News Type: News

Call for Applications | Academic Associate | 4 positions

NLSIU invites applications for a full-time, on-campus Academic Associate position for a period of one year (extendable).

About NLSIU

The National Law School of India University (NLSIU) was established in 1987 to be a pioneer in legal education. Over the last three decades the university has consistently been an innovative leader in legal education and research in India and has been ranked first among law universities in the National Institute Ranking Framework for the last seven years.

Roles and Responsibilities

In this role, the Academic Associate will have the opportunity to work closely with the best law faculty. The candidates will get an in-side view of the pedagogical and administrative processes in both offline programmes and in the Professional and Continuing Education (PACE) programmes at India’s best law school. This role is in keeping with the continuous  professionalisation and growth of the PACE department and programmes.

This role is ideal for individuals with a strong academic record who intend to pursue a career in higher education. We envisage that Academic Associates can pursue academic positions or academic administration careers at the University and beyond.

Core responsibilities will include:

  • Assist the faculty and administration in the delivery of academic programmes, both offline and online;
  • Enabling faculty to  prepare learning aids, content and practice questions;
  • Assist in creating question banks, answer keys, and evaluation of tests and examinations  of offline/PACE programs in consultation and guidance of faculty;
  • Review and update study materials with the guidance of the faculty.
  • Assist the faculty and administration in coordination and conduct of sessions, moot courts, and other classroom exercises.
  • Other duties and responsibilities as assigned by the Department head.
  • The role may involve working on weekends, extended hours, and travelling within the city and country.

Qualifications, Experience & Skills

Essential Qualifications:
LL.B degree with minimum 55% aggregate marks. (Those who are in the final year can apply provided the degree certificate is submitted at the time of the interview)

Desirable Qualifications:
Candidates with an LL.M/Ph.D. discipline with minimum 55% aggregate marks will be preferred.

Essential Experience:
0-3 years of work experience in an academic or professional setting;
Strong, foundational understanding of the domain studied at the graduate and/or post-graduate level.

Desirable Experience:
Prior experience in teaching, tutoring, and academic support in higher education setup preferred

Skills: 

  • Strong communication skills (written and oral), Technical skills, Time-management skills,
  • Analytical skills, Collation skills,
  • Self-driven, collaborative as well as the ability to work independently, and attention to detail.
  • Proficiency in MS Office, Gmail, Google Documents and Google Sheets.

Compensation 

Salary will be commensurate with qualification and experience and will be in the range of Rs. 40,000 – 55,000 per month.

How to Apply?

Please fill the application form and include the following documents:

  • An updated CV
  • A short statement outlining your interest in working with us and why you would be a good fit for the role (not more than 500 words).
  • A sample or samples or written work, published or unpublished (co-authored pieces should be identified as such).
  • Details of two professional referees with contact details.

Deadline

Interested candidates may apply by filling out this form. Please have your relevant documents and certificates at hand. The deadline for applications has been extended to 5 PM, June 30, 2025.

NLSIU is an equal opportunity employer, and we value diversity at our institution.

For any queries, please write only to

NLSIU Students Win the 22nd Edition of Dinesh Vyas Memorial National Legal Essay Competition, 2024

Suhani Chhaperwal
Srishti Agrawal

We congratulate our students Suhani Chhaperwal and Srishti Agrawal [third year BA LLB (Hons)] for winning the 22nd edition of the Dinesh Vyas Memorial National Legal Essay Competition, 2024. The essay competition was organised by Government Law College (GLC), Mumbai in October-November 2024, and the results were announced in 2025.

Their winning essay was titled ‘Markets and Myths: Rebalancing and Reshaping Fair Use in the Age of Shadow Libraries.’ The essay analysed the four-factor test in ‘Fair Use’ in the context of shadow libraries such as ‘Libgen’ and ‘Sci-hub’ in India in light of the recent US copyright case revolving around the free e-lending facility of ‘Internet Archive’.

 

 

About the competition

The National Legal Essay Competition is organised by the Magazine Committee of Government Law College, Mumbai, in association with the Dinesh Vyas Public Charitable Trust. It is held in memory of the late Mr. Dinesh Vyas, a Senior Advocate of the Supreme Court of India and an alumnus of GLC.

It is open to students across all years pursuing their 5-year integrated law course/3-year LL.B. course/LL.M. from any recognised university in India and equivalent law degree abroad for the academic year of 2023-2024.

Topics for 2024

The topics for submission for this latest edition of the competition were:

  • One Nation, One Election: An Analysis of the report and its Implications for Indian democracy;
  • Evaluating the Telecommunications Act 2023: Advancements, challenges, and implications for India’s digital future;
  • Analysing the Ayodhya Rami Reddy Alla vs. PCIT case: Implications and lessons from the Telangana High Court’s ruling on General Anti-Avoidance Rules (GAAR) [WP Nos. 46510 and 46467 of 2022 (Telangana High Court)];
  • In the light of the recent US copyright case revolving around the free e-lending facility of Internet Archive, what should be the limits on ‘fair use’ of copyrighted works by students and academicians?
  • Educational institutes’ restrictions on religious symbols: Safeguarding secularism or choking religious freedom?
  • Reforming the Global Guardian: The ICJ’s Shortcomings in protecting individual rights and ensuring accountability for war crimes – Exploring solutions for greater effectiveness.

