News Type: News

Meet Our New Faculty | March 2026

We are pleased to welcome the following faculty members to the NLS community. Our new joinees include Prof. M. Abdul Rehman Pasha (Visiting Faculty), Prof. Siddharth Swaminathan (Visiting Faculty) and Dr. Zakir T. Thomas (DPIIT IPR Chair Professor). We wish them the very best for their professional journeys at NLSIU.

Faculty

Prof. M. Abdul Rehman Pasha
Visting Faculty

Author of over fifty books in Kannada and English, M. Abdul Rehman Pasha is a writer and a professional translator. Associated with a number of NGOs and government departments, he has produced over 140 Development Documentaries, 63 Educational Videos, 4 feature films, in Kannada, English and Hindi. He has to his credit, over 15 state, national and international awards and acclamations for his contributions to Kannada literature and media.

He was at the Central Institute of Indian Languages, Mysore, where he served as a language training expert in the Department of Kannada and Culture.  Among other things, Prof. Pasha is an expert in teaching Kannada to non-Kannada persons.

He will be teaching ‘Programme in Indian Languages and Literature: Kannada’ course.

 

Prof. Siddharth Swaminathan
Visting Faculty

Siddharth was most recently Senior Fellow at the Saxena Center for Contemporary South Asia, Brown University (2023-24). He has previously taught at several universities in India and the US. Courses include comparative politics, world politics, and statistical methods. His research interests include subnational comparative politics, state capacity, citizenship and urban governance, and public opinion.

He will be teaching ‘Research Methods in Politics.’

 

 

 

 

Dr. Zakir T. Thomas
DPIIT IPR Chair Professor

Zakir brings over 35 years of distinguished service in the Government of India as an officer of the Indian Revenue Service (IRS), retiring in May 2024 as Director General (Systems) heading the e-governance wing of the Income Tax Department. He has held key roles across the Ministries of Finance, Science and Technology, and Education, and was honoured with the Finance Minister’s Award, the highest recognition from the Income Tax Department.

He served as Registrar of Copyright for the Government of India and as the Founding Project Director of the Open-Source Drug Discovery (OSDD) initiative at CSIR, a global open innovation platform for affordable drug discovery targetting neglected diseases. He has represented India at international forums including WIPO, was Indian delegate to the OECD tax forum, delivered talks at the European Parliament and American Chemical Society, and contributed extensively to scholarship on IP, innovation, public health, and technology policy.

NLS Grad Mansi Gupta Secures 78th Rank in UPSC Results

We are happy to announce that NLS graduate Mansi Gupta, BA LLB (Hons) 2023, has secured an All-India rank of 78 in the Civil Services Examination 2025. The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) announced the results of the 2025 examination on March 6, 2026.

Mansi joins a growing list of alumni who have joined the Civil Services and served with distinction. We spoke to Mansi to find out about her journey so far, and her plans for the future.

Mansi Gupta, NLS BA LLB (Hons) 2023

What motivated you to pursue the Civil Services?

My motivation to pursue the Civil Services grew from a desire to contribute meaningfully to society through public institutions. While studying law, I became increasingly aware of how governance decisions shape people’s everyday lives, from access to justice and welfare schemes to the functioning of local administration.

I realised that while law provides the framework for rights and accountability, effective public administration is essential to translate these principles into reality on the ground. The Civil Services offers a unique platform where one can work at the intersection of policy formulation and implementation while directly engaging with communities. What appealed to me most was the opportunity to address complex social challenges in a practical way and contribute to inclusive development.

How did your time at NLSIU shape your interest in public service or governance?

My time at NLSIU played a significant role in shaping my interest in public service and governance. The academic environment at NLS encourages critical thinking, engagement with public issues, and an interdisciplinary understanding of law and society. Through classroom discussions, projects and debates with peers, I was able to examine governance challenges from multiple perspectives — legal, social, and institutional. This exposure helped me appreciate the role of institutions in safeguarding rights and promoting development.

Are there any experiences, courses, or mentors at NLSIU that influenced your journey?

