4th NLIU-India Foundation Constitutional Law Symposium 2026

We are pleased to announce that NLIU Bhopal, in collaboration with the India Foundation, is organizing the 4th edition of the Constitutional Law Symposium. The event is spearheaded by the NLIU Manthan – Centre for Knowledge & Policy Discussion.

We formally invite entries for the paper presentation competition from students, academicians, lawyers, and legal experts.

[A] – About the Organizers

• NLIU Bhopal: Established in 1997, NLIU is the second National Law University in India and stands as one of the country’s most reputed legal institutions.
• India Foundation: An independent research centre based in New Delhi, focused on the issues, challenges, and opportunities of the Indian polity through a civilizational lens.
• NLIU Manthan: A centre dedicated to fostering an open environment for sharing opinions and holding dialogues on topics of contemporary significance.

[B] – About the Symposium

The Symposium aims to provide a platform for discussion on contemporary constitutional law issues in India. The event is held over two days:

1. Day 1 (Paper Presentation Competition): Focusing on the intersection of Constitutional Law and Technology.
2. Day 2 (Panel Discussions): Featuring highly reputed academicians and dignitaries discussed contemporary issues.