Meet Our New Faculty and Staff | June 2025

We are pleased to welcome the following faculty and research staff members to the NLS community. Our new faculty members include Mr. Amit Kumar (Assistant Professor-Law), Ms. Chunthailiu Gonmei (Assistant Professor, Law), Ms. Ragini Surana (Assistant Professor, Law), Dr. Shiuli Vanaja (Assistant Professor, Social Science), and Dr. Srikrishna Ayyangar (Associate Professor, Social Science). Our new researchers include Ms. Amaidhi Devaraj (Co-Director, Juvenile Justice Clinic) and Ms. Subhadra Nair (Researcher, Juvenile Justice Clinic). And finally, Anjita Sinha (Manager – Professional and Continuing Education Department) has joined our administrative staff.
We wish them the very best for their professional journeys ahead!

Faculty

Mr. Amit Kumar
Assistant Professor, Law

Amit has previously worked as an Assistant Professor at the National Law Institute University (NLIU), Bhopal, and VIT-AP University, Amravati. He has previously taught public international law, international humanitarian law, and refugee law.

He has published articles on international law, business and human rights law. His work has been featured in reputed journals like the Asian Journal of International Law, the Australian Journal of Asian Law, and the Indian Society of International Law Yearbook on International Humanitarian and Refugee Law. He has also written opinion pieces on critical legal issues which have been published in the media.

Amit holds a BA LLB (Hons) from Chanakya National Law University, Patna, and an LLM in International Law from South Asian University, New Delhi. He is currently pursuing his PhD in International Human Rights Law from Rajiv Gandhi School of Intellectual Property Law, IIT Kharagpur.

He can be reached at

 

Ms. Chunthailiu Gonmei
Assistant Professor, Law

Chunthailiu’s academic interests include Comparative Law and Constitutional Law, Legal Theory, Ethics, and Traditional Knowledge in the realm of Intellectual Property Law.

Her research centres around the idea of asymmetric federalism and its application to the cause of tribal/indigenous people. She feels teaching is her calling, and believes in the idea of constantly learning and unlearning.

She has an LLB at the Campus Law Centre, Delhi University, and an LLM from NALSAR University of Law, Hyderabad. She is currently pursuing her PhD at NALSAR. Her PhD thesis is a comparative analysis  of the constitutional status of the indigenous inhabitants of India and the US from a federal perspective.

She can be reached at 

Ms. Ragini Surana
Assistant Professor, Law

Ragini’s research interests include the fields of private law and legal history with a focus on the law of contract and unjust enrichment. Prior to joining NLSIU, Ragini was  part of the research group on Legal Transfers in the Common Law World under the Max Planck Institute for Legal History and Legal Theory, Frankfurt.

Besides her research in the field of contract law and unjust enrichment, Ragini has also worked with a practicing advocate on editing legal commentaries on arbitration and insolvency.

She holds a Master of Laws (LLM) from the National University Singapore, and a BA LLB (Hons) from the Jindal Global Law School, Sonipat. She is currently in the process of finishing her PhD at the Goethe University, Frankfurt.

She can be reached at

Dr. Shiuli Vanaja
Assistant Professor, Social Science

Dr. Shiuli Vanaja is an applied microeconomist specialising in development economics, behavioural economics, and resource economics with a special focus on gender.

Previously, she worked as an Assistant Professor at Azim Premji University’s School of Arts and Sciences. At APU, she taught various economics and interdisciplinary courses to a diverse and mixed undergraduate student body. She is currently working with the team at the Centre for Science and Environment on the Survey of Working India Report 2025.

She is particularly fascinated by social and cultural institutions, practices, and norms that shape behavioural patterns and influence choices in societies like India. More recently, she has been engaged in two research projects: (i) on analysing constraints on female labour force participation in urban areas, and (ii) on forest rights, forest-based livelihoods, and social networks of tribal groups in central India.

She has a BA (Hons) in Economics from Banaras Hindu University, an MA Economics and an MPhil from Jawaharlal Nehru University, and a PhD from Cornell University.

She can be reached at

Dr. Srikrishna Ayyangar
Associate Professor, Social Science

Srikrishna Ayyangar is a Political Scientist with expertise in comparative politics of developing areas, particularly around questions of populism and its place in democracies beyond the Americas and Europe. He has also been involved in the design and development of public policy programmes for many years, and has taught courses related to problem solving, policy writing and implementation analysis. He has expertise in comparative configurational methodologies, particularly in the Qualitative Comparative Analysis method.

He has taught at Azim Premji University for more than a decade, and prior to that, at the University of Hartford and the University of the South – Sewanee. He has also had short-term teaching appointments at New York University and at Central European University, Budapest, Hungary.

Srikrishna has most recently published a book titled ‘A Logic of Populism: India and its States’ (Cambridge 2025). His research works have also been published in journals like the Studies in Comparative Development and Studies in Indian Politics.