Several experiences at NLS contributed to shaping my perspective on public service. Courses related to constitutional law, governance, and public policy helped me understand the institutional framework through which rights and welfare are delivered in a democracy.

I remember studying in classes such as Law Poverty and Development – how legal coding shapes the structure of society and if implemented well, it is transformative. Many electives such as Reading the Nation, courses on themes of law and social justice, climate change etc. further strengthened my interest. Therefore, I am grateful for those experiences at NLS in helping me choose this path.

How did you approach preparation for the UPSC examination, and what kept you motivated during the process?

My approach to UPSC preparation focussed on building conceptual clarity, maintaining consistency, and regularly evaluating my progress. I began by carefully understanding the syllabus and focussing on standard sources to build a strong foundation, which I began in my 5th year properly. Alongside reading, I made it a priority to practice answer writing regularly and stay updated with current affairs, since the examination requires both analytical thinking and the ability to express ideas clearly. Revision was an important component of my preparation strategy, as it helped consolidate information over time.

What kept me motivated during the process was the larger purpose behind the examination i.e., the opportunity to contribute to public service. At the same time, the support of family, mentors, and friends helped me remain resilient during challenging phases of preparation. Viewing the journey as a process of learning and personal growth also helped maintain perspective and sustain motivation.

What advice would you offer to current NLSIU students or alumni aspiring to appear for the Civil Services?

For NLS students or alumni aspiring to join the Civil Services, the key is to approach preparation with clarity, discipline, and patience. The analytical and reading skills developed at NLS are strong assets for the UPSC exam; the focus should be on understanding the syllabus well, building conceptual clarity, practicing answer writing, and regularly revising while staying engaged with current affairs.

Maintaining balance and mental well-being during the process is equally important. Ultimately, the goal should not only be to clear the examination but also to cultivate a genuine commitment to public service.

Looking ahead, what areas of public service are you most keen to contribute to?

Looking ahead, I am particularly interested in strengthening the connection between governance and citizens’ everyday experiences. Improving access to public services, ensuring effective implementation of welfare policies, and enhancing transparency in administration are areas where governance can significantly improve people’s quality of life.

I am especially keen on exploring how technology, including AI-driven tools, can make public systems more accessible and efficient, particularly for vulnerable groups.

Given my background in law, issues related to access to justice, regulatory frameworks, and institutional accountability are of special interest to me, especially in advancing accessibility for persons with disabilities.

I would also like to focus on initiatives that address the needs of elderly citizens and women by strengthening inclusive service delivery. Ultimately, my goal is to work with integrity and empathy while contributing to governance systems that are accessible, inclusive, and responsive to citizens’ needs.

Thirty-Three Years at NLSIU: A Journey of Service and Change | Ms. Gayathri Devi

On February 28, 2026, Ms Gayathri Devi retired after more than 33 years of dedicated service to NLSIU. We thank her for her unwavering commitment, boundless enthusiasm, and exemplary work ethic, and wish her the very best in the years ahead. In this conversation, she reflects on her long association with the University and shares some of the many memories that marked her journey at NLSIU.

The NLS journey:

Ms Gayathri’s association with the University spans 33 years and six months. She joined NLS in August 1992 and retired in February 2026. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Science and a Postgraduate Diploma in Computer Applications. Over the course of her long tenure, she witnessed and contributed to many of the technological and administrative developments that shaped the University’s growth.

Her journey at NLS began when she was appointed as a Library Assistant (Computer Applications) in 1992. From the beginning, her role evolved alongside the changing needs of the institution. Over the decades, she contributed to several important initiatives that supported the University’s academic and technological infrastructure.

One of her early contributions was initiating the deployment of the Library Catalogue using the UGC-sponsored library software CDS/ISIS, developed by UNESCO for university libraries. She also coordinated the publication of NLS entrance examination results for several years, until NLS became part of the CLAT Consortium. In addition, she coordinated the preparation of modules for the MBL programme.

During the early years of digital connectivity at the University, she coordinated the daily task of receiving text emails from IISc through the telephone network. This period also saw NLS beginning to establish its network infrastructure, when desktops with Internet connectivity were introduced across faculty offices and administrative departments.

