The National Law School of India University (NLSIU) will host the inaugural ‘PPEL in the Global South conference’ in Bangalore, India on December 11-14, 2025.
About the Conference
This conference aims to bring together scholars working in Philosophy, Politics, Economics, and/or Law from around the globe, and in particular to facilitate interaction between scholars in South Asia and those from the West and elsewhere.
PPEL in the Global South is co-organised by a global group of scholars with research interests across philosophy, politics, economics, and law.
Call for Papers
We invite submissions on any topic that engages at least one of Philosophy, Politics, Economics, and Law, and that addresses a normative issue. Submissions at the intersection of more than one of these fields are especially welcome.
Please submit an abstract of no more than 500 words here.
The deadline for submissions is February 28th, 2025. We especially invite early-career scholars and Ph.D. candidates located within South Asia to send abstracts based on their ongoing research
The ‘PPEL In The Global South’ Conference is being collaboratively organised by three stakeholders, namely:
The National Law School of India University (NLSIU) solicits proposals from qualified bidders to appoint a “management operator to operate and maintain the football ground” at NLSIU in accordance with specifications and requirements as per the notification below.
Date of Issue of Tender: 03.02. 2025
Last Date for Submission of Technical and Commercial Bids: Up to 5.00 PM on 14.02.2025
For more details along with the terms and conditions, please read the official notification here.
The National Law School of India University (NLSIU) solicits proposals from qualified bidders for “Design and Construction of 400-Metres with 6-Lane Running Track and Retaining Wall at NLSIU” in accordance with specifications and requirements as per the notification below.
Date of Issue of Tender: 03.02. 2025
Last Date for Submission of Technical and Commercial Bids: Up to 5.00 PM on 21.02.2025
For more details along with the terms and conditions, please read the following:
I. About International Journal on Consumer Law and Practice (IJCLP)
The National Law School of India University (NLSIU) is an institution of legal education focusing on undergraduate and graduate legal and policy education in India. The University’s Chancellor is the Chief Justice of India, and the Chairman of the Bar Council of India is the Chairman of the General Council. NLSIU, since 2018 has consistently maintained the top rank in the National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF) ranks higher educational institutions across India.
In Indian history first time the Consumer Law and Practice Chair (CLAP Chair) has been established in August 2008, at the National Law School of India University, Bangalore (NLSIU) by the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution Department of Consumer Affairs, Government of India, New Delhi, to promote research, teaching and training in Consumer Law and Practice. From the date of establishment of this CLP chair, Prof.(Dr.) Ashok Patil is heading and administering this Chair and is the Chief Editor of this Journal.
The International Journal on Consumer Law and Practice (IJCLP) (ISSN 2347-2731) is an Open-Access, Blind-Peer-reviewed, Law journal published annually by NLSIU under the aegis of the Chair on Consumer Law and Practice, NLSIU (CLAP) since 2013. Recently Journal indexed on SCOPUS, HeinOnline, SCC OnLine, & UGC CARE List.
Previous issues have featured contributions by Hon. Justice AK Sikri (Judge, Supreme Court of India), HC Mult Norbert Reich (Emeritus Professor, Bremen University, Germany), Cristina Poncibò (Assoc. Prof., Comparative Private Law, University of Turin, Italy), Laura Zoboli (Asst. Prof., European Economic Law, University of Warsaw, Poland), James P Nehf (Prof. and Cleon H Foust Fellow, Robert H McKinney School of Law Indiana University), Gail Pearson (Prof., University of Sydney, Australia), etc.
II. Timeline for Submission
The submissions for the journal are accepted on a rolling basis round the year. However, the last date for submission of the paper for Vol. XIII, 2025, is March 31, 2025.
III. Submission Guidelines
The journal welcomes contributions from academicians, practitioners, students of law and allied fields.
Themes:
Empowering Consumers through clean energy transitions;
Protect Consumers in Food crisis now and in future;
Consumer Journeys in Digital Finance with Mobile Money;
Consumer voices in the G20;
Consumer Protection Combating Greenwashing;
Electronic Enforcement of Consumer Law;
Durability and right to repair: A Consumer Right;
Digital Future: Building trusted E-Commerce & Generative AI.