He can be reached at 

Research Staff

Ms. Amaidhi Devaraj
Co-Director, Juvenile Justice Clinic

Amaidhi has over 18 years of experience in various disciplines from theatre, law, counselling, activism, etc. all directed towards social change. She has previously worked at the Centre for Child and the Law (CCL), NLSIU where she was Project Director, Enabling Justice to Children in the Juvenile Justice System.

Prior to this, she has worked in national and international organisations in the field of education, lifeskills, mentoring, health and hygiene, and public health.

Amaidhi is passionate about social change, and actively seeks out opportunities in both her personal and professional life to contribute towards the holistic development of society.

She has a BA LLB from University Law College and a Diploma in Human Rights Law from NLSIU.

She can be reached at

Ms. Subhadra Nair
Researcher, Juvenile Justice Clinic 

Subhadra’s research delves into the Indian Criminal Justice System, encompassing both adult & juvenile justice. Her primary inquiries include examining procedural frameworks for prisoner interview (mulaquat) across Indian prisons, specific needs of children of prisoners in India, Social Investigation Reports (SIRs) and Preliminary Assessment (PA) under the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act,2015.

Before joining the Juvenile Justice Clinic at NLS, she worked as a researcher at the Centre for Child and the Law (NLSIU) and Prayas, Centre for Criminology and Justice (TISS Mumbai). She also assisted the mitigation team at Project 39A, NLU-D. She holds a Master’s degree in Public Policy and a Postgraduate Diploma in Human Rights Law.

She can be reached at

Administrative Staff

Anjita Sinha
Manager – Professional and Continuing Education Department (PACE)

Anjita has two decades of experience working in Learning & Development, Program Management, New Product Development, and Digital Learning.

Anjita had an enjoyable early stint in Infosys Shanghai and later moved to the field of Vocational Skills – taking on roles of higher responsibility at the Manipal Group. Prior to joining NLSIU, she was AGM at the Manipal Education and Medical Group, Bengaluru. More recently, she led the conceptualisation, development and launch of Manipal MedAce, the group’s flagship cloud-based learning app for students of medicine in India.

She has a BA (Hons) and MA in English from Ranchi University. She completed her PG Diploma in Teaching English, and an MPhil in Computational Linguistics from the English and Foreign Languages University (EFLU). Recently, she also earned an Executive MBA in Operation Management, Great Lakes Executive Learning.

She can be reached at

Call for Applications | Assistant Manager – Campus and Residence Life | 2 Vacancies

The National Law School of India University (NLSIU) was established in 1987 to be a pioneer in legal education. Over the last three decades the University has consistently been an innovative leader in legal education and research in India and has been ranked first among Law Universities in the National Institute Ranking Framework for the last seven years.

The University invites online applications from accomplished professionals for 2 positions of Assistant Manager – Campus and Residence Life. These are full-time positions, based out of the NLSIU campus in Bengaluru, and will report to the Director – Campus and Residential Life, NLSIU. This position requires living on-campus and may involve occasional weekend and evening commitments.

Role Description

A. Qualifications

Essential

  • Graduate degree in any discipline with aggregate 55% marks. Provided, for candidates with benchmark disabilities, the minimum aggregate mark is 50%.

Desirable

  • Post Graduate Degree/Diploma in Higher Education, Hospitality, Education, Student Affairs Administration, Counselling, Social Work, Human Resources or any related field.

B. Experience and Skills

Essential

  • Minimum 5 years of overall work experience
  • Well-organised and capable of handling day-to-day hostel operations
  • Excellent interpersonal and communication skills
  • Strong problem-solving abilities
  • Ability to work effectively and constructively as part of a team
  • Approachable and attentive to student concerns
  • Flexible and open to working beyond regular hours when needed
  • Experience of working with residential UG/PG students
  • A demonstrated understanding and commitment to diversity and inclusion with a high degree of accessibility and openness to students
  • Excellent time-management, problem-solving, stakeholder management skills with attention to detail
  • Ability and desire to work independently in a fast-paced environment and complete multiple tasks and a large volume of work in a timely and effective manner
  • The ability to work well with others, both internally and externally, from a wide variety of backgrounds

Desirable

  • Prior experience working in administrative positions in a student hostel, co-living space, housing high school, UG or PG students or young working professionals.

C. Role and Responsibilities

The Assistant Manager – Campus and Residence Life will report to the Director – Campus and Residential Life. The Assistant Manager – Campus and Residence Life will be responsible for undertaking the following tasks:

  • Coordinating the day-to-day management and maintenance of all student hostels
  • Responding to and resolving student concerns or complaints related to residences
  • Working closely with the Director – Campus and Residential Life (DCRL) and Residence Life team to support student onboarding and offboarding processes, including room allocation, ensuring rooms are ready for occupancy, handing over and collecting keys, and preparing rooms for incoming residents
  • Liaising regularly with the Facilities team to report and follow up on facilities related issues to ensure timely resolution
  • Coordinating with the DCRL, Student Welfare Officer (SWO), and Health Centre staff in the event of student health and wellbeing-related emergencies
  • Being available and accessible to students for discussions or concerns related to their residences
  • Being available for emergencies and responding appropriately
  • Conducting regular hostel visits to ensure student wellbeing, safety, and compliance with hostel norms
  • Conducting regular monitoring of hostels for infrastructure, discipline, student wellbeing and other issues. Participating in Residence Life Disciplinary proceedings and maintaining the records for the same
  • Drafting policies, rules and regulations for the effective functioning of the student hostels
  • Any other functions or additional duties that may be assigned from time to time

D. Tenure

Permanent basis till the age of superannuation i.e. 60 years, subject to confirmation after the satisfactory completion of two year’s probation.

