Meet Our New SBA Co-Presidents! | AY 2024-25

We congratulate our new Co-presidents of the Student Bar Association for the Academic Year 2024-25 – Mayanka Raghunathan, 2nd Year LL.B. (Hons.) student, and Arth Doshi, 4th Year B.A., LL.B. (Hons.) student.

The SBA election for the second position of SBA Co-President for AY 2024-25 was held between May 13-24, 2024.  The process was completed under the supervision of the Electoral Board with coordination and support from outgoing SBA Co-presidents Aditi Sheth and Ashish V.  The election process was conducted in accordance with SBA Constitution and Electoral Guidelines issued by the Electoral Board on 20th May 2024.

Based on the counting of votes completed at 8:55 PM on 24th May 2024, Mayanka Raghunathan (2nd Year LL.B. (Hons.) student) was declared elected as the Co-President of the SBA (from the Reserved position) for the Academic Year 2024-25. Therefore, the two Co-Presidents elected for AY 2024-25 are Arth Doshi and Mayanka Raghunathan.

Following the election results, NLSIU Vice Chancellor Prof. Sudhir Krishnaswamy said: “I sincerely thank the outgoing SBA Co-presidents, Aditi Sheth and Ashish V., for their outstanding services to the University in Academic Year 2023-24. Congratulations to the student body for voting and all the candidates for their enthusiastic campaigns. We look forward to working closely with the SBA to enhance the NLS student experience and University life in the year ahead.”

We spoke to the new co-presidents and asked them to share their thoughts and vision for the SBA ahead. Here is what they had to say:

Mayanka Raghunathan

“As a part of the first cohort of the 3 Year LLB (Hons.) programme, I am very glad that we have integrated so quickly into university and campus life, and I am grateful for the trust that the student body has reposed in me. I hope to foster a culture of transparency, accountability, and empathy and to ensure that students across batches and collectives are included in this process and that everyone feels a sense of belonging. I look forward to building a long-term approach with the administration where we are proactive, anticipate issues, address potential concerns upfront, and work together to build consensus around a common course of action. Most importantly, I am excited to be a part of creating a happy, safe, vibrant and fun university experience for every NLSIU student.”

 

Arth Doshi

“Over the past four years at NLSIU, I have had the privilege of serving the student community in various capacities. These experiences have given me invaluable insights into the needs and aspirations of our vibrant student body. As I step into this new role, I aim to draw upon these learnings to foster an environment of greater trust, collaboration and inclusivity on campus.

My vision is to make NLSIU a space where every student, regardless of their background or identity, feels respected, celebrated and empowered to thrive. I will strive to achieve this by enhancing support for student initiatives, working with the administration to improve campus facilities and infrastructure, pushing for academic reforms to ensure fairness and student well-being, and launching new programs to facilitate holistic development.

Most importantly, I want to establish a strong and efficient system of student governance which apart from taking responsibility and accountability helps to amplify student voices and serves as a robust platform for not only voicing concerns but taking initiatives and coming up with solutions. I look forward to working with the student body and the administration to transform our collective vision into reality.”

Call for Quotations | Technical and Commercial Tender for Supply, Installation and Commissioning of Mess Furniture, Office Furniture and Workstations

The National Law School of India University (NLSIU) seeks to solicit proposals from qualified bidders for the ‘Supply, Installation and Commissioning of Mess Furniture, Office Furniture and Workstations’ in accordance with specifications and requirements contained in the official notification.

Date of Issue of Quotation: 24.05.2024
Last Date for Submission: Up to 5.00 PM on 29.05.2024

For more details along with the terms and conditions, please read the official notification here.

Call for Quotations | Technical and Commercial Tender for Supply, Installation and Commissioning of Lift in Library

The National Law School of India University (NLSIU) seeks to solicit proposals from qualified bidders for the ‘Supply, Installation and Commissioning of Lift in Library’ in accordance with specifications and requirements contained in the official notification.

Date of Issue of Quotation: 24.05.2024
Last Date for Submission: Up to 5.00 PM on 31.05.2024

For more details along with the terms and conditions, please read the official notification here.

Call for Quotations | Technical and Commercial tender for Procurement of HP/DELL/LENOVO Laptops

The National Law School of India University (NLSIU) seeks to solicit proposals from qualified bidders for the procurement of Laptops with 3-year OEM warranty in accordance with specifications and requirements contained in the official notification.

