National Book Review Competition by DNLU

About DNLU

Dharmashastra National Law University, Jabalpur (M.P.), was established in the year 2018 by the Madhya Pradesh Dharmashastra National Law University Act 24 of 2018.

The object is to advance the cause of legal education and achieve excellence at imparting value-based legal education to undergraduate as well as postgraduate students.

About the Competition

The Central Library of Dharmashastra National Law University, Jabalpur is pleased to announce the National Book Review Competition, a unique initiative aimed at fostering a culture of reading, critical inquiry, and scholarly writing.

This competition seeks to encourage students, research scholars, academicians, and legal practitioners from the field of law and allied disciplines to engage deeply with significant legal literature.

By critically reviewing influential books, participants will not only sharpen their analytical and academic writing skills but also contribute meaningfully to the evolving discourse in legal education, research, and professional practice.

Themes

• Indian Constitution
• Human Rights
• Social Justice
• Criminal Law and Criminal Justice
• Environmental and Climate Law
• Law and Technology (including AI, Data Privacy, Cyber Law)
• Legal Theory and Jurisprudence
• Law of Evidence
• Intellectual Property Law
• International Trade Law
• Legal Biography/Memoir

Participation & Selection Process

• Open to UG/PG students, research scholars, practitioners, academicians (from all fields)
• All received book reviews will be screened by a selection committee
• The top 10 reviews will be shortlisted for an online presentation round
• Final selection of winners will be based on the quality of both the paper and the presentation

Submission Guidelines

Participants are expected to submit an original and insightful review of a scholarly book relevant to one of the prescribed themes. The review should be well-structured, academic in tone, and reflect critical engagement with the book.

1. Title of the Book
   • Mention the full title of the book being reviewed, along with the author’s name.
2. Brief Overview (250–400 words)
   • Provide a summary of the book’s key content, argument, and objectives.
   • Outline the main themes, structure (chapters/sections), and methodology used by the author.
   • Avoid detailed narration—focus on clarity and scope of the book.
3. Critical Evaluation (600–800 words)
   • Depth of research and originality Theoretical framework and legal reasoning
   • Relevance and timeliness of the issues discussed
   • Strengths and weaknesses
   • Compare with other major works (if relevant).
4. Significance (200–300 words)
   • Explain how the book contributes.
   • Assess its relevance in education, research, policy or society.
   • Highlight the importance of the book in the selected theme (e.g., Human Rights, AI Law, Environmental Law, etc.).
5. Personal Reflection (200–300 words)
   • Offer your personal insights and interpretation of the text.
   • Discuss what you found thought-provoking, controversial, or valuable.
   • Reflect on how the book influenced your understanding of the subject.
6. Conclusion (150–200 words)
   • Provide a clear summary of your evaluation.
   • State whether you would recommend the book, and to whom (students, practitioners, researchers, etc.).
   • Include any final remarks or broader implications.
7. Formatting and Presentation
   • Word Limit: 1500 to 2000 words (excluding bibliography)
   • Font: Times New Roman
   • Font Size: 12 pt
   • Spacing: 1.5 line spacing
   • Alignment: Justified
   • Margins: Standard (1 inch all sides)
8. Referencing and Citations
   • Use proper citation for all references, including quotes or paraphrased ideas.
   • Choose one standard citation style (Bluebook / APA/ MLA).
   • Inconsistent or missing citations will lead to disqualification.
9. Originality and Plagiarism
   • Reviews must be original and unpublished.
   • Submissions will be checked by using Similarity detection software.

Registration

Registration Fee:

• Rs 250/- Single Authorship,
• Rs 400/- Co-authorship is allowed for up to two authors.

Bank Details:

• Name of the Bank: HDFC
• Name of A/c Holder: Dharmashastra National Law University
• Account Number: 50100532304180
• IFSC: HDFC0000224

Prizes

• 1st place: Rs. 4000
• 2nd place: Rs. 2500
• 3rd place: Rs. 1500
• Winning certificates will be awarded to the winners
• Participation certificates will be given to all participants.

Contact Information

For any queries, please contact at bookreviewcompetition@mpdnlu.ac.in.

Click here to submit.