National Level Legal Debate Competition | School of Law | VIT Chennai | Cash Prize Rs. 70000/-| Register by 22nd Feb 2026!

National Level Legal Debate Competition | School of Law | VIT Chennai | Cash Prize Rs. 70000/-| Register by 22nd Feb 2026!

Ratio et Oratio: National Legal Debate Competition 2026

Hosted by VITSOL Debate Society, VIT School of Law, Chennai

The VITSOL Debate Society proudly presents Ratio et Oratio: Reason. Speech. Justice, a premier National Level Legal Debate Competition scheduled for 2026. This flagship event is designed to foster rigorous argumentation, ethical persuasion, and collaborative dialogue among undergraduate law students across India.

About VIT Chennai:

Established with the aim of providing quality higher education on par with international standards, VIT persistently seeks and adopts innovative methods to consistently improve the quality of education. The campus has a cosmopolitan atmosphere with students from all corners of the globe and experienced, learned teachers to nurture students. The global standards set at VIT in teaching and research forward our relentless pursuit of excellence, becoming our way of life. Our Memorandum of Understanding with various international universities facilitates exchange of students and faculty, encouraging joint research projects for mutual benefit. Many of our students who pursue research projects abroad bring high quality to their work and have done us proud.

About VIT School of Law:

The VIT School of Law (VITSOL), the progeny of VIT University, is one of the best Law Colleges in Chennai. Established in 2014, it aims to impart quality legal education to equip young minds with knowledge of law, teach the nuances of the legal profession, and make students aware of its intricacies. VITSOL believes in continuous and active learning combined with practical training.

Studying law at VITSOL is a unique experience, true to its reputation as one of the best Law Colleges in Chennai. It offers two undergraduate honours programmes: B.A., LL.B (Hon’s) and B.B.A., LL.B (Hon’s), along with LL.M in International Law and Development, Corporate Laws, and Intellectual Property Laws. The School also offers a doctoral program.

All courses follow a carefully framed curriculum on par with global standards. With over 1000 students, VITSOL runs moot court and debate societies to improve advocacy skills. It regularly organises Moot Court Competitions, National and International Debate Competitions, Conferences, Seminars, Workshops, and Legal Aid programmes, positioning it among the best Law Colleges.

Key Highlights:

• Total Cash Prizes: ₹70,000/-
• Eligibility: Open to all undergraduate LL.B. students (3-year or 5-year) from BCI-recognized institutions.
• Team Composition: 2 speakers per team; multiple teams allowed per institution; cross-institution teams prohibited.
• Language: English
• Dress Code: Business formals

Competition Format:

The Ratio et Oratio Format is a unique hybrid inspired by classical Mace-style debating, emphasizing clarity and fairness. Each debate involves two teams (Proposition vs. Opposition) with the following phases:

1. Opening Constructives (10 mins)
   • Proposition Speaker 1: Case framework (5 mins)
   • Opposition Speaker 1: Counter-framework (5 mins)
2. Analytical Development (10 mins)
   • Proposition Speaker 2: Extends case, answers objections (5 mins)
   • Opposition Speaker 2: Expands counter-case (5 mins)
3. Silent Reflection Window (2 mins)
   • Judges take notes; no communication allowed.
4. Rebuttal Arc (8 mins)
   • Four sequential rebuttals in reverse speaking order.
5. Synthesis Statements (3 mins)
   • Joint 90-second team articulation of comparative analysis and winning narrative.

Rules & Regulations:

• Registration:
  • Provisional registration deadline: 15th February 2026
  • Final registration deadline: 22nd February 2026
  • Fee: ₹3,000 + GST per team (non-refundable)
  • Provisional registration via

• Competition Rounds:
  • Online Screening Round
  • Qualifying Round
  • Quarter-Finals
  • Semi-Finals
  • Finals (on-campus at VIT Chennai)
• Preparation Rules:
  • Motions released 30 minutes before each round.
  • No POIs, interruptions, or interjections.
  • Printed/handwritten notes allowed; internet access prohibited.
• Venue & Reporting:
  • Participants must report 20 minutes before each round.
• Food & Accommodation:
  • Provided on request (additional payment).
  • Business lunch included for all participants.
• Code of Conduct:
  • Maintain academic decorum.
  • Anonymity of teams before judges.
  • Scouting strictly prohibited.

Judging Criteria:

• Individual Scores (40 marks per speaker):
  • Content & Argument Quality (10)
  • Clash/Responsiveness (10)
  • Strategy & Structure (10)
  • Delivery & Clarity (10)
• Team Effort (20 marks):
  • Coordination & Consistency (10)
  • Joint Synthesis Statement (10)

Total Team Score: 100 marks

Schedule:

• Provisional Registration Opens: 18 January 2026
• Final Registration Closes: 22 February 2026
• Screening Rounds: 7 March 2026
• On-Campus Rounds: 27–28 March 2026

Awards & Recognition:

• Champion Team – Cash Prize + Trophy
• First Runner-Up Team – Cash Prize + Trophy
• Best Speaker of the Competition – Cash Prize + Trophy
• Second Best Speaker – Cash Prize + Trophy
• Best Novice Speaker (first-year student, highest score in Screening Round) – Cash Prize

Total Cash Prizes Worth: ₹70,000/-

Participation certificates will be awarded to all participants.

Contact Information:

• Student Coordinator: R. Yajur Kartik (+91 70103 06129)
• Student Committee: Hirshita D (+91 74289 54956), Arjun Raghav (+91 91502 90092)
• Email: lexvit.debate@vit.ac.in

For More Information:

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