Dharmashastra National Law University (DNLU), Jabalpur has announced the National Book Review Competition, an initiative to foster a culture of reading, critical inquiry, and scholarly writing.

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.

The 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.

Themes (core subject areas)

• 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 and 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

• 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

Guidelines for Writing the Book Review

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.

Title of the Book

• Mention the full title of the book being reviewed, along with the author’s name.

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.

Critical Evaluation (600–800 words)

Evaluate:

• 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).

Legal Significance (200–300 words)

• Explain how the book contributes.

• Assess its relevance in law education, research, policy, or society.

• Highlight the importance of the book in the selected legal theme (e.g Human Rights, AI Law, Environmental Law, etc)

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.

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.

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)

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.

Originality and Plagiarism

• Reviews must be original and unpublished.

• Submissions will be checked by using plagiarism detection software.

Registration Fee Details

• ₹250/- Single Authorship,

• ₹400/- Co-Authorship is allowed by the maximum of two authors

Account Details

Account Name: Dharamashastra National Law University

Account Number: 50100532304180

IFSC Code: HDFC0000224

Register by completing this Google Form

Prizes

• First Prize: ₹4000/-

• Second Prize: ₹2500/-

• Third Prize: ₹1500/-

• Winning certificates will be awarded to winners

• Participation certificates will be given to all participants.

Submission Details

• Last Date to Submit Paper: September 5, 2025

Contact Information

Program Coordinator: Dr Sheel Bhadra Yadav, Assistant Librarian

For any queries, please write to: bookreviewcompetition@mpdnlu.ac.in

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