As the University’s technological capabilities expanded, she was closely involved in hosting the NLS website and several institutional servers.

In 2005, Ms Gayathri was part of the NLS movement towards stronger digital infrastructure. More recently, she was part of the teams involved in implementing the University ERP system and the learning platform in 2022 and 2023, marking yet another phase in the University’s digital transformation. Through these decades of service, Ms Gayathri played a steady role in supporting the technological evolution of NLS and its academic programmes.

“On the whole, my tenure at NLS has been interesting,” she says.

Fond memories:

Some of my earliest memories with the University are conducting entrance exam and its evaluation. We used to form a group of staff and faculty together helping each other to evaluate thousands of answer booklets. This process was later automated with OMR readers. Working alongside my colleagues who made office feel like home is something I continue to cherish.

Convocation every year used to be our favourite event where we used to again join for the successful conduct of the convocation. This event brought everyone together and it felt more like a family hosted function.

Just at the window of Director office, there used to be a hibiscus plant. Prof. Nagaraj would often joke with the Director that by just seeing the hibiscus plant, director comes out with good research articles.

I have fond memories of different parts of the campus, the open air and the greenery around and the walk towards library, hostels used to be refreshing.

Prof. Mitra introduced LIC pension scheme and would say, now your life is protected, after retirement, we have protected your life. So, he used to question, what is there to worry?

Throughout my tenure, I have come across very nice people and this the greatest gift in my life.

I am going to miss company of my colleagues, tea-time chats and walks in the pathway of library and hostels.

Looking forward:

It’s been over three-decades of service and now I want to pursue my favourite hobbies like travelling, reading, and gardening.

Photogallery

Call for Applications | ‘SIAC and Institutional Arbitration’ Elective Course | By NLSIU and SIAC

The National Law School of India University (NLSIU), Bengaluru, in collaboration with the Singapore International Arbitration Centre (SIAC), is pleased to announce the third edition of the elective course module, “SIAC and Institutional Arbitration.”

This intensive, in-person module offers participants the opportunity to engage with the practice of international arbitration from an institutional perspective. The course will provide insights into the role of arbitral institutions in administering disputes and shaping global arbitration practice.

The course will be led by SIAC, featuring an expert faculty drawn from leading arbitration institutions, law firms, and the Bar.

Course Highlights

  • Taught in-person at NLSIU campus in Bengaluru from April 20 to April 23, 2026.
  • Focus on the practical and theoretical aspects of institutional arbitration, with real-world insights into the functioning of SIAC.
  • The Course Convenor is Matthew Brown, Deputy Registrar, SIAC

Co-Teachers:

  • Ila Kapoor, Member, SIAC Court of Arbitration; Partner, Shardul Amarchand Mangaldas & Co.
  • Chahat Chawla, Member, YSIAC Council; International Counsel, Allen & Gledhill LLP
  • Promod Nair, Senior Advocate, High Court of Karnataka
  • Kelvin Poon SC, Deputy Managing Partner & Head – International Arbitration, Rajah & Tann
  • Shwetha Bidhuri, Director & Head (South Asia), SIAC
  • Devna Arora, Deputy Head (South Asia), SIAC
  • Shivam Patanjali, Counsel, SIAC
  • Steffi Mary Punnose, Strategy & Development Manager (South Asia), SIAC

The course outline and schedule of classes are available here.

Eligibility

Applications are invited from:

  • Students enroled in undergraduate or postgraduate law programmes at recognised universities in India
  • Legal professionals and academics interested in international arbitration

Please note: Students currently enroled in any regular academic programme at NLSIU are not eligible to apply, as the internal selection process for this elective course has already been completed.

Course Fee

  • Students: ₹10,000 + 18% GST
  • Working professionals: ₹20,000 + 18% GST

The fee includes reading materials, meals at the University, and a certificate of participation.

Please note that the programme is non-residential, and participants must arrange their own travel and accommodation.

Application Process

  • Interested candidates should apply through the registration link by Friday, March 27, 2026.
  • Selection will be based on the applicant’s academic/professional background and statement of purpose, with due consideration given to diversity of backgrounds.
  • Selected applicants will be notified in early April 2026.