Selection Process

Selection will take place in two parts.

  1. Part 1 shall consist of review of applications by the University. Upon review of applications, candidates will be shortlisted in a 1:5 ratio as against the number of vacancies for the Interview round (Part 2).
  2. Part 2 will be an interview round wherein the Interview Selection Panel shall score candidates out of a total of 50 marks for selection to the post.

NLSIU reserves the right to have more than one round of interview either in person or over video conferencing and to conduct independent background checks on the candidates.

NLSIU reserves the right to request for references from people who are not listed in the application form but would be familiar with the candidate’s previous work.

General Conditions

  1. The prescribed essential qualifications/experience indicated are the bare minimum required for the role. Mere possession of these qualifications/experience will not entitle the candidate(s) to be called for an interview.
  2. The qualifications prescribed in the table above should have been obtained from recognised Universities/Institutions.
  3. Candidates will be required to produce original documents at the time of interview.
  4. Where the number of applications received in response to this advertisement is large and it may not be convenient or possible for NLSIU to interview all the candidates, NLSIU reserves the right to restrict the number of candidates to be called for interview to a reasonable limit.
  5. Candidates serving in Government/Public Sector Undertakings (including Boards/Autonomous Bodies) are required to submit a ‘No Objection Certificate’ from their current employer at the time of interview, if not submitted earlier.
  6. Incomplete applications, in any form, will not be considered by the University.
  7. No correspondence whatsoever will be entertained from candidates regarding the conduct or result of the interview and reasons for not being called for the interview.
  8. Canvassing in any form/bringing in any influence political or otherwise will be treated as a disqualification for the post.
  9. If information provided in an application is found to be incorrect/false, at any stage of the selection process, the candidature is liable to be cancelled and any appointment made is also liable to be terminated.
  10. NLSIU is an equal opportunity employer, and we value diversity at our institution.
  11. The shortlisted candidates will be intimated through email. The university will make all correspondence through email only.
  12. NLSIU reserves the right to withdraw the advertisement and not fill the advertised post at any time without assigning any reason.
  13. The decision of the University in all matters relating to this post shall be final and binding on all candidates.
  14. Any dispute regarding any matter arising pursuant to this advertisement shall be subject to the jurisdiction of courts in Bengaluru.

How to Apply?

Interested individuals are requested to go through the University’s website, fill in the Application Form and upload the certificates to support their claim for educational qualifications, age, experience etc.

Learn more about the role and application process here.

Deadline

All applications must be submitted on or before July 4, 2025 (5 PM IST).

NLS Students Win Top Prizes in the 2024 Shamnad Basheer Essay Competition on IP Law

Fourth-year NLS students, Yogesh Byadwal and Kartik Sharma, bagged the first and second prize respectively in the 2024 edition of the Shamnad Basheer Essay Competition on Intellectual Property Law.

The essay competition was organised by the blogging site SpicyIP in honour of its founder, Prof. (Dr.) Shamnad Basheer, in his 48th birth anniversary year.

Winners

The First Prize

Yogesh Byadwal (NLS BA LLB 2026) for the essay titled, “What Applies to You, Does Not Apply to Me: The Hypocrisy of Companies Owning ML Systems.” The essay is available here. (Source: SpicyIP)

Speaking to us, Yogesh said:

“I am truly honoured to have won this essay competition- one that is dedicated to honour the legacy of Late Prof. (Dr.) Shamnad Basheer. I am grateful to Prof. (Dr.) Arul George Scaria [Professor of Law and Co-Director, Centre for IP Research and Advocacy (CIPRA), NLSIU] and the incredible team at SpicyIP for their constant support and inspiration. I hope to carry forward the values that Prof. Basheer so passionately lived by—intellectual fearlessness, unwavering integrity and ever-encompassing compassion.”

 

The Second Prize

Kartik Sharma (NLS BA LLB 2026) for the essay titled “What’s in a Name? Critiquing The Copyright Owner’s Backdoor into the House of Copyright Society.” The essay is available here. (Source: SpicyIP)

Speaking to us, Kartik said:

“I had first come to know about the competition when I started exploring the field of IP law around the end of my first year. Back then, I had vague plans of participating in the competition someday. And now, being the second prize winner in it is a moment of great honour for me. The work on this essay was a long-drawn process over a couple of months, beginning from the CopyrightX course I had taken under the guidance of Prof. (Dr.) Scaria where I had the chance to be a part of several illuminating and foundational discussions on the subject. I am extremely thankful to the esteemed panel of judges and the SpicyIP team for finding value in my essay. A big note of gratitude to all the scholars whose works have developed and sustained my interest in the field of Intellectual Property Law, including late Prof. (Dr.) Basheer to whose monumental legacy this competition is dedicated. I hope to continue to learn more and contribute to IP law to the best I can, including by contributing to SpicyIP!”

