Constitutional chamber
2nd Edition · 2026

2nd Alliance Model GST Council, 2026

A National Academic Simulation of the GST Council under Article 279A of the Constitution of India
4–5 September 2026 · Alliance School of Law, Alliance University, Bengaluru
Hosted by the Alliance Centre for Corporate and Commercial Law (ACCL)

About the Competition

The Alliance Model GST Council (AMGSTC) is a national academic simulation that recreates the proceedings of the Goods and Services Tax Council constituted under Article 279A of the Constitution. Delegates step into the roles of India's Finance Ministers and Principal Secretaries to debate, negotiate, and vote on a live fiscal-policy agenda, mirroring the constitutional design of cooperative federalism at the heart of the GST framework.

In its second edition, AMGSTC 2026 brings together 31 delegations representing every seat on the GST Council — all 28 States together with Delhi, Puducherry, and Jammu & Kashmir. The host Organising Committee represents the Union Government, steering the Council through a rigorous agenda and a weighted final vote conducted in accordance with Article 279A(9).

This is "real India with a fictional agenda" — the institutions, the voting arithmetic, and the constitutional procedure are authentic; the specific policy questions are crafted for the simulation.

This Year's Agenda

Technology-neutral GST rate rationalisation and the Input Tax Credit framework for green mobility.

The Council will deliberate on some of the most consequential questions in India's indirect-tax and clean-mobility landscape, including:

Delegates will be expected to balance revenue considerations, environmental policy, and the interests of their assigned States within the collaborative structure of the Council.

Key Dates

August 15, 2026

Registration closes

30 August 2026

Position Paper due

30 August 2026

Clarifications deadline

By 1 September 2026

Preliminary screening intimation

4–5 September 2026

Competition

Competition Format

Each participating team is a delegation of two, comprising a State Finance Minister and a Principal Secretary.

Round 1 — Council Session (Day 1)

All 31 delegations convene as a single committee. Delegations are scored, and the top six Qualifying Delegations are announced at the close of Day 1.

Round 2 — Open Dialogue (Day 2, Morning)

The six Qualifying Delegations present their Draft Resolutions — proposed amendments to the operative resolutions before the Council. Non-qualifying delegations may co-sponsor resolutions (up to three each; no self-sponsorship). The three delegations with the highest co-sponsor support become the Advancing Delegations to the Final. This round is also scored towards Best Delegation and Best Speaker.

Round 3 — The Final (Day 2, Afternoon)

A Press Conference Simulation, in which the three Advancing Delegations face a press panel drawn from the remaining delegations, followed by a short recess for final amendments and the Final Voting Session. Voting follows the constitutional formula of Article 279A(9): a three-fourths weighted majority, with the Centre holding one-third and the States two-thirds of the vote. The Council then proceeds to the Valedictory Session.

Awards

Winner / Best Delegation
₹50,000
Runner-Up
₹25,000
Best Speaker
₹5,000
Best Position Paper
₹5,000

Total prize pool: ₹85,000, alongside certificates of participation and merit for all delegates.

Position Papers

Every delegation must submit a Position Paper by 30 August 2026. Key requirements:

Full formatting and submission guidance is set out in the Participant's Guide.

Distinguished Guests

INAUGURAL SESSION

4 September 2026

Guest of Honour

Mr. M. G. Kodandaram

Assistant Director (Retd.), Indian Revenue Service

Guest of Honour

Mr. Darshan Bora

Partner, Economic Laws Practice

VALEDICTORY SESSION

5 September 2026

Guest of Honour

Mr. Abhishek Agarwal

Associate Partner, BSR & Associates

Distinguished Panel of Judges

The competition is further supported by a distinguished panel of judges drawn from the bar, the profession, and academia.

Who Can Participate

AMGSTC 2026 is open to law students across the country. Each institution may field delegations of two participants. No prior experience of Model Council formats is required — a full Participant's Guide, Agenda Note, and Guide to the Agenda Note are provided to help every team prepare.

How to Register

  1. Complete the registration form: https://forms.gle/eq6eF7EnyGB3fAQR8
  2. Registration closes on 15 August 2026.
  3. Prepare and submit your anonymised Position Paper by 30 August 2026.
  4. Watch for your screening intimation by 1 September 2026.

Resources

Contact

For any queries regarding the competition, please write to:

accl@alliance.edu.in

Alliance Centre for Corporate and Commercial Law (ACCL)
Alliance School of Law, Alliance University, Bengaluru