For queries, please write to .

Expression of Interest | NLSIU Summer School – Foundations for a Legal Education (FLE) Course

The National Law School of India University (NLSIU) invites expression of interest to the sixth edition of the Foundations for Legal Education (FLE) Certificate Course for 2026.

Moving from high school to law school is challenging for students – and NLSIU’s Foundations for a Legal Education can set you on the path to acquire the skills and intellectual abilities you need to make this journey easy and effective. In a dynamic four-week curriculum, the FLE Course will introduce you to:

  • Read critically and analyse complex materials;
  • Understand and analyse quantitative information in context;
  • Write persuasively;
  • Argue effectively; and
  • Think like a lawyer!

The study of law demands specialised skill sets that young individuals may not have exposure to, or training in, and the FLE aims to bridge this gap. This course is open to high-school students, graduates and professionals keen to improve their comprehension, articulation, and reasoning abilities.

If you’re in the tenth standard or above at high school, and are curious about studying law, this course, from NIRF-ranked #1 Law School is for you! The FLE will help you develop life-long skills that will:

  • Boost your ability to succeed at law school;
  • Enhance your comprehension, articulation, and reasoning abilities; and
  • Springboard your journey into the world of academia and the profession.

Applications for the FLE Course will be opening soon! To express your interest please fill this Google Form.

To know more visit our FLE Course page on the PACE website. The course will begin in May 2026. For for any queries write to us on .

‘Exploring State Rules to Strengthen the Implementation of the National Food Security Act, 2013 in South India’

The Centre for Child and the Law (CCL), NLSIU in collaboration with ALERT and CRAF, Andhra Pradesh organised a two-day consultation on “Exploring State Rules to Strengthen the Implementation of the National Food Security Act, 2013 in South India – with a Focus on Andhra Pradesh” on February 18-19, 2026, at Vijayawada, Andhra Pradesh.

Over 35 civil society organisation (CSO) representatives from five southern states of Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana and Karnataka participated in this consultation. The main purpose of the two-day consultation was conducting sessions on the present State Rules under the National Food Security Act (NFSA), 2013, initiating deliberations on the NFSA Model Rules developed by CCL through detailed analysis and comparison of the respective State Rules.

The consultation was a success as the CSOs actively participated in the group discussions and made further commitments to collaborate with CCL to carry forward the dialogue with respective stakeholders towards strengthening the NFSA State Rules through state specific strategic action plan. Representatives from Kerala proposed engaging in dialogue with Members of Parliament (MPs) and Members of Legislative Assembly (MLAs) to strengthen provisions for women empowerment and role of local authorities in the Kerala State Rules. Similarly, representatives from Andhra Pradesh CSOs plan to initiate interdepartmental convergence and dialogue with government stakeholders to strengthen the rules and increase government accountability and transparency in the grievance redressal mechanisms and social audit for all entitlements under NFSA. CSO members from Telangana committed to take forward a bottom-up evidence-based approach in their advocacy action plan to strengthen the State Rules. They aim towards formation of vigilance committees under NFSA provisions at select districts, then further document grassroots impact created by vigilance committees in ensuring right to food in those districts and present it to the government stakeholders to influence them to bolster the rules and implementation. Tamil Nadu plans to include Tamil Nadu Food Security Rules, 2017 specific recommendations in the collective CSO manifesto to engage with MPs and MLAs in light of the upcoming state elections this year.

zAs an outcome of the deliberations, way forward and continuing the momentum, CSOs proposed formation of a South India level network on Right to Food with State level Conveners. CSOs look forward to CCL’s support through technical expertise to conduct socio-legal research, policy analysis and establishing institutional linkages to vitalize the journey towards ensuring right to food for all and leave no one behind.