About SpicyIP

SpicyIP is an Indian blog/repository on intellectual property (IP) and innovation law/policy. It was founded in 2005 by Prof. (Dr.) Shamnad Basheer, an IP academic and consultant.

Writing Urban India Fellowship: Reflections from the Workshop | April 7-11, 2025

The HUPA Chair for Urban Poor and the Law at NLSIU, in collaboration with Writing Urban India Collective and the Urban Studies Foundation (UK), is hosting the third iteration of the Writing Urban India Fellowship in 2025.

The Writing Urban India Fellowship Round 3 (WUI 3.0) is a mentoring initiative to nurture early career scholars in writing and publishing on urbanisation in India. The initiative aims to enable candidates with the skills and knowledge required to produce a structured writing output that is academic in nature – through capacity-building workshops, seminars and one-to-one mentorship. The programme involves offline and online interactions based on feasibility. The first two iterations of the Writing Urban India Fellowship were anchored by the Centre for Policy Research.

The Idea for the Fellowship

A group of academic peers—friends and collaborators over the years—had been working together on various research projects and contributing to the review of urban affairs in the Economic & Political Weekly. Through their involvement in the field, they noticed a clear gap: a lack of writing support for researchers in India.

At the same time, the Urban Studies Foundation, which publishes the Urban Studies Journal, approached them with a concern. They had previously run a successful writing support programme in China and were interested in doing something similar in India.

The issue they faced was that while many papers were being written about India, few were coming from researchers based in India. And even when submissions did come in, the writing quality often didn’t meet journal standards—despite the fact that the ideas and data had great potential.

Building on their previous collaborations and collective experiences, a network of urban academicians came together to design and implement a unique writing fellowship to suit the Indian academic context. The writing fellowship was essentially designed to pair early-career scholars with more experienced mentors.

Know more about our mentors.

The Previous Cohorts

The first cohort launched during the COVID-19 pandemic and was conducted entirely online. Initially, the criteria for selection were broad—participants didn’t necessarily have to be pursuing PhDs or already have written drafts. However, they quickly learned that many fellows were unclear about what a ‘writing’ fellowship entailed. Some had great ideas but not enough data or material to develop it into a full paper within the fellowship timeframe.

Taking these lessons into account, the second cohort focussed on selecting participants who were further along in their research journey—those who had collected data and had clearer writing goals. The fellows formed a strong peer network—supporting each other, offering feedback, and developing complementary skills.

This experience highlighted the importance of peer learning. While mentor-mentee relationships are crucial, mentors often have limited time due to teaching and other responsibilities. In contrast, peers navigating the writing process together can provide sustained support, encouragement, and insight.

The Current Cohort (2025)

These lessons fed into the design of the latest cohort, which is the first to include in-person interactions. The programme, this year, is “bookended” by two in-person meetings: one at the beginning and one at the end of the fellowship. These sessions aim to foster a sense of community, kickstart peer support networks, and set the stage for ongoing collaborations. Participants also have the advantage of forming smaller interest-based groups, organically building connections beyond the formal structure.

Read more about the workshop.

A Note from our Organisers

Dr. Mukta Naik, Lead – Policy, Centre for Sustainable Urban Livelihoods,  National Institute of Urban Affairs (NIUA):

“At its core, the programme remains a one-on-one mentorship model with light-touch group elements. The focus is on helping fellows improve writing structure, style, and clarity—areas that often receive less attention in traditional academic supervision. This time around, the cohort is intentionally more mature. Most participants have clear drafts and a strong sense of what they want to write.

Overall, the project is an ongoing learning experience—for mentors and mentees alike. It is as much about identifying and supporting motivated writers as it is about navigating the structural challenges of academic publishing. The stakes are high: in today’s academic world, publishing often directly affects career prospects. Fellows carry that pressure with them, and the programme hopes to ease that burden by offering thoughtful guidance, a strong peer network, and the time and space to grow as writers.”

Sushmita Pati, Associate Professor, NLSIU: 

“WUI is a great opportunity for us to listen to new ideas on urban research from younger scholars and engage with them. The five-day workshop turned out to be a great space for all of us to speak about our writing troubles, annoyances and also ways of getting around those to become better writers!”

Reflections from the Fellows

Aditi Pradhan, Doctoral Scholar, Centre for the Study of Regional Development, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi

Paper title (working title): Processes of socio-spatial transformation in the City of Ahmedabad

“Throughout my academic journey, writing to publish has been like pulling those wobbly teeth – slow, painful, and somehow always more complicated than it should be. It’s wild how we’re expected to just know how to do it, when in reality, research writing is its own beast and rarely acknowledged as something that needs real guidance. The fellowship offered the simple but powerful recognition that “we realise writing is hard, and here’s how we can help.” My aim is to use this opportunity to better understand the craft of research writing – how to write with purpose, how to write to sharpen arguments, how to write to tell more compelling stories, and how to write to make the “excellent first drafts” (quoting Noora, my fellow WUI Fellow) turn into publishable outputs. I’m also hoping to fine-tune my intuitions and find my voice in the process, to learn how to write in ways that feel true to the work I’m doing, and to myself.