The themes listed above are merely indicative and not exhaustive. The Journal highly appreciates submissions on any contemporary issues in the field of Consumer Protection and its legal interactions.
Word limit:
Articles including abstract (6,000-8,000 words inclusive of footnotes).
Case Comment, Legislative Briefs (2,500-3,000 words inclusive of footnotes).
Book Review (2,000 words inclusive of footnotes).
Note: The authors intending for Book Review shall submit a hard or soft copy of the book along with the consent letter from the Publisher or Author of the Book at the address of the Journal.
IV. Format of Submission:
Please refer the guidelines for further information.
V. How to Submit?
Only electronic submissions are accepted. Kindly submit your submission on this Submission Formalong with the covering letter, and resume on or before March 31, 2025 for it to be considered for volume XI. Please feel free to contact us at for any queries.
The National Law School of India University, Bengaluru (NLSIU) organised a three-day interdisciplinary conference that delved into Indian Political Thought (IPT) from January 8 to 10, 2025. The conference aimed to explore the historical foundations of Indian political thought, assess their contemporary relevance, and envision future trajectories. Renowned scholars, researchers, and practitioners participated in critical discussions to analyse the dynamics, intersections, and evolving contours of Indian political thought and practice, offering fresh perspectives and valuable insights.
The conference kicked off with a keynote address by Prof. Madhavan K. Palat at BIC on January 8, followed by panel discussions at the NLSIU campus on January 9 and 10.
The Keynote Address
Topic: “Nehru’s Democracy”
Speaker: Prof. Madhavan K. Palat
Abstract
Nehru presented himself as liberal and socialist; and while he did not declare himself to be a conservative, he readily deployed Burkean and traditionalist arguments for the legitimation of Indian democracy. But he also warned repeatedly that democracy could destroy itself through a democratic dictatorship and the tyranny of the majority. He derived the sources of democracy from the panchayats of tradition and from the nationalist traditions from the 19th century, and he asserted that it had become the yugadharma after Independence. He always argued that democracy had to be a movement that was dynamic but with institutions that were stable. When these came into conflict, as they inevitably must, he chose movement over institutions. The movement emerged from nationalist mobilization, and the institutions from the Constituent Assembly and its Constitution. He never ceased to warn that the Constitution was not a sacred text and that democracy could be protected only by democracy, not by the Constitution. As such, he repudiated in effect any concept of a Basic Structure. He sought to extend parliamentary democracy through Panchayati Raj, reasoning that democracy must be broadly based like a pyramid lest it topple. But ambiguities stalked him. He looked upon panchayats as bureaucratic as much as democratic extensions; he was dismayed that the electoral system was run ever more by knaves and scoundrels rather than visionaries like himself; and he feared that democracy was breeding an elective aristocracy and oligarchy. While he was unhappy that the two-party system did not seem to be evolving in India, he presciently discerned that India was run by a two-ideology system of Congress and Hindutva which could, at some time in the future, become parties. He saw the vital need for a moral ideal, but his idols were Buddha, Ashoka, Akbar, and Mahatma Gandhi, none of them democrats except for Gandhi, who was confessedly autocratic while engaging in a democratic mobilization. The only consistently democratic ideal he could present was himself, but he found a personality cult vulgar and comic. He despised democracy as promoting the average and the dull, but he feared that inspiration, charisma, and lofty commitment seemed to lead into politics of the right, which he deplored. His politics consisted in reconciling contradictions of this sort and living with ambiguities and inconsistencies, preferring the pragmatism of the conservative to the theoretical clarity of the socialist.
Watch the Keynote Address
Panels and Panelists
The conference hosted six panels over January 9 and 10, 2025, with renowned scholars, researchers, and practitioners, participating in discussion on topics such as ‘law’, ‘authority’, ‘visions of geopolitics’, ‘liberalism’, ‘caste’, and ‘religion/secularism’.
View the details on the panels for the main sessions.