‘Strengthening Accountability Systems: Reflections, Innovations, and Collective Action’

On February 14-15, 2026, the Theory & Practice of Social Accountability Project at NLSIU hosted a two-day consultation titled ‘Strengthening Accountability Systems: Reflections, Innovations, and Collective Action’ at the University campus. The event was jointly organised by nine civil society organisations:

  • Social Accountability Forum for Action and Research (SAFAR)
  • Mazdoor Kisan Shakti Sangathan (MKSS)
  • LibTech India
  • Foundation for Ecological Security (FES)
  • Centre for Financial Accountability (CFA)
  • Land Conflict Watch (LCW)
  • Alternative Law Forum (ALF)
  • Campaign for Judicial Accountability & Judicial Reforms (CJAR)
  • National Campaign on Dalit Human Rights (NCDHR)

The trimester break, generally a quiet time on campus, became a lively space for civil society organisations, scholars, and practitioners to come together, reflect, and think out loud. The consultation reflected on practical interventions to strengthen public accountability—from social audits and grievance redress to proactive disclosure and transparency across a range of sectors from policing to technology for welfare to elections. It brought together nearly 200 practitioners, researchers, bureaucrats, frontline functionaries, and citizens to share experiences and develop a shared agenda for citizen oversight. The NLSIU library also saw exhibitions and stalls from the co-organisers and other civil society organisations.

The morning of Day 1 opened with a plenary session which set the tone for the two-day gathering. The panel had Hon’ble Justice Dr. Ashok B. Hinchigeri (Law Commission of Karnataka), Rebecca Mathai (Deputy CAG), Yashovardhan Jha Azad (former CIC), and Beena Pallical (NCDHR). The session included remarks from Prof. (Dr.) Sudhir Krishnaswamy,Vice-Chancellor, NLSIU who called for a focus on accountability of markets and capital alongside the state. The session was moderated by Dr. Anindita Adhikari (Assistant Professor, Social Science, NLSIU).

Following a break, participants transitioned between classrooms & conference rooms for three parallel roundtables: ‘Algorithmic Accountability in Welfare and Identity Systems’, ‘Electoral Accountability: Social Audit of Electoral Rolls and Protecting Voter Rights’, and ‘Frontlines of Social Accountability: Everyday Practices, Patterns, and Potential Effects on Empowerment and Local Governance.’ Despite the parallel tracks, some sessions were overflowing, with extra chairs being pulled in to accommodate the turnout.  These sessions were respectively led by Nutgraph Social Data Lab, the Alternative Law Forum (ALF), and Sham Kashyap (Azim Premji University).

In between the sessions, people broke into little huddles to carry on the conversations. The afternoon featured four concurrent roundtable discussions:

  • ‘Ecological Accountability: Who Decides, Who Benefits, Who Bears the Costs?’ (Organised by FES)
  • ‘Financial Accountability: Reclaiming Oversight of Public Credit and Ethical Investment’ (Organised by CFA)
  • ‘Judicial Accountability: How People Can Hold Judges and the Judiciary Accountable?’ (Organised by CJAR)
  • ‘Grievance Redress Systems and The Right to Be Heard’ (Organised by SAFAR)

The overflowing lunch mess saw people discussing the roundtables late into the afternoon. Following each roundtable, 60-minute workshops were held to reflect on the discussions and develop common action plans. The day concluded with a moving musical performance at the NLSIU Amphitheatre by Shilpa Mudbi and Kalaburgi Kala Mandali.

Day 2 saw over 100 participants arrive on Sunday morning, with several new faces joining the group to resume the dialogue. The day opened with a plenary on ‘International Experiences with Social Accountability,’ featuring Hussain Khaled (CEO, Vocal Africa, Kenya), Shireen (Director, The Social Architects, Sri Lanka), Narayan Adhikari (South Asia Representative, Accountability Lab, Nepal), and Nikhil Dey (MKSS, India). The panel was moderated by Dr. Anindita Adhikari (NLSIU).