The Workshop was enriching and inspiring to say the least. The space created through interactions with mentors and fellows felt like stepping out of the usual academic haze and into something more grounded, more collaborative. It was a healthy blend of guidance by the mentors and hands-on engagement, making the experience both insightful and practical. Writing wasn’t a solitary struggle but something collective, something shared. It instilled in me a newfound confidence, empowering me to approach my writing with more assurance and clarity.”

Dr. Nisar Kannangara, Consultant, Indian Institute for Human Settlements (IIHS)

Paper Title: Involuntary Urbanisation: Settlement Transformations among Tribal Communities in the Western Ghats

“I am a researcher trained to explore the social, political, and economic dynamics in rural and tribal settings. While working among tribal communities in the Western Ghats of Kerala—focussing on their housing and settlement transformations—I realised that understanding theories of urbanisation, particularly Southern urban theories, is essential to grasp the complexities of these changes. This realisation prompted me to apply for this fellowship. I am keen to engage with urban scholars and practitioners to better understand how urban formations are unfolding in rural and tribal geographies, particularly within the Indian context.

The first writing workshop held at the National Law School of India University from April 6 to 11, 2025, was an intellectually enriching and eye-opening experience. It exposed me to the wide spectrum of issues and themes shaping urban studies in India today. What stood out most were the sessions on reading critically and navigating the writing–rewriting process, led by seasoned scholars and practitioners. For me, it was a powerful journey of unlearning and re-learning that reshaped how I approach both reading and writing.”

Prithiraj Borah, Assistant Professor, Vellore Institute of Technology, Vellore

Paper title: Gender, Food, Community and Urban Space in Bengaluru

“I joined this fellowship to have a clear idea of how to approach a few of the research questions from the paper. I hope I will benefit from the mentors’ comments and suggestions.
The workshop was really thought-provoking the way the mentors and teams called for rigorous academic exercise of writing a paper on how to approach a particular area of research. It was really helpful for me.”

Ramengmawia Bawitlung, PhD Candidate, IIT Bombay

Paper title (working title): Sonic Urbanism in Aizawl: Sounding the Everyday City in Northeast India

“My PhD supervisor often tells me ‘you write too little. Be more forthcoming with your writing.’ My reason for applying to the fellowship is precisely this, I write too less. And I hope to achieve the intended flourish in my writing through this fellowship.

The workshop was eye opening in a number of ways. The sessions by Gautam Bhan (Indian Institute for Human Settlements) on the purpose of structure, tone, construction and affect in the matters of writing proved crucial so much so that I’ve become conscious and aware to incorporate them as I read and write. Anwesha Ghosh’s (NLSIU) talk on how to structure an argument unburdened the many perils of a student’s dilemma in framing a cohesive argument. Partha Mukhopadhyay’s (Centre for Policy Research) insistence on writing as sense-making and the importance of actors in ethnography has remained with me. I found Dhivya Janarthanan’s (NLSIU) lecture on working and engaging with theory so sedimented and interesting. On the whole, I enjoyed myself thoroughly as I listened with intent to the lectures and made notes to reflect on them over the intervening months. The stay, food, camaraderie, and most importantly the WUI team was wonderful. Everything was cast so supremely well.”

Shainal Verma, PhD research scholar, Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Delhi

Paper Title: Safeguarding Prerna Sthal: Dalit Women, The Police and Reproduction of Anti-Caste Spaces in The City

“Usually, research on gender and caste is confined to the disciplines of Feminism and Dalit studies, limiting its potential to tell us about ‘urban marginalisation’ and ‘urban inequalities.’ My research, an ethnographic exploration of Dalit women’s life worlds in an urban village in Delhi, contributes to the wider research on urban villages, shifting from anchors of land settlements, rural-to-urban transition, and gendered perspectives.

Through Professor Susmita Pati’s guidance, I have not only found affirmation in the scope of my work but also motivation to build on my socio-anthropological research in urban studies. I aim to publish a piece in a high-ranking journal by the end of this fellowship as a payback to the endearing faith WUI 3.0 has shown in my research on Dalit women in urban spaces.

A week at NLS under the guidance of WUI 3.0 mentors exposed us to academic hands-on tools, techniques, and affirmations to build on our research. Mentors Gautam Bhan (Indian Institute for Human Settlements), Champaka Rajagopal(Centre for Policy Research), Sushmita Pati (NLSIU), Neha Sami (Indian Institute for Human Settlements), J Devika (Centre for Development Studies), and Anwesha Ghosh (NLSIU) guided us to write in structured parts and make connections across our research. Moreover, the hospitality and care shown towards us by the team were the highlight of the fellowship for me, as it reinstated my faith in building more channels of care and community. I was able to think through my research in mind maps post-orientation week, which tells a lot about what good guidance can do for early PhD researchers. The key takeaway has been to locate my work in urban studies, how it contributes, and what are the ways I can refine this contribution for a wider knowledge production on urban studies in India. The highlight was also the bus rides to the campus every day, where fellows connected and opened our life worlds to each other, making each other understand why we do what we do and the importance of it. I am extremely thankful to NLS and the Urban Foundation for this valuable opportunity.”