Date of Issue of Quotation: 22.05.2024
Last Date for Submission: Up to 5.00 PM on 29.05.2024

For more details along with the terms and conditions, please read the official notification here.

NLSIU’s Workshop on Plain language in Legislative Drafting

The Department of Professional and Continuing Education (PACE), National Law School of India University (NLSIU), with the support of the Institute of Legislative Drafting and Research (ILDR), conducted a three-day intensive workshop on ‘Plain Language in Legislative Drafting’ in Delhi from May 9 to 11, 2024. The legislative officers nominated by the Legislative Department, Ministry of Law and Justice, Government of India, participated in this workshop.

The workshop was conducted by:

  • Prof (Dr.) Sudhir Krishnaswamy, Vice-Chancellor, NLSIU
  • Prof (Dr.) N S Nigam, Registrar, NLSIU
  • Dr. Saurabh Bhattacharjee, Associate Professor of Law
  • Jasmine Joseph, Assistant Professor of Law
  • Aparajita Lath, Assistant Professor of Law

The key pillars of the workshop which set the framework for the conversation were:

  1. Enhancing Access to Law and Empowering Citizens: By using plain language, legislative drafters can ensure that the laws are accessible to a wider audience and empowers citizens to engage more effectively with the legal system.
  2. Promoting Rule of Law: Clear and straightforward language in legislation promotes transparency and accountability in governance and compliance with law, as citizens can easily understand their rights and obligations.
  3. Accuracy and Precision:  Use of plain language is complementary to the goal of accuracy and precision in law-making and reduces the likelihood of ambiguity, conflict and litigation.
  4. Relevance of Plain-language in multi-lingual law-making: Use of plain language for enhancing access to law is inextricably connected with the quest towards multi-lingualism in law-making. The relevance of plain language is even more crucial in translations to multiple languages.

The intensive three-day workshop comprised eight sessions, each focusing on different legislative drafting aspects from word choice to the structure of legislation. Each session was structured around a combination of theoretical discussion on essential elements of plain language drafting and practical exercises. These exercises, based on a training manuals prepared by the NLS, revolved around analysis and redrafting of selected legislations. The workshop closed with a legislative drafting exercise which connected all the different sessions of the workshop and required the participants to draft a legislation based on a hypothetical policy-note.

The workshop was attended by around 65 officers of the Legislative Department, Ministry of Law and Justice. The workshop achieved its outcome of fostering intense engagement with the legislative drafters and facilitated a comprehensive and critical appreciation of the importance of plain language drafting, its utility and the associated constraints.

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NLSIU’s Academic Fellowship Programme – First Cohort (2022-24)

In December 2021, the National Law School of India University (NLSIU) launched the annual, two-year, full-time Academic Fellowship Programme. The fellowship is aimed at graduates and postgraduates from law, social sciences, humanities, and allied fields who are preparing to venture into practicing law or academic careers in law, public policy, or the social sciences.

About the First Cohort – April 2022 to March 2024

As part of the first cohort of the programme in 2022, nine candidates were selected with seven from law and two from the social sciences. During the course of this programme, they worked with faculty members on teaching assignments, policy interventions and research projects and forayed into diverse research and/or academic pathways. We asked some of them to share their experiences and reflect on how their respective career paths have developed during and after the programme.

 

Aishwarya Birla: “In my role as an academic fellow, I worked closely with senior faculty across a range of programmes (on campus and distance education) in delivering teaching as well as in undertaking research. Through these opportunities, I transitioned into a focused research role as a research associate for the Pluralist Agreement and Constitution Transformation (PACT) project. I was with NLSIU in this capacity from 2023-2024. Over these two years I had the opportunity to work on a diverse range of projects, spanning both research and teaching, across fields of law. I continue to do so now as a member of faculty, as an Assistant Professor of law. This has been, and continues to be, a valuable opportunity for growth and learning in academia for me.”

 

Anushka Sachan: “During my stint as an academic fellow at NLSIU, I focused on projects revolving around technology and IP law. The programme helped shape my understanding of the domains more holistically. This experience enabled me to seamlessly transition into my current role as a legal consultant for Modular Open Source Identity Platform (MOSIP) at the International Institute of Information Technology Bangalore (IIIT-B). The groundwork laid during the fellowship, exploring intricacies of technology and intellectual property law, now underpins my work; allowing me to provide valuable legal counsel to open source initiatives like MOSIP, and navigating their legal complexities.”

 

Ishika Saxena: “During the Academic Fellowship at NLSIU, I mainly worked on teaching assignments. I taught core courses in political theory for the B.A., LL.B. (Hons.) programme for three trimesters, co-taught an interdisciplinary course on Law and Social Sciences for the 3-Year LL.B. (Hons.) programme, and taught Transformative Constitutionalism for the Master’s Programme in Public Policy (MPP). In my final trimester, I offered an elective titled ‘Language and Power’. This exposure to teaching and getting to design syllabi has helped me nurture my strengths. Further, interacting with students has taught me a lot about mentorship and how to navigate being an academic mentor in formal and informal capacities. Taking this experience forward, I am currently working as a Guest Faculty at the Tata Institute of Social Sciences, teaching Western Political Thought to the undergraduate Political Science major students.”

 

Manpreet Singh Dhillon: “This fellowship programme enabled a certain specialisation by providing me the opportunity to assist faculty in delivering courses in law and public policy. I have also had the opportunity to expand my appreciation of the connections between legal and social theory as a Teaching Assistant (TA) for the courses on Jurisprudence. The opportunity to work as a Teaching Assistant (TA) as part of the Master’s Programme in Public Policy (MPP) on ‘Rights, Duties, and Institutions’ has enabled me to pursue collaborative research on ‘Fourth Branch Institutions in India’. Co-teaching ‘Regulatory Governance’ has given me further impetus to continue research and teaching in the regulation and governance of emerging technologies in the Indian context. As part of the MPP programme, I have designed and delivered dissertation seminars on ‘Health’ and ‘Technology, Policy, and Society’. As an early career scholar, I have been able to exchange ideas with exceptional academics, present my research within and outside the university, comment on my peer’s research, and work as an associate editor for the National Law School Journal. These experiences have provided me with much-needed training in the production and dissemination of scholarly knowledge in law and social sciences from the perspective of the Global South. I have been able to transition to my new role as an Assistant Professor with the Master’s Programme in Public Policy (MPP) at NLSIU. Going forward, I will continue to teach, research, and publish at the interface of law, technology, and society.”

 

Nishtha Sinha: “My experience as an Academic Fellow was nothing short of transformational for my career. I came to NLS in 2022, having worked in myriad roles and spaces – as a judicial clerk, an advocate and a policy researcher. Yet, I was still looking for a path to help me streamline my research interests and professional skills. I found exactly that at NLSIU, with an unmatched opportunity to work with senior faculty members and an extremely supportive cohort of academic fellows. From classroom teaching to program development, and from training public officials to building diploma courses, the Fellowship provided a flavour of all NLS had on offer. In covering the breadth of activities academia required of me, I found the path that I knew I would strive to be a part of, for years to come. Inspired by my experiences, I have chosen to study the LLM program in Environment Law and Policy from Stanford University, with the hope of contributing to research around some of the most pressing climate issues of our time.”

 

Pawani Mathur had applied for NLSIU’s academic fellowship because of the unique mix of teaching and research assignments that are designed for early career academics in India. During her stint as an academic fellow, she co-taught the course ‘Code of Civil Procedure (CPC)’, worked with the Centre for Child and the Law (CCL) where she briefly carried out research on the the National Food Security Act 2013, and she also worked as a part of the research project ‘Issues in Pre-Trial Processes in India‘ led by Prof. Mrinal Satish. Her areas of interest are Criminal law, Legal Methods and Constitutional Law. She is currently a PhD researcher at the University of Sydney.

 

Radhika Nair: “Since completing my LLM in Human Rights Law from Leiden University in 2021 and having worked as a lawyer for three years before that, I had been looking for an opportunity to make a transition to academia. Being a part of the first cohort of Academic Fellows at NLSIU was a useful learning experience as I  understood the demands and challenges of academic work life. After having completed two years of this fellowship with its engaging mix of research and teaching roles in different areas of the law, I am confident about taking the next step to pursue my doctoral studies and apply for teaching positions.”

 

Sebanti Chatterjee: “I am currently an Assistant Professor, Liberal Arts at SRM University, in Andhra Pradesh. The Academic Fellowship programme at NLSIU was an enriching experience for me. I had an excellent and dynamic cohort and got acquainted with some wonderful colleagues and students. I was able to dedicate time to finish my monograph and ruminate on new research ideas for future collaborations. I really enjoyed taking the Master’s in Public Policy Programme (MPP) seminar course which was a student-led course. I got opportunities to teach Sociology in the capacity of a co-teacher. These assignments taught me the importance of being in sync and preparing lesson discussions in advance. I also enjoyed my editorial experience with the NLSIU journal.”

 

Sheetal Shinde: “My experience as an Academic Fellow at NLSIU is a significant learning milestone in my career. During this period, I was engaged in large-scale end-to-end research projects in the areas of child rights at the Centre for the Child and the Law (CCL) and environmental issues and human rights at the Centre for Environment Law, Education, Research and Advocacy (CEERA), which helped me gain useful insights into data collection, analysis, and drafting policy suggestions. The research experience has helped me proceed with my doctoral research in child rights. My experience in preparing the course curriculum and course material for the department of Professional and Continuing Education (PACE) will definitely benefit me in the future.”

 

The University is currently recruiting its third cohort of Academic Fellows, a testament to the continued demand and effectiveness of the programme. Former fellows have moved on to pursue various paths, including enrollment in PhD programmes, securing full-time teaching positions, or transitioning into industry roles. This demonstrates the programme’s success in nurturing academic talent and cultivating versatile skill sets that span research, teaching, and technical domains. The tangible achievements of past fellows highlight the programme’s pivotal role in fostering both professional growth and academic excellence, further solidifying its standing as a cornerstone of the University’s dedication to research and scholarly achievement.

More about the Academic Fellowship Programme at NLSIU

The Academic FellowshipProgramme/Programme offers academic fellows the opportunity to work closely with the best law and social sciences faculty and receive guidance and mentorship on research proposals, research writing, problem solving and critical thinking skills. This gives them an inside view of the pedagogical processes in both online and offline education at NLSIU. Academic Fellows are also expected and encouraged to conduct and pursue research/writing of their own. The university recruits candidates with a wide range of academic and intellectual interests which are also in line with the focus of NLSIU’s research projects and centres.

Academic Fellows work under the aegis of the Office of the Dean of Research, contributing to diverse research endeavors conducted by faculty members, research centers, and endowed chairs within the university. Several of these centers engage in outreach programmes that bridge academic insights with community initiatives. Academic Fellows closely engage with these research initiatives and also collaborate with the Dean of Academics and Programme Chairs to support the teaching and learning programmes at the University. A faculty member who oversees the programme’s coordination, also hosts bi-weekly seminar series. This platform offers fellows the opportunity to present their research findings and written work, fostering academic dialogue and intellectual exchange within the cohort. Their responsibilities also include working with the University’s Writing Center, organizing training sessions and conferences, and other related activities.

Future advertisements for the Academic Fellowship Programme will be published under the Work with Us page.

 

Call for Applications | Research Fellow (two positions) | Project on Theory and Practice of Social Accountability

NLSIU invites applications from passionate and driven candidates with an inclination for field-based research and strong writing skills for two ‘Research Fellow’ positions for a new project on ‘Theory and Practice of Social Accountability’. This is a full-time position for 12 months, renewable upon mutual agreement. The position is based in Bengaluru.

About the Project

Civil society organizations in India and the government have been pioneers in collaboratively designing and institutionalizing reforms that deepen democratic governance at scale such as proactive disclosure of government information, social audits and decentralized grievance redress systems. These reforms have grounded social accountability practices and procedures within the country and demonstrated possibilities for citizen engagement for the rest of the world. Several challenges have surfaced or become even more entrenched two decades since some of these reforms were introduced. For instance, administrative resistance to sharing information remains high and feedback loops for the data generated by social audit processes remain too weak for meaningful action on findings. New digital technologies have simultaneously opened up and foreclosed accountability in governance. Synergies across judicial, administrative and political redress structures needs to be strengthened. Public involvement and scrutiny of social accountability systems especially once they are institutionalized has been declining. Empirical research on social accountability platforms and practices in India which unpacks and addresses these challenges has generally been thin and has not kept pace with legal, institutional and technological developments. This has created an important opening at the intersection of policy research and practice to build an enabling ecosystem for conceptualizing, demonstrating and deepening social accountability and audits within India and beyond.

Through the ‘Theory and Practice of Social Accountability’ project, NLSIU seeks to deepen research and documentation of social accountability in India with the aim of producing knowledge, building an evidence base of good practices and informing policy improvements. The project also seeks to advance the practice of social accountability by bringing together actors – in government and civil society– who have a direct stake in strengthening participatory social accountability practices that combine fiscal transparency and citizen oversight. This project has three streams of work:

  • Research on social accountability systems and practices
  • Developing resources and toolkits
  • Consultations and workshops
  • Capacity building
  • Strengthening public data systems for social accountability

Responsibilities

Research fellows will have the following responsibilities:

  • Work with the research director and advisory group to develop instruments and protocols for data collection.
  • Preparing training materials for CSO partners who will participate in research activities and conducting trainings.
  • Conduct desk and field-based data collection and analysis.
  • Reporting progress of field activities and troubleshooting challenges with the research director and faculty associate on a regular basis.
  • Write research reports, briefs, blogs and academic articles.
  • Present research findings to a diverse range of audiences.
  • Organizing consultations
  • Creating training resources and assisting with conducting workshops.
  • Developing toolkits and primers to expand access to information and public participation in social accountability initiatives.

Qualifications and Skills

Essential

  • Strong academic record with bachelor’s and master’s degrees in political science/sociology/public policy/law or a related discipline.
  • Training and familiarity in research methods and fieldwork – demonstrable experience in qualitative methods such as interviews and focus group discussions.
  • Strong writing skills (writing sample will be required).
  • 3-5 years of experience working on social policy with government and/or civil society organizations.

Desirable

  • Excellent writing and presentation skills. Ability to communicate complex information effectively.
  • A willingness to carry out independent fieldwork and be able to demonstrate flexibility and creativity.
  • Proficient in Hindi and/or any regional language in addition to English.

How to apply

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

  • An updated CV
  • A short statement outlining your research interests, interest in working with us and why you would be a good fit for the role (not more than 500 words).
  • 2 writing samples
  • Details of two referees with contact details.

Short-listed candidates will be invited for an interview round. Due to time constraints, we can unfortunately only contact shortlisted candidates; if you do not hear from us within 15 days, please assume your application was not taken forward. Candidates from marginalized communities, who have faced social and economic disadvantages, are encouraged to apply.

Deadline

The last date for submission of applications is 5:00 pm, June 7th (Friday), 2024.

Call for Applications | Research Director | Project on Theory and Practice of Social Accountability

NLSIU is looking for an early career scholar, with a strong publication record and professional experience working with government and civil society for the position of ‘Research Director’ for a new project on ‘Theory and Practice of Social Accountability’.

This is a full-time position till 15 February 2026 and may be extended subject to extension of project funds. The position is based in Bengaluru.

About the project

Civil society organizations in India and the government have been pioneers in collaboratively designing and institutionalizing reforms that deepen democratic governance at scale such as proactive disclosure of government information, social audits and decentralized grievance redress systems. These reforms have grounded social accountability practices and procedures within the country and demonstrated possibilities for citizen engagement for the rest of the world. Several challenges have surfaced or become even more entrenched two decades since some of these reforms were introduced. For instance, administrative resistance to sharing information remains high and feedback loops for the data generated by social audit processes remain too weak for meaningful action on findings. New digital technologies have simultaneously opened up and foreclosed accountability in governance. Synergies across judicial, administrative, and political redress structures need to be strengthened. Public involvement and scrutiny of social accountability systems, especially once they are institutionalized, has been declining. Empirical research on social accountability platforms and practices in India which unpacks and addresses these challenges has generally been thin and has not kept pace with legal, institutional, and technological developments. This has created an important opening at the intersection of policy research and practice to build an enabling ecosystem for conceptualizing, demonstrating, and deepening social accountability and audits within India and beyond.

Through the ‘Theory and Practice of Social Accountability’ project, NLSIU seeks to deepen research and documentation of social accountability in India with the aim of producing knowledge, building an evidence base of good practices and informing policy improvements. The project also seeks to advance the practice of social accountability by bringing together actors – in government and civil society– who have a direct stake in strengthening participatory social accountability practices that combine fiscal transparency and citizen oversight. This project has three streams of work:

  • Research on social accountability systems and practices
  • Developing resources and toolkits
  • Consultations and workshops
  • Capacity building workshops for social accountability practitioners
  • Strengthening public data systems for social accountability

Role description

The research director will have the following responsibilities:

  • Develop research plan and strategy in partnership with NLSIU faculty associate and advisory board of researchers and practitioners with expertise in social accountability.
  • Lead implementation of all activities including project management, research design, oversight of analytical processes, engagement of internal and external experts, and development of high-quality materials including policy briefs, reports, academic publications, and presentation materials.
  • Mentorship of fellows. The research director will be responsible for guiding the work of the fellows to carry out rigorous field and desk-based research. The research director will also organize skills training and provide professional development support when needed.
  • Build collaborations with researchers and practitioners working on social accountability initiatives within the country and internationally to strengthen cross-learning across states and global best practices.
  • Own, manage, and maintain the organizational activities for the project. This includes acting as the central point-person for all information about ongoing projects and those being developed. It also includes managing and verifying project related payments and expenditures.

Qualifications and skills

The ideal candidate must have the following skills and qualifications:

Essential

  • PhD in political science/sociology/public policy/law or a related discipline.
  • 13-15 years of experience working on social accountability initiatives with government and civil society organizations.
  • Should have proven strong research, writing and analytical skills (publications in refereed journals will be required).
  • Strong coordination skills, including the ability to manage multiple tasks and stakeholders concurrently and effectively.
  • Willing and able to discuss, brainstorm, and ideate with a range of different stakeholders across government, civil society, and academic institutions.

Desirable

  • Ability to be solution-oriented and get a lot done quickly. You will need to translate strategic ideas into immediate action plans and execute multiple work streams simultaneously.
  • Capacity to think strategically and weigh in on conceptual and organizational challenges on topics that might not be familiar to you.
  • Demonstrated track record as an entrepreneurial self-starter, including comfort with ambiguity and dynamic environments and workflows.
  • High level of independence and attention to detail.

How to apply

Please use the Google form available here, 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).
  • Two recently published articles or writing samples.
  • Details of two referees with contact details.

Short-listed candidates will be invited for an interview round. Due to time constraints, we can unfortunately only contact shortlisted candidates; if you do not hear from us within 15 days, please assume your application was not taken forward.

Candidates from marginalized communities, who have faced social and economic disadvantages are encouraged to apply.

Deadline

The last date for submission of applications is 5:00 pm, May 31st (Friday), 2024.

 

Univ Week 2024! | NLSIU’s Annual Intra-University Cultural Fest

We are excited to announce that Univ Week, the annual intra-university cultural fest, is being organised from May 11 to 15, 2024 by the Cultural and Fine Arts Committee (CulComm) at NLSIU. It is an inter-batch competition that will be held, this year, over the course of five days – May 11 to 15, 2024. The highest-scoring batch will win the coveted CulComm Shield.

The detail schedule of events is available below.

Day 1 – Chord-elia (Singing and Music Competition)
May 11, 2024 (Saturday), 4 PM to 6 PM – Amphitheatre

An inter-batch competition where vocalists and instrumentalists are invited to perform songs of any genre and in any language (Eastern or Western tunes).

The event started at 4 pm, and was held in the Amphitheatre. Participants performed a variety of songs by English artists, as well as Indian classical and Bollywood songs. Performers were allowed to sing both solo or in a group/band, showcasing talented instrumentalists from different batches. The 4th Year (B.A./LL.B.) batch emerged as the winners.

 

 

Day 2 – Art Mela, Treasure Hunt and NLS Masterchef 
May 12, 2024 (Sunday), 2.30 PM to 5 PM & 6.30 PM to 9 PM – OAB Quad

Participants display their skills in the fine arts through a variety of competitions including mehendi, hand and face painting, and mural making.

Rang De (Art Mela): This event was organized in the OAB Quad from 2:30 pm to 5:00 pm, and consisted of four components – Mural painting, Rangoli, Face/ Hand Painting and Mehndi. The young artists got an opportunity to discover their artistic side amidst a competitive spirit. The individual winners were Mayanka and Veeraman (Hand/Face Painting), Sana Quayyum (Mehendi), Maitreyi (Rangoli) and Akshit (Mural).

Treasure Hunt and NLS Masterchef: This event was organized in the OAB Quad from 6:30 pm to 9:00 pm. The event consisted of two components a cooking competition and a food related treasure hunt. In the treasure hunt the participants would get letters at various places within the campus and they had to unscramble the letters to make a food related word. In the cooking competition, the participants impressed the judges with scrumptious food like Ras Malai, Pesto Pasta, Nutella Brownie and Kulfi, Chicken Roulade, Vadapav quesadilla among other dishes. There were also fun food challenges in which students could participate, namely Coke Pong and Golgappa eating challenge. In the former, participants had to attempt to land table tennis balls into an arrangement of cups with soda inside them. In the latter, participants teamed up and competed against each other to see who could finish a plate of 15 golgappas in the shortest time.

Day 3 – Tamasha (Cinema Quiz)
May 13, 2024 (Monday), 7.15 pm to 9 PM – Amphitheatre

A night for cinephiles, this event consists of quizzes, food, music and games for those who enjoy everything cinema.

The event was hosted in the Amphitheatre from 7:15pm to 9pm. There were two components – a cinema-related quiz and music-related challenges. In the former, a team from each batch had to guess trivia answers relating to Bollywood, Hollywood and South cinema across 3 rounds. In the second component, there were three challenges – participants had to complete the lyrics to songs played, guess the song based on a sample tune and perform the hook step to popular dance songs. The 5th Year BA/LLB students emerged as the winners in both these competitions.

Day 4 – NLS Ball
May 14, 2024 (Tuesday), 7.15 PM to 9 PM – Amphitheatre

The much-awaited NLS Ball was held from 7:15pm to 9pm in the Amphitheatre. Couples arrived in formal suits and dresses, and danced to the music. Flower bouquets and chocolates were also sold by students.

Day 5 – Taal (Dance Competition)
May 15, 2024 (Wednesday), 5 PM to 9 PM – Amphitheatre

The Dance Competition happened in amphitheatre from 5 PM to 9 PM. All the batches competitively danced their hearts out. After the competition, everyone grooved to the dhol beats. Khwaaish from the fourth year B.A. LL.B. (Hons.) batch won the solo/duet category and second year B.A. LL.B. (Hons.) students won in the group performance category. The fifth year B.A. LL.B. (Hons.) students won the Culcomm Shield and fourth year B.A. LL.B. (Hons.) students were declared the runner-ups.

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Call for Applications | Research Associate | Free Software Project

National Law School of India University (NLSIU), Bengaluru, invites applications for the position of a Research Associate for a new research project in the area of free/libre software. This is a full-time contractual assignment for a period of 6 months, based in Bengaluru.

About NLSIU

NLSIU is the first national law university established in India. It is established under the National Law School of India Act (Karnataka Act 22 of 1986). NLSIU was set up with a mission to pioneer legal education reforms, and to anchor the transformation of the Indian legal system through research and policy interventions. Since its inception, the University has irrefutably remained a leader in the field of legal education in the country.

About the Project

The term free/libre software generally refers to software that gives users the freedom to run, copy, distribute, study, change and improve the software. The focus of free software is clearly on the ‘freedom’ of developers, and not on price. Many firms and governmental/non-governmental organisations have been using free software for diverse kinds of purposes, including commercial purposes, over the last many years. Though most scholars appreciate the value of such software, not many have attempted to study in detail the value generated by free software, particularly for gaining independence and autonomy in innovation. This project focuses on the economic value of free software and the different legal/ policy measures to augment the adoption of free software, particularly in terms of realising the vision of making India atmanirbhar in innovation and economic development.

Some of the specific objectives of the project include –

  • Identifying the value and economic significance of free software for firms in India.
  • Identifying the role free software can play in more independent innovation by firms in India.
  • Identifying the key legal and policy measures required to protect and augment the value of free software in the emerging AI context.

Role Description

The Research Associate will assist in diverse dimensions of the project, including:

  1. Conducting literature reviews.
  2. Preparation of case studies.
  3. Conducting interviews and/or surveys.
  4. Preparation of the research outputs, including academic publications.
  5. Organising workshops.

The Research Associate will work under the supervision of Dr Arul George Scaria and Dr Suryaprakash Mishra.

Qualifications

Essential:

  • Post-graduate degree in law, economics, statistics, management, or engineering OR undergraduate degree in one of those areas with relevant work experience.
  • Demonstrable academic/research interest in the area of intellectual property/open source software.
  • Interest in empirical investigations.
  • Excellent writing and communication skills.

Desirable:

  • Academic/ research/ industry experience in the field of technology/software.
  • Policy related research experience.
  • Fieldwork experience.
  • Quantitative data analysis skills.

Salary

The salary shall be commensurate with the experience of the candidate.

How to apply

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

  • An updated CV.
  • A short statement of purpose (not more than 800 words).
  • Writing sample (published/unpublished).
  • Details of two referees with contact details.

Deadline

The last date for submission of applications is 5:00 pm, May 20th (Monday), 2024.