Following the format of the previous day, the plenary was followed by a set of parallel roundtables:

  • RTI, DPDPA, and the Integrity of Public Data (Organised by SAFAR and MKSS)
  • Police Accountability: Community Action to Safeguard Civil Liberties (Organised by Ameya Bokil and Devyani Srivastava)
  • Forest Rights Act and the Future of Democratic Forest Governance (Organised by Land Conflict Watch)

The second set of roundtables included:

  • Governance and Technology Design Failures in Aadhaar: Legal and Welfare Implications (Organised by LibTech)
  • Accountability for Nomadic and DNT Communities (Organised by Olakhaan)
  • Tenant and Women Farmers, Misplaced Benefits, and the Accountability Crisis in Agriculture (Organised by Rhythu Swarajya Vedika and Kisan Mitra)

Each roundtable was followed by an afternoon workshop to distill the discussions into actionable goals.

The diversity of the sessions was mirrored by the participants themselves. Alongside the co-organisers, the two-day consultation drew a wide spectrum of representatives from CSOs and academic institutions, as well as students and researchers. This included active participation from CIVIC Bangalore, IIHS, ISEC, APU, Indus Action, IT for Change, Agami, ATREE, Dakshin Foundation, Enfold, NAJAR, and GramVani, alongside members of the Gig Worker Union and Anganwadi Worker Union.

The two-day consultation concluded with a closing plenary where co-organisers and session leads shared takeaways from the workshops. This panel consisted of Rakshita Swamy (SAFAR), Kumar Sambhav (LCW), Paras Banjara (Olakhan), Sameet Kumar Panda (LibTech), Alok Prasanna (CJAR), Amitanshu (CFA), Harsha (RSV & Kisan Mitra), Devyani Srivastava (NLSIU), Bhaskar (FES), and Carina (SAFAR), moderated by Nikhil Dey.

As the closing plenary reflected on the range of themes covered over the two days, a participant remarked that the gathering had truly felt like an ‘accountability mela’—suggesting that such a space for dialogue should become an annual tradition to keep the momentum of collective reflection and action alive.

Know More About the Conference

Gallery

Call for Applications | Graphic Designer

About the National Law School of India University

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 evolved as an innovative leader in law, social sciences, humanities, and public policy education and research in India. It has also been ranked first among the law universities in the National Institute Ranking Framework (NIRF) for the last eight years.

The Communications Office plays a key role in strengthening the University’s visibility, digital presence, stakeholder outreach, and internal communication.

About the Role

The Graphic Designer (1 vacancy) will support the planning, creation, and execution of communication design across digital, print, and on-ground channels. The role involves collaboration with internal teams, coverage of campus activities, and ensuring consistent, high-quality communication outputs.

This is a full-time, campus-based contractual role for one-year (extendable) role suited for candidates with strong writing, visual communication, and coordination skills.

Responsibilities

Design & Visual Communication 

  • Design and layout multi-page publications such as brochures, reports, and other learning materials using Adobe InDesign
  • Social Media and website creatives for internal stakeholders, external audience and campaigns
  • Manage styles, grids, master pages, and document consistency
  • Incorporate editorial feedback accurately and efficiently
  • Prepare print-ready and digital-ready files within tight timelines

Social Media & Digital Communication

  • Support digital campaigns, student engagement activities, and event-based social assets
  • Maintain content calendars and track deliverables
  • Create basic design assets such as posters, social media creatives, brochures, banners, and presentations
  • Work with templates to maintain brand identity and visual consistency
  • Coordinate with external designers/agencies when required
  • Support photography, short-form video shooting, and basic editing

 Design & Visual Communication

  • Create basic design assets such as posters, social media creatives, brochures, banners, and presentations
  • Work with templates to maintain brand identity and visual consistency
  • Coordinate with external designers/agencies when required
  • Support photography, short-form video shooting, and basic editing

Event Support & Coverage

  • Provide on-ground support for University events, seminars, conferences, and student activities
  • Capture event updates, gather content, and create web/social media coverage
  • Coordinate with organisers for communication requirements

Internal Coordination & Operations

  • Liaise with academic and administrative teams to gather inputs
  • Maintain documentation, repositories, and content archives
  • Support web updates
  • Track requests, deadlines, and workflows to ensure timely delivery

Who Should Apply?