 

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Call for Applications | Project Assistant to Support the Gender and Policing in Karnataka Project

The National Law School of India University (NLSIU) invites applications for a full-time Project Assistant position to work on the ‘Gender and Policing in Karnataka’ project. The position is up to December 2025 and will be based in Bengaluru.

About the Project

The gender and policing project 2025 involves working with the Karnataka State Police to strengthen the role of women in the state police. The project builds on earlier research conducted by NLSIU that documented the challenges policewomen face in service and recommended measures to enable a supportive and equitable work environment. Drawing from the findings of the research, the 2025 project involves working with the state police to design and deliver training on gender diversity mandates and principles; to strengthen the policies and processes on prevention of sexual harassment at the workplace, in compliance with the 2013 POSH Act; and to continue to build documentation of prevailing attitudes among police personnel (male and female) on mainstreaming the role of women in policing and on challenges in police station management due to increasing presence of policewomen. Overall, the project will contribute to strengthening institutional efforts at enabling gender mainstreaming in policing in Karnataka and offer insights for other state police departments in India.

Role description

Responsibilities include:

  • Prepare reading material for the training sessions with the police;
  • Input into policy briefs, papers and other research on measures pertaining to women police;
  • Develop outreach and awareness material on police department policies and initiatives pertaining to women police;
  • Coordinate the organization of the training programs with the state police and resource persons;
  • Maintain monthly progress reports on the activities and budget;
  • Manage internal administrative coordination for the project including ensuring timely internal approvals for all activities, compliance with procurement policies, coordinating all travel bookings, raising invoices and submission of accounts, and ensuring completion of reporting requirements;
  • Ensure timely reporting to the funders as per the agreed schedule and formats;
  • Assist in any other tasks as required.

A. Qualifications

Essential

  • Graduate degree, preferably in social sciences, law, public policy, communications or allied disciplines

Desirable

  • Master’s degree, preferably in law, social sciences or public policy

B. Experience

Essential

  • Working knowledge of excel sheets and budget documents
  • Demonstrable interest (academic and/or professional) in and knowledge of gender equality legal and policy frameworks, principles and concepts

Desirable

  • Work experience in project coordination roles
  • Prior experience of engaging with stakeholders, maintaining detailed records, and preparing comprehensive reports
  • Fluency in spoken Kannada
  • Flexibility in travel within Karnataka at short notice

C. Skills and Competencies

  • Excellent communication and writing skills
  • Strong execution rigour and operational skills
  • Strong presentation and time management skills

How to apply?

Please use the Google form here, and include the following documents:

  • An updated CV
  • A statement of purpose (not more than 500 words)
  • Contact details and designation of two references

Compensation

Salary will be commensurate with qualification and experience and will be in the range of Rs. 50,000 – Rs 60,000 per month.

For any queries, please write to

Deadline

The last date for submission of applications is June 9, 2025 (5 PM IST).

Call for Applications | Project Assistant to Support the Witness Protection Scheme in Karnataka Project

The National Law School of India University (NLSIU) invites applications for a full-time Project Assistant to support the ‘Witness Protection Scheme in Karnataka’ project. The position is until December 2025 and will be based in Bengaluru, with travel across Karnataka.

About the Project

Witness testimony is indispensable to India’s criminal-justice process, yet threats and intimidation frequently undermine it. Section 398 of the Bhartiya Nagrik Suraksha Sanhita 2023 (BNSS) now obliges every state to craft its own witness-protection rules. This project will:

  • run four stakeholder consultations – three district study visits (Belagavi, Udupi, Mysuru) and one targeted consultation at NLSIU, Bengaluru – engaging police, judiciary, KSLSA, NALSA, NGOs and think-tanks; and
  • produce a Stakeholder Analysis & Outcome Document that maps gaps, roles and actionable recommendations for a robust state-level witness-protection framework.

Role description

Responsibilities include:

  • Plan, schedule and coordinate the four consultations and related travel/logistics;
  • Prepare briefing notes, interview protocols and reading material for each consultation;
  • Liaise with stakeholders (police, judiciary, KSLSA, NALSA, NGOs) and maintain accurate contact lists;
  • Collect, organise and summarise consultation data; contribute to drafting the Stakeholder Analysis & Outcome Document;
  • Maintain monthly progress and expenditure reports; ensure compliance with NLSIU procurement and HSF reporting norms;
  • Manage internal approvals, invoicing and reimbursements in a timely manner;
  • Support any additional research or administrative tasks required for successful project delivery.