Reflections from the speakers
Prof. Madhavan K. Palat
Indian Historian
“It was greatly stimulating and educative to participate in this conference on Indian political thought which embraced the concepts and domains of law and the constitution, authority and power, geopolitics, liberalism, caste, religion and communalism, and thinkers as varied as those in the tradition of nitishastra, and Tagore, Gandhi, Lohia, Nehru, Ambedkar, Dicey, Kelsen, and Schmitt. I was privileged to deliver the keynote address on Nehru’s Democracy and to hear the many critical responses to the lecture. I cannot think of a better place in which to hear such a range of ideas and to test my own.”
Prof. Faisal Devji
Professor of Indian History
Director, Asian Studies Centre
Fellow, St Antony’s College
University of Oxford
“The conference on Indian political thought at NLSIU was a stimulating event at which a number of very original arguments were broached. It was an honour to participate in the discussion with my paper on the varying fortunes of civil war and revolution as crucial categories of the political imagination in India and the world.”
Rajeev Bhargava Director, Institute of Indian Thought
Centre for the Study of Developing Societies (CSDS)
“Thanks for a very stimulating workshop. It was unusual not only for the range of issues it covered but because it lasted just the right time. Not a single session seemed over-extended or boring. The organizers provided an opportunity for the participants to be flexible and the latter responded by being reasonably self-disciplined. There was enough time to present and discuss. All in all, congratulations to the organizers for getting the right kind and the right number of scholars who gelled well to make the outcome productive and meaningful.”
Dr. Salmoli Choudhuri Assistant Professor of Law
Affiliated Faculty, M.K. Nambyar Memorial Chair
NLSIU
“Introducing political thought in Indian law school is a fresh initiative and holds immense promise for revolutionizing both fields, particularly by making legal studies more philosophical. The conference, therefore, is a decisive step in the right direction. I am thrilled to have had the opportunity to discuss Tagore’s ideas of freedom, which illuminate important aspects of liberalism and law in the twentieth century.”
NLSIU organised a Fire Safety Training Session for its students, faculty and staff on January 16, 2025. This is part of the ongoing efforts to ensure the safety and well-being of everyone on campus. The session was planned to raise awareness and prepare members of the NLS community on how to respond effectively in case of a fire emergency.
Key Details
Fire Safety Training: This session explained the importance of Fire Safety Training with real-life examples. Participants were taught about the various types of fire, their causes, and specific prevention methods. Safety practices and fire prevention practices were introduced. This training equipped the attendees with knowledge to deal with fire-related emergencies in a calm and orderly manner.
Fire Extinguisher Usage and Other Practical Demonstrations: This practical session demonstrated the correct way to use a fire extinguisher. Multiple ways of how to help people with mobility issues evacuate a building during a fire were also demonstrated.
Q&A: Members of the community got a chance to ask questions about fire safety practices, which were answered by our fire experts.
Outcomes
Enhanced understanding of evacuation procedures and assembly locations.
Preparedness to help oneself and others in case of a fire emergency.
Emergency Resources
External: Fire and Rescue Services – 101 Emergency Response Number – 112
Internal: For any queries related to fire incidents, please reach out to Mr. Mohammad Tahir (Operations), Mr. Vimal (TCFM), and the Security Supervisors.
The University will also release a list of designated building managers who can be contacted for fire related emergencies.
The National Law School of India University, Bengaluru, invites entries for the 28ᵗʰ Annual H.M. Seervai Essay Competition in Constitutional Law. Participants in this pan-India essay competition stand a chance to win the prestigious H.M. Seervai Gold Medal from NLSIU. The winning essay will be published in the National Law School Journal.
About the competition
In 1997, Senior Advocate Navroz Seervai instituted a Gold Medal in the name of the distinguished jurist, the late H.M. Seervai, for the best original essay written on the themes specified in Indian Constitutional Law. Over the years, this essay writing competition has become a prestigious event for law students all over India. The significant rise every year in the number of contributions from the student community shows their mark of respect and tribute to one of the greatest legal luminaries of our country, Hormasji Maneckji Seervai.
The last gold medal was awarded to Abhinav Ravi, National Law University Delhi for his essay on ‘The Indian Fourth Branch: Developing A New Institutional Morality.’ Read the winning essay here.
Essay topic
‘How should Indian Election Law be amended to strengthen Indian constitutional democracy?’
Eligibility
Students currently enrolled in an LL.B./B.A., LL.B./BBA, LL.B./B.Com., LL.B. regular mode programme in any recognised Law School/College/University in India may make a submission.