Required Qualifications & Skills

  • Bachelor’s degree in communications, Journalism, English, Media Studies, Design, or related fields
  • 1-3 years of experience in communications, content creation, design, or related roles
  • Strong design skills using Canva/Adobe tools (for design-leaning candidates)
  • Experience with Adobe Creative Suite (Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, Premiere Pro)
  • Basic video editing or photography skills
  • Familiarity with social media platforms and digital communication trends
  • Ability to multitask, meet quick deadlines, and work in a fast-paced environment
  • Strong interpersonal and coordination abilities
  • Attention to detail and commitment to high-quality output

Desired Skills 

  • Prior experience in an academic or nonprofit environment Familiarity with print production workflows
  • Web content management familiarity (WordPress or similar)

Work Mode & Expectations

  • Full-time, on-campus role at NLSIU Bengaluru
  • May require occasional work outside regular hours for events or urgent communication needs
  • Collaborative mindset and willingness to contribute to a growing communications team

How to Apply?

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

  1. CV
  2. A short writing sample
  3. Design portfolio or sample work
  4. Statement of Purpose

Compensation 

Salary will be commensurate with qualification and experience and will be in the range of Rs. 50,000 to 70,000 per month.

Deadline

The last date for submission of applications has been extended till March 20, 2026, at 5 pm (IST)

Note: Candidates shortlisted for interview will be intimated through email.

For any queries, please write to

Call for Applications | Communications Associate | 02 positions

About the National Law School of India University

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 evolved as an innovative leader in law, social sciences, humanities, and public policy education and research in India. It has also been ranked first among the law universities in the National Institute Ranking Framework (NIRF) for the last eight years.

The Communications Office plays a key role in strengthening the University’s visibility, digital presence, stakeholder outreach, and internal communication.

About the Role

The Communications Associate (2 vacancies) will support the planning, creation, and execution of communication materials across digital, print, and on-ground channels. The role involves collaboration with internal teams, coverage of campus activities, and ensuring consistent, high- quality communication outputs.

This is a full-time, campus-based contractual role for one-year (extendable) suited for candidates with strong writing, visual communication, and coordination skills.

Responsibilities

Content Creation

  • Draft articles, newsletters, web content, social media posts, event reports, and announcements
  • Develop communication materials for academic programmes, events, research centres, and administrative units
  • Conduct basic interviews with faculty, students, or guests to generate stories and updates Assist with scriptwriting or copywriting for campaigns and short videos

Social Media & Digital Communication

  • Create and schedule posts across University social media platforms
  • Monitor engagement and identify opportunities for improving reach
  • Support digital campaigns, student engagement activities, and event-based social assets Maintain content calendars and track deliverables

 Design & Visual Communication

  • Create basic design assets such as posters, social media creatives, brochures, banners, and presentations
  • Work with templates to maintain brand identity and visual consistency
  • Coordinate with external designers/agencies when required
  • Support photography, short-form video shooting, and basic editing

Event Support & Coverage

  • Provide on-ground support for University events, seminars, conferences, and student activities
  • Capture event updates, gather content, and create web/social media coverage
  • Coordinate with organisers for communication requirements

Internal Coordination & Operations

  • Liaise with academic and administrative teams to gather inputs
  • Maintain documentation, repositories, and content archives
  • Support web updates
  • Track requests, deadlines, and workflows to ensure timely delivery

Who Should Apply?

Qualifications

  • Bachelor’s degree in communications, journalism, English, media studies, design, or related fields
  • 1-3 years of experience in communications, content creation, design, or related roles
  • Strong writing and editing skills
  • Basic design skills using Canva/Adobe tools (for design-leaning candidates)
  • Familiarity with social media platforms and digital communication trends
  • Ability to multitask, meet quick deadlines, and work in a fast-paced environment
  • Strong interpersonal and coordination abilities
  • Attention to detail and commitment to high-quality output

Desired Skills 

  • Experience with Adobe Creative Suite (Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, Premiere Pro)
  • Basic video editing or photography skills
  • Prior experience in an academic or nonprofit environment
  • Web content management familiarity (WordPress or similar)

Work Mode & Expectations

  • Full-time, on-campus role at NLSIU Bengaluru
  • May require occasional work outside regular hours for events or urgent communication needs
  • Collaborative mindset and willingness to contribute to a growing communications team

How to Apply?