A. Qualifications

Essential

  • Graduate degree in law, social sciences, public policy, criminology or allied disciplines

Desirable

  • Master’s degree in law, criminal justice, public policy or social sciences

B. Experience

Essential

  • Demonstrable interest (academic / professional) in criminal-justice reform or access-to-justice issues
  • Working knowledge of Excel and basic budget documentation

Desirable

  • Prior experience in field-research or project-coordination roles
  • Experience engaging diverse justice-sector stakeholders and producing analytical reports
  • Fluency in spoken Kannada
  • Ability to travel within Karnataka at short notice

C. Skills & Competencies

  • Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
  • Strong coordination and time-management abilities.
  • Rigorous attention to detail in documentation and budgeting.
  • Ability to work independently.

How to apply?

Please submit your application only through the Google Form here, and upload:

  • An updated CV.
  • A statement of purpose (maximum 500 words).
  • Contact details and designations of two referees.

Compensation

Salary will be commensurate with qualifications and experience and will be in the range of Rs. 50,000 – Rs. 60,000 per month.

For any queries, write to

Deadline

The last date for submission of applications is June 9, 2025 (5 PM IST).

Rani Channamma Training Programme For Women Police Personnel | December 2022 to May 2025

The National Law School of India University, Bengaluru in collaboration with the Bengaluru City Police and the General Thimayya National Academy of Adventure (GETHNAA) (Department of Youth Empowerment and Sports, Government of Karnataka) has successfully concluded the Rani Channamma Training Programme for women police personnel.

This programme consisted of eight batches through which more than two hundred women police personnel have been trained on laws relating to women, senior citizens and children as well as criminal laws. The training was undertaken during the time period between December 2022 and May 2025.

About the Programme

The Rani Channamma Training Programme was aimed at training women police personnel in areas of Self Defence, Unarmed Combat, Self-Assertiveness, Gender Sensitisation, Counselling Skills, Legal Awareness and Public Speaking. NLSIU organised sessions on Legal Knowledge which were conducted by advocates and members of civil society organisations.

The training programme focused on empowering the women police personnel with key tools and information in the areas of gender-based violence and gender-based discrimination. It included discussions on gender stereotypes, criminal justice processes and relevant legislations such as the Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act, Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection) Act, Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizens Act. The attendees gained insights into relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 including the drafting of an FIR, sexual offences based on provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, and provisions of marriage, divorce, maintenance, and succession under various personal laws. Expert speakers highlighted national and international conventions, legislations and regulations, as well as best practices.

The sessions facilitated knowledge sharing, collaboration, and capacity building for the women police personnel. They also sought to promote better legal understanding amongst the attendees. The attendees engaged in interactive sessions and discussions highlighting the importance of collaboration between the police, citizens and civil society to ensure the effective implementation of various legislative measures.

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Meet Our New SBA Co-Presidents! | AY 2025-26

We congratulate our new Co-presidents of the Student Bar Association for the Academic Year 2025-26: Siddharth Kumar, 4th Year BA LLB (Hons) student, and Avni Raonka, 3rd Year BA LLB (Hons) student. We spoke to the new Co-Presidents and asked them to share their thoughts and vision for the SBA ahead. Here’s what they had to say.

The SBA Co-President elections at NLSIU are conducted simultaneously for the two Co-President positions. The SBA election for 2025-26 was held between May 11-14, 2025.  The process was completed under the supervision of the Electoral Board in accordance with SBA Constitution and Electoral Guidelines issued by the Electoral Board on May 11, 2025.  We thank the outgoing SBA Co-president for services to the University in Academic Year 2024-25. 

Siddharth Kumar

“Back in 2021 when I came here, NLSIU was a huge cultural shock. I felt out of place as many other first-years do. Coming from the Bahujan community, things were never easy. With time, the NLSIU community came to my rescue, and I found my place, I found my people.

As the SBA Co-President, I now wish to give back to the NLS community. I wish to bring the changes that I always wanted to see in NLSIU. My vision for NLSIU is to cultivate a community where everyone feels a sense of belonging and inclusion. During my tenure, I intend to be cooperative and collaborative, work with the university administration to address the issues faced by the student body. I am committed to building a vibrant student culture and establishing a strong system of student governance, including SBA, that is accountable, responsible, transparent, and approachable. Ultimately, I aspire to leave behind a legacy of a more connected and truly representative student community within NLSIU.”

 

Avni Raonka

“What is a college if not a space for growth? I truly believe that NLSIU is one of the best places for it. As the SBA Co-President, my aim is to help make that growth fulfilling for every student here. This means fostering a collaborative, supportive, and community-oriented environment — one that enriches both our academic and personal journeys.

I come from a small town in Rajasthan, and getting here was not easy. That journey has shaped me, and it’s made me deeply aware of both the opportunities and responsibilities that come with this role. For me, NLSIU is a home away from home — and I believe that building a strong, inclusive student community can significantly enhance our shared experience.

My vision is to create a campus culture rooted in empathy, accountability, and mutual respect — where every student feels heard, represented, and encouraged to thrive. NLSIU teaches you a lot — often in ways you don’t expect. I hope to make that learning journey more equitable and empowering for all of us.”