NUALS International Negotiation Competition (NINC) 2026

Teams of exactly two members—one client and one counsel—from universities in India and abroad. Cross-institutional teams are permitted. The registration fee is Rs. 3,540 for national teams and Rs. 4,130 for international teams; the sixteen teams advancing past the Negotiation Plan Elimination Round pay a further Rs. 4,130 by 1 October. All fees are non-refundable, and proof of payment must be attached to the registration form.

The inaugural edition of the flagship ADR event of the NUALS ADR Society, Kochi, is held entirely online so that travel and accommodation costs never keep a deserving team out. The competition opens with a Negotiation Plan Elimination Round; the top sixteen teams advance to the Octa-Finals, after which every round is a knockout through the Quarter-Finals and Semi-Finals to the final. Teams are judged on creativity, problem-solving, teamwork, and command over negotiation principles, with the problems growing progressively more complex to mirror real-world negotiation dynamics. This edition centers on technology and its growing influence on negotiation and dispute resolution. Prize pool of Rs. 65,000 plus internships and subscriptions: Rs. 30,000 for the winning pair, Rs. 20,000 for the runners-up, Rs. 8,500 for the best negotiation plan, and Rs. 6,500 for the best negotiator. Key dates: rulebook 28 August, registration and proposition 15 September, clarifications 17-18 September, negotiation plan due 22 September, elimination results 29 September, advanced-round registration 1 October, and rounds 3-4 October. Queries: nualsninc@nuals.ac.in.