3
In a team of three
Two speakers and one researcher.
How the competition works
ArbCI runs from October 2026 to February 2027. The two written rounds take place online in January, and the training day, the oral rounds and the Final follow in person in New Delhi on 26, 27 and 28 February 2027.
Timetable
| Step | Where | When |
|---|---|---|
| Registrations open | Online | October 2026 |
| Registrations closeRegistration form and fee, for invited teams | Online | Around mid-December 2026 |
| Proposition released | Online | End of December 2026 |
| Procedural Order No. 2 | Online | Mid-January 2027 |
| Round 1A new written formatTo be revealed | Online | January 2027 |
| Round 2Memoranda for Claimant and Respondent | Online | End of January or first week of February 2027, to be intimated |
| Training dayLed by industry practitioners, with a separate certificate | New Delhi | Friday 26 February 2027 |
| Round 3A new oral formatTo be revealed | New Delhi | Saturday 27 February 2027 |
| Round 4Oral submissions for Claimant and Respondent | New Delhi | Saturday 27 February 2027 |
| The FinalFinalists chosen on cumulative scores from Rounds 1 to 4, followed by the valedictory ceremony | New Delhi | Sunday 28 February 2027 |
The four rounds and the Final
Every team competes in all four rounds, and there are no quarter-finals or semi-finals. The teams with the highest cumulative scores across Rounds 1 to 4 go through to the Final on 28 February.
Rounds 2 and 4 work from the proposition, so preparation can begin the day it is released at the end of December. Rounds 1 and 3 are new formats, revealed to every team at the same time. Scoring, memoranda requirements and the details of each round will be published with the rules.
Round 1: A new written format
Written, onlineJanuary 2027
To be revealedDetails to be revealed.
Round 2: The memoranda
Written, onlineDue end of January or first week of February 2027
Every team writes memoranda for both Claimant and Respondent. The exact submission date will be separately intimated.
Round 3: A new format
In person, New Delhi27 February 2027
To be revealedDetails to be revealed, including a special role for one member of each team.
Round 4: Oral submissions
In person, New Delhi27 February 2027
Oral submissions for Claimant and Respondent, each side making its own case.
The Final
In person, New Delhi, 28 February 2027
The finalists are the teams with the highest cumulative scores across all four rounds. They argue before a tribunal of leading names in Indian arbitration, followed by the valedictory ceremony.
Three days in New Delhi
Venue to be announced. Every member of every team attends all three days.
Training day
A full day of training led by leading industry practitioners and experienced professionals, the day before the oral rounds. You receive a separate certificate for the training programme.
The oral rounds
The main competition day. Round 3 comes first, in a format that has not yet been announced, followed by Round 4, oral submissions for Claimant and Respondent.
The Final
The teams with the highest cumulative scores across all four rounds argue the Final before a tribunal of leading names in Indian arbitration. The valedictory ceremony follows.
Add 26–28 February 2027 to your calendar New Delhi. Venue to be announced.
Team roles
4–6
In a team of four to six
Teams arrange speaking roles as they choose, and members may move between roles across rounds. There is no upper limit on the number of speakers.
R3
A special role in Round 3
In every team, one member who does not speak in any other round takes on a special role in Round 3. What the role involves will be revealed with the Round 3 format.
Judging and recognition
The bench
Rounds are judged by practising arbitration professionals, leading academics and law firm practitioners. The Final is argued before a tribunal of leading names in Indian arbitration.
Recognition
Every participant receives a printed certificate of participation, and a separate printed certificate for the training programme on 26 February. Confirmed awards: Winners, Runners-up, Best Speaker, Best Claimant Memorial and Best Respondent Memorial. More will be announced.
Internships
The winners will be offered internship opportunities with leading law firms in India. Other high-ranking teams may be offered opportunities too, subject to availability. The number and nature of places will be announced as they are confirmed.
Language
The competition is conducted in English.
Proposition and rules
Competition documents will be published here as they are released.
- The PropositionReleased at the end of December 2026Not yet available
- Rules of the CompetitionTo be publishedNot yet available
- Brochure, First EditionAvailable shortlyNot yet available