diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index d1196d3..ca5b602 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -1,70 +1,139 @@
-# Project Setup Guide
+<p align="left">
+  <img src="https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcRpPlI1P7SK3pemg67VMPbvNzxYyk0UtlmJiQ&s" alt="Aossie Logo" height="120"/>
+</p>
 
-## Backend Setup
+<h1 align="right">
+  <b>AOSSIE | DebateAI</b>
+</h1>
 
-1. Navigate to the backend directory:
-   ```sh
+---
+
+##  About DebateAI
+
+**DebateAI** is an AI-enhanced, real-time debating platform designed to sharpen communication skills. Whether competing against human opponents or LLM-powered AI challengers, users can participate in structured debates that mimic formal competitions.
+
+###  Key Features
+
+-  **User vs. User Debates**
+  - Real-time debates via **WebSockets**, **WebRTC** (audio/video/text)
+  - Structured formats: **opening**, **cross-exam**, and **closing**
+  
+-  **User vs. AI Debates**
+  - LLM-generated counterarguments that adapt to your input
+
+-  **Custom Debate Rooms**
+  - Create private, topic-specific debate spaces
+
+---
+
+##  Project Setup Guide
+
+###  Backend Configuration
+
+1. Create a file named `config.prod.yml` in the `backend/config/` directory.
+
+Paste the following configuration:
+```
+server:
+  port: 1313  # The port number your backend server will run on
+
+database:
+  uri: "mongodb+srv://<username>:<password>@<cluster-url>/<database-name>"  
+  # Replace with your MongoDB Atlas connection string
+  # Get this from your MongoDB Atlas dashboard after creating a cluster and database
+
+gemini:
+  apiKey: "<YOUR_GEMINI_API_KEY>"
+  # API key for OpenAI / Gemini model access
+  # Obtain from your OpenRouter.ai or OpenAI account dashboard
+
+jwt:
+  secret: "<YOUR_JWT_SECRET>"
+  # A secret string used to sign JWT tokens
+  # Generate a strong random string (e.g. use `openssl rand -hex 32`)
+
+  expiry: 1440  
+  # Token expiry time in minutes (e.g. 1440 = 24 hours)
+
+smtp:
+  host: "smtp.gmail.com"  
+  # SMTP server host for sending emails (example is Gmail SMTP)
+
+  port: 587  
+  # SMTP server port (587 for TLS)
+
+  username: "<YOUR_EMAIL_ADDRESS>"  
+  # Email username (your email address)
+
+  password: "<YOUR_EMAIL_PASSWORD_OR_APP_PASSWORD>"  
+  # Password for the email or app-specific password if 2FA is enabled
+
+  senderEmail: "<YOUR_EMAIL_ADDRESS>"  
+  # The 'from' email address used when sending mails
+
+  senderName: "DebateAI Team"  
+
+googleOAuth:
+  clientID: "<YOUR_GOOGLE_OAUTH_CLIENT_ID>"  
+  # Google OAuth Client ID for OAuth login
+  # Obtain from Google Cloud Console (APIs & Services > Credentials > OAuth 2.0 Client IDs)
+```
+
+>  **Note**: Do **not** commit this file to a public repository. Use `.gitignore`.
+
+---
+
+###  Running the Backend (Go)
+
+1. Navigate to the backend folder:
+   ```
    cd backend
    ```
-2. Run the backend server:
-   ```sh
+
+2. Initialize Go modules (if not already done):
+   ```
+   go mod tidy
+   ```
+
+3. Run the server:
+   ```
    go run cmd/server/main.go
    ```
 
-## Frontend Setup
+---
+
+###  Running the Frontend (React + Vite)
 
-1. Navigate to the frontend directory:
-   ```sh
+1. Open a new terminal and navigate to the frontend directory:
+   ```
    cd frontend
    ```
+
 2. Install dependencies:
-   ```sh
+   ```
    npm install
    ```
-3. Create an environment file:
-   - Create a `.env` file in the frontend directory.
-   - Add the following environment variables:
-     ```sh
-     VITE_BASE_URL="http://localhost:<BACKEND_SERVER_PORT>"
-     ```
+
+3. Create a `.env` file and add:
+   ```
+   VITE_BASE_URL="http://localhost:1313"
+   ```
+
 4. Start the development server:
-   ```sh
+   ```
    npm run dev
    ```
 
-## Setting Up Amazon Cognito
-
-Follow these steps to configure Amazon Cognito for authentication:
-
-1. **Navigate to Cognito**
-   - Go to the [AWS Management Console](https://aws.amazon.com/console/) and open Cognito.
-
-2. **Create a User Pool**
-   - Configure authentication settings as per your requirements.
-
-3. **Retrieve Credentials**
-   - Once the User Pool is set up, obtain the necessary credentials:
-     - **User Pool ID**
-     - **App Client ID**
+---
 
-4. **Update Application Configuration**
-   - Add the retrieved credentials to your application's configuration file (e.g., `config.yml`).
-   - Enable the following settings in Cognito's app-client:
-     - Choice-based sign-in
-     - Username and password authentication
-     - Get user tokens from existing authenticated sessions
-     - Secure Remote Password (SRP) protocol
+##  Contributing
 
-For more details, refer to the [official AWS documentation](https://docs.aws.amazon.com/cognito/).
+Want to contribute to DebateAI? Reach out to [Bhavik Mangla](https://github.com/bhavik-mangla) and [Rishit Tiwari](https://github.com/rixitgithub). Contributions that enhance accessibility, features, or performance are always welcome.
 
-## Setting Up OpenAI API Key
+---
 
-To use OpenAI services, obtain an API key from OpenRouter:
+##  License
 
-1. Visit [OpenRouter](https://openrouter.ai/) and sign up if you don't have an account.
-2. Generate an API key from your OpenRouter dashboard.
-3. Add the API key to your `config.yml` file.
+MIT © [AOSSIE](https://aossie.org)
 
 ---
-
-This guide follows the project implementation approach. If you encounter any issues, check the AWS documentation or relevant project files.