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

  1. CV
  2. A short writing sample
  3. Design portfolio or sample work (if applicable)
  4. Statement of Purpose

Compensation 

Salary will be commensurate with qualification and experience and will be in the range of Rs. 50,000 to 70,000 per month.

Deadline

The last date for submission of applications has been extended till March 20, 2026, at 5 pm (IST).

Note: Candidates shortlisted for interview will be intimated through email.

For any queries, please write to

Faculty Seminar | Remembering and Forgetting the Last Nawab’s Bharuch

We began our faculty seminar series this trimester with a guest lecture by Prof. Samira Sheikh, historian of South Asia at Vanderbilt, and the Obaid Siddiqi Chair in the History and Culture of Science, 2025-26 at the NCBS in Bengaluru. The seminar was held on March 4, 2026, at 3.30 pm, in the Ground Floor Conference Hall at NLSIU’s Training Centre.

Prof. Sheikh presented the sixth chapter of her book manuscript on the city of Bharuch in western India in the eighteenth century, which examines how, as the East India Company’s power expanded and the Mughal Empire grew ever more remote, the people of Bharuch adapted to new realities. The book brings to life the travails of individuals caught in a rapidly transforming world, while showing how the traces of those who experienced early colonialism have been obscured by subsequent political developments.

Abstract

Remembering and Forgetting the Last Nawab’s Bharuch 

In the decades after the British conquest of Bharuch, Persian and Urdu chroniclers composed elegiac accounts of Nawab Mu‘azzaz Khan’s defeat, some blaming Lallubhai Dayaldas, his Hindu Vaishnava land-revenue accountant’s “loose talk” for its fall. On the other side, British documentation offered a cooler, more dismissive portrait of the nawab and denied collusion with Lallubhai. By the twentieth century, nationalist intellectuals such as K. M. Munshi — himself descended from a scribe who had served both Mu‘azzaz and Lallubhai — recast the eighteenth century in moralized terms. For Munshi, the period’s pragmatic alliance politics and fiscal opportunism were inconvenient reminders of a decentralised, plural past. For Munshi and other nationalists, loyalty was rewritten as allegiance to the nation and betrayal became a national sin rather than a breach of patronage.

The stakes of the book lie in this shift. Colonial and nationalist epistemologies have narrowed the field of vision through which eighteenth-century India can be seen. Small polities such as Bharuch, which thrived through multilingualism and alliance, did not fit comfortably within imperial teleologies or nationalist narratives. The Muslim nawab who fled into exile did not resemble the heroic figures later nationalism preferred. The revenue capitalist who speculated and collaborated became an emblem of moral failure. Over time, Mu‘azzaz’s Bharuch faded from view; Lallubhai’s reputation as a self-serving traitor endured.

Chapter 6 also follows the material afterlives of the sources themselves. On the one hand, manuscripts preserved in a Persianate Muslim family archive entered the National Archives of India as dispersed “Oriental Records,” catalogued by genre rather than by provenance. On the other, a Persian letter collection preserved by K.M. Munshi’s family was edited and printed under the auspices of a nationalist institution. The differential visibility of these archives reflects shifts in language regimes, communal politics, and state formation. Archives, in my account, do not merely preserve the past; they structure what later historians can recover and, indeed, the official record itself.

About the Speaker

Samira Sheikh is a historian of South Asia and an Associate Professor of History at Vanderbilt University, where she specialises in the political and religious history of the Indian subcontinent from c. 1200–1950. Her research interests encompass politics and religion in South Asia, early modern trade networks, pre-colonial and early Indian cartography, and the social and economic history of regions such as Gujarat. She has also received fellowships, including support from the American Council of Learned Societies, for projects exploring early modern Gujarati maps and other historical themes. She is the author of Forging a Region: Sultans, Traders and Pilgrims in Gujarat, 1200-1500 (Oxford India, 2010), and co-editor of After Timur Left (Oxford India, 2014), and An Anthology of Ismaili Literature: A Shi’i Vision of Islam (I.B. Tauris and the Institute of Ismaili Studies, 2008).