Expression of InterestExpress interest

ArbitrationChampionshipIndia

26–28February 2027New Delhi

An invitation-only championship for India’s leading student arbitration talent, organised by The PACT, with two rounds online from January and the oral rounds argued in New Delhi. Not invited yet? Your team can submit an Expression of Interest and hear back within 24 hours.

Submit an Expression of InterestCheck eligibility

Seats are limited and will be filled on a first come, first served basis.

Who can enter
Currently enrolled LLB and LLM students in India
Team
3 to 6 members
Fee
₹10,000 per person
Registration
Open now, seats are limited

Made for students with a record in arbitration

ArbCI is meant for teams of law students who already have a record in arbitration, whether from the later stages of a national arbitration moot, an international arbitration moot, or internships, writing and conferences. Its rounds will feel familiar from moots, with a problem, memoranda and oral submissions, and two of the four use new formats that will be revealed later.

  1. The rounds

    Every team takes part in all four rounds, two online and two oral rounds in New Delhi, and cumulative scores across the four decide who reaches the Final.

  2. The certificate course

    A certificate course, panel discussions and a networking dinner open the New Delhi stage on 26 February.

  3. The judges

    Practising arbitration professionals, leading academics and law firm practitioners judge the rounds.

  4. Internships

    The winners get first call on internship opportunities with leading law firms in India, and the top eight teams can be offered them too, depending on what is available. The number and nature of these opportunities will be announced as they are confirmed.

Three routes to qualify

ArbCI is by invitation, for currently enrolled LLB and LLM students at institutions in India. A majority of each team needs to qualify through at least one route.

  1. National arbitration moots

    You reached the quarter-finals, semi-finals or final of a national arbitration moot, or won it.

  2. International arbitration moots

    You represented your university at an international arbitration moot, at any stage, including national selection rounds.

    For example, the Vis Moot, the Frankfurt Investment Arbitration Moot, the Foreign Direct Investment International Arbitration Moot, or a comparable international arbitration moot.

  3. The Arbitration CV

    You have arbitration experience, set out in an Arbitration CV submitted with your team’s Expression of Interest and reviewed by the Organising Committee.

    Internships, publications, conferences, competitions and other engagement with arbitration are all relevant.

Invitation or Expression of Interest

Personal invitation

ArbCI is sending personal invitations to eligible participants and teams, including winners and advanced-round teams from arbitration moots. Invited teams receive the registration form.

  1. Receive your invitation from ArbCI
  2. Complete the registration form, with payment by UPI, within 72 hours of receiving it

How invited teams register

Expression of Interest

Not heard from us? Your team can submit an Expression of Interest with its arbitration record, including an Arbitration CV for any member who qualifies through that route.

  1. Submit your team’s Expression of Interest through the form, or write to arbci@thepact.in
  2. The Organising Committee reviews it and replies within 24 hours
  3. If your team is invited, ArbCI sends you the registration form, and you have 72 hours to complete it

Expressions of Interest are reviewed as they arrive, and invitations go out on a rolling basis.

Submit an Expression of Interest

The form opens in Google Forms and asks you to sign in with a Google account, because it takes file uploads such as Arbitration CVs. The fee is paid only after your team is invited, within the registration form.

If you have questions about eligibility or invitations, write to arbci@thepact.in.

How the season runs

The season runs from invitations in October, through two online rounds in January, to the oral rounds and the Final in New Delhi. See the full timetable.

Now

Registrations are open

Teams that have not been invited can submit an Expression of Interest today, and seats are filled in the order teams register.

24 hours to hear back after your team submits an Expression of Interest

Submit an Expression of InterestRegister an invited team

Coming up

  1. 28 December 2026Problem Release
  2. 5 January 2027Deadline for Clarification Submissions
  3. 10 January 2027Procedural Order No. 2 Release

  1. Registration Period

    From 13 October 2026

    Invited teams complete the registration form and pay the fee within 72 hours of receiving it.

  2. Problem Release

    28 December 2026

  3. Deadline for Clarification Submissions

    Due 5 January 2027

  4. Procedural Order No. 2 Release

    10 January 2027

  5. Round 1: To Be Revealed

    15 January 2027

  6. Round 2: Memorandum Submission

    Due 31 January 2027

    Teams submit memoranda for both Claimant and Respondent.

  7. Round 1 Results Release

    10 February 2027

  8. Round 2 Results Release

    24 February 2027

  9. Certificate Course, Panel Discussions & Networking Dinner

    26 February 2027

  10. Oral Rounds (Rounds 3 & 4)

    27 February 2027

  11. Final & Valedictory Ceremony

    28 February 2027

Three days in New Delhi

  1. Certificate Course, Panel Discussions & Networking Dinner

    Friday, 26 February 2027

    The New Delhi stage opens with a certificate course with leading industry practitioners, followed by panel discussions and a networking dinner.

  2. Oral Rounds (Rounds 3 & 4)

    Saturday, 27 February 2027

    Round 3 is an oral round in a format still to be revealed, and Round 4 follows with oral submissions for Claimant and Respondent.

  3. Final & Valedictory Ceremony

    Sunday, 28 February 2027

    The finalists argue before a grand tribunal of India’s top arbitration professionals, justices and industry leaders for a chance to win it all, and the valedictory ceremony closes the championship.

Add 26–28 February 2027 to your calendar New Delhi. Venue to be announced.

The fee, certificates and prizes

3 to 6

members per team

Teams can come from one institution or several, and every member attends all three days in New Delhi.

₹10,000

per person

Charged for each member of the team, inclusive of taxes, paid online by UPI within the registration form, and non-refundable.

Included in the fee

  1. Participation in the competition
  2. The certificate course with leading industry practitioners on 26 February 2027
  3. A separate certificate for the certificate course
  4. Books, templates and frameworks for arbitration competitions and practice
  5. Meals on all competition days
  6. Entry to networking events
  7. The Conference on Institutional Arbitration

Certificates & prizes

Certificates

A printed certificate for everyone who takes part, and a separate one for the certificate course.

Prizes worth ₹1,20,000

National Arbitration ChampionsThe winning team at the Final
₹60,000
Round 1The top two submissions
₹10,000
Round 2The best memoranda
₹10,000
Round 3The top two performances
₹20,000
Oral roundsThe top two oralists
₹20,000

The prize pool may grow, and any change will be announced here.

The people behind ArbCI

ArbCI is organised by The PACT and run by its Organising Committee.

Meet the Organising Committee

Seats are limited, so do not leave it late

Seats will be filled on a first come, first served basis. Submit your team’s Expression of Interest today and hear back within 24 hours.

The fee is paid only after your team is invited. Prizes worth ₹1,20,000 are on offer, and the top eight teams can be offered internships with leading law firms in India.

Submit an Expression of Interest

Where to go next

For anything else, write to arbci@thepact.in.