplinary theme and national-level participation, the inaugural UPSIFS National Moot Court Competition is expected to provide a valuable platform for law students to enhance their advocacy, research, and analytical skills while engaging with emerging challenges at the intersection of law, technology, and forensic science.