Submission guidelines
Each entry should be an original, unpublished, single-authored essay in English.
Every essay must clear anti-plagiarism checks & be supported by a bonafide certificate, duly signed by the Registrar / Vice-Chancellor or other Appropriate Authority.
Entries should be formatted in Times New Roman, size 12 font, double-spaced on an A4 sheet, & carefully referenced using the OSCOLA citation style.
Word limit: 7,000-10,000 words (inclusive of footnotes).
Submission Deadline: Extended to April 30, 2025
To submit your essay, click here. Note: There is no prior registration required as the essay has to be directly submitted through the form.
The University reserves the right to conduct interviews with selected candidates.
For any queries, please write to
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
I am unable to get a bona fide certificate. What should I do?
We ask for a bona fide certificate as proof of your enrolment in a college/university. It can be a digitally signed document too. But in case you are unable to procure it, you may submit your college ID card as proof.
Can law students from countries other than India participate?
Unfortunately, no. Only undergraduate students, either foreign or Indian, currently enrolled in a recognised law school/college/university in India for an LLB or BA LLB or BBA LLB or BCom LLB regular mode programme can participate. Indian or foreign students enrolled in universities outside of India are not eligible.
Can 2024 graduates also participate in this year’s competition as I was unable to take part in 2024?
No. At the time of submission, students must be enrolled in LLB or BA LLB or BBA LLB or BCom LLB regular mode programme in any recognised law school/college/university in India.
Can an incoming student for an undergraduate law course in an Indian law university participate?
You are eligible to participate if you can provide a bona fide certificate from your institution as proof of enrolment.
Are students pursuing LLM eligible to participate in the contest?
The competition is only for undergraduate students.
Can final-year BA LLB students awaiting results participate?
As long as you are still enrolled in your college at the time of submission, you are eligible to participate.
Will I receive an acknowledgment for the submission?
We are unable to provide individual acknowledgments for submissions.
What is the acceptable file format for submission?
The essay can be submitted either in MS Word or PDF format. Please also remember to mention the total word count in your submission.
Can I include speaking/substantiative footnotes in the essay?
The use of speaking footnotes is permitted, though we encourage you to keep them to a minimum.
Is co-authorship permitted?
Co-authored essays will not be accepted. A submission must have a single author to be considered for the competition.
Should the submission be made on behalf of the college or as an individual submission?
The essay competition requires individual submissions. Entries cannot be submitted on behalf of the college.
Is there a registration fee?
No, there is no registration fee.
Should the references in the essay be in the form of footnotes or endnotes?
OSCOLA, the recommended citation style guide for the essay contest, follows only a footnote citation system.
Should I maintain double space in the footnotes or is it only for the main text?
The double spacing is only for the main text. Footnotes can be single-spaced.
Are there any specific guidelines for formatting the headings in the manuscript?
There are no specific guidelines for formatting headings. However, if your essay contains multiple levels of headings, we recommend numbering them clearly, for example, 1 for section heading, 1.1 for sub-section heading, and so on. But, please add a title for the essay.
Do I have to add an abstract for the essay. If yes, what are the guidelines for this?
There is no explicit requirement for an abstract. However, since abstracts can make long essays easier to navigate, you may consider including a summary of 150 words maximum. Please note that the abstract will not be counted towards your total word count.
When will the results be declared?
The results of the competition are generally announced during the month of August/September on the NLSIU website. Only the winning candidate will receive communication over email.
Are there second and third prizes? Will participation certificates be given?
Only one winning essay will be selected, which will be awarded the gold medal. We don’t provide participation certificates.
What is the process of publishing the winning essay in the National Law School Journal?
We will reach out to the winning candidate detailing all the processes.
Do I have to send in a plagiarism report?
Not required. We will conduct our own plagiarism checks.
If my essay is not selected as the winner, can I publish the submitted essay elsewhere?
All essays apart from the winning essay may be published elsewhere after the results are announced.
In 2022, the University created a new position of Chief Operating Officer (COO) at NLSIU to better manage and improve our infrastructure, facilities, and operations. Today, we welcome Captain K S Cariappa who joins us as Chief Operating Officer. He takes over from Mr. Shailesh Agarwal who previously held the role since 2022 and helped the University transform these functions. Mr. Shailesh will continue to maintain and improve the University’s IT infrastructure, platforms and services.
Capt. K S Cariappa is a naval veteran with over 30 years experience in operations, training, building strategic infrastructure, and driving cutting edge technology across large establishments.
Following his training at the Naval Academy, Capt.Cariappa graduated with a B.Tech in Electrical Engineering from the Naval College of Engineering, Lonavala, and an MSc in Defence and Strategic Studies from the prestigious Defence Services Staff College, Wellington.
He has worked across various organisations of the Indian Navy, including warships and naval shipyards at Mumbai and Karwar. During his long military career, he participated in ‘Ops Vijay’ during the Kargil crisis of 1999, and ‘Ops Blossom’ which involved evacuating Indian citizens from Libya in 2011. He is a recipient of the ‘Chief of Naval Staff’ Commendation for establishing a strategic naval base on the west coast of the country.
At NLSIU, he will lead and execute all operational functions to meet the University’s evolving needs and strategic goals across a variety of its functions including infrastructure projects, estate, and facilities. He will also work in partnership with teams across the University to drive innovation and transformation within and across functions.
Outside of work, Capt. Cariappa is a passionate sports enthusiast who enjoys squash, golf, and swimming, and also holds a black belt in Karate.
We are pleased to welcome the following faculty and staff members to the NLS community. Our new joinees include Ms. Diya Deviah (Assistant Professor-Law), Mr. S Dominicraj (Assistant Manager – Operations), Ms. Anusha George (Project Assistant, QAMRA), Ms. Gauri Mahajan (Project Associate, QAMRA) and Ms. Shashikala R (Trainer, CRY Project, Centre for Child and the Law). We wish them the very best for their professional journeys at NLSIU.
Diya has previously taught at NLS from July 2022-June 2024 including courses in Legal Theory, Private Law and Philosophy, Legal Methods, Family Law, Reading, and Writing across undergraduate, graduate and PACE programmes.
She is also a founding Co-Director of The Writing Centre at NLSIU. At The Writing Centre, she collaborates on curriculum development, designs and conducts workshops and provides individualised sessions on writing for students, at The Writing Studio.
She has a deep interest in history and the politics, assumptions and limits of archival inquiry. Her interest in archives is also shaped by a commitment to cultivating an archival imagination that transcends disciplinary silos, and to public engagement with source criticism beyond the university. She is currently working on a multi-lingual, traveling exhibition on Archiving Feminist Democracies in South Asia which will launch in March 2025.
She has a BA (Hons) in Economics from St. Stephen’s College, University of Delhi, an LLB from Jindal Global Law School, and an MPhil in Law from the University of Oxford.
Dominicraj has over seven years of professional experience in civil engineering. His portfolio includes supervising campus infrastructure maintenance, leading civil works for the Ministry of Railways, and managing projects for the Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL). He previously served as Estate Manager at the Institute for Social and Economic Change (ISEC), Bengaluru, and as Senior Executive (Civil) at the Rail Infrastructure Development Company (Karnataka) Limited—a joint venture between the Government of Karnataka and Indian Railways. He has also been instrumental in executing large-scale infrastructure projects as Executive Engineer at Italian-Thai Development Cementation India Limited, Mumbai.
He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering and a Master’s degree in Construction Engineering and Management from Anna University, Chennai.
Anusha has over two years of experience in the NGO sector. She has contributed to projects that focus on community empowerment, capability building, and social inclusion. She is passionate about working towards creating a more inclusive and equitable society, contributing to sustainable development and social protection efforts, and working towards a future where every individual has access to the opportunities they deserve.
She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Social Sciences and a Master’s degree in Labour Studies and Social Protection, both from the Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS), Guwahati.
Gauri Mahajan is a Project Associate at QAMRA. They previously worked at the Initiative for Health Equity, Advocacy, and Research (iHEAR) hosted at Sangath, where they conducted participatory, qualitative research with queer, trans, and disability communities. Gauri’s research interests include queer kinship and friendship. They are particularly interested in exploring the everyday lived experiences of queerness across diverse intersections, how support systems are navigated, and alternative systems of care are fostered.
Gauri holds a BA (Hons) in Psychology, and a Post Graduate Diploma in Advanced Studies and Research (Psychology) – both from Ashoka University.
They can be reached at .
Ms. Shashikala R, Trainer, CRY Project, Centre for Child and the Law
Shashikala’s career in education and child welfare began in 2010 when she joined the Centre for Child and the Law at NLSIU as an Assistant Village Education Coordinator under the Universalization of School Education initiative. During her tenure from 2010-2017 at CCL, she worked on implementing educational projects, particularly focusing on the field extension office at Bidadi. Shashikala worked with School Development and Monitoring Committees (SDMCs) and Bala Vikasa Samithi, and helped organise Anganwadi training sessions. She was also involved in initiatives such as Shikshana Grama Shaba, Makasa Meetings, Samudhayadatta Shale, and monthly gatherings at schools and Anganwadis, ensuring effective community participation and development.
Shashikala has a Bachelor of Arts (BA) from Karnataka State Open University (KSOU), Mysore.
NLS faculty member Jai Brunner led a public discussion at the Bangalore International Centre (BIC) centred on the thematic question, ‘Has the Constitution succeeded (so far)’? on January 11, 2025. The event formed a part of the BIC’s The Forum – a series of engaging discussions held at the BIC Library. In the lead up to Republic Day, this rendition of The Forum was focused on critically engaging with the Indian Constitution. The audience comprised a wide range of participants, from secondary-school students to practicing High Court litigators.
Abstract
The Constitution came into force on 26 January 1950. This session of The Forum asks the question: “Has the Constitution succeeded (so far)?” Eminent Senior Advocate Arvind Datar would say yes. In a recent talk celebrating the “Indian Constitution @ 75 Years”, he reminded us that most fledgling post-colonial states saw their experiments with democracy fail. By contrast, India’s “improbable democracy” survived the 20th Century, even in the face of existential threats.
Then, how are we to make sense of India’s current backsliding on global democracy rankings? How are we to respond to those who tell us that our fundamental rights and democratic institutions are in decline? We might worry that the Constitution is no longer fit for purpose. Yet, equally, we might see the Constitution as the only thing standing between us and tyranny. In short, is the Constitution failing us? Or, are we failing the Constitution?
Summary
During the session, Jai Brunner engaged with questions about the Constitution’s success and failure, both by examining contemporary constitutional controversies, and attempting to place them in the historical context of India’s founding. The discussion was divided into two parts. In the first half, the audience engaged with contemporary constitutional controversies. The audience discussed State policies pertaining to issues such as citizenship or federalism, and identified how the public assesses the legitimacy of such policies through the prism of the Indian Constitution. In the second half, Brunner challenged the audience to defend why we should rely on the Constitution to assess the legitimacy of State actions. He challenged the audience to respond to classic critiques of thick constitutionalism, such as Marmor’s “dead-hand of the past” argument. The audience too pushed back, ultimately reaching the near unanimous consensus that the Indian Constitution is a living social contract, which is continuously legitimated by and through the people.
About The Forum Series
Whether you’re passionate about current events, social issues, or cultural topics, The Forum at BIC provides a platform for open dialogue and thoughtful exchange of ideas. Inspired by the ancient Roman forums, where citizens gathered to discuss and debate the issues of the day, these sessions aim to revive this tradition of community dialogue. Its goal is to bring together individuals from all walks of life, ages 15 to 50, to discuss topics of importance in a setting that is both informed and informal.
NLSIU organised a Fire Safety Training Session for its students, faculty and staff on January 16, 2025. This is part of the ongoing efforts to ensure the safety and well-being of everyone on campus. The session was planned to raise awareness and prepare members of the NLS community on how to respond effectively in case of a fire emergency.
In 1997, Senior Advocate Navroz Seervai instituted a Gold Medal in the name of the distinguished jurist, the late H.M. Seervai, for the best original essay written on the themes specified in Indian Constitutional Law. Over the years, this essay writing competition has become a prestigious event for law students all over India. The significant rise every year in the number of contributions from the student community shows their mark of respect and tribute to one of the greatest legal luminaries of our country, Hormasji Maneckji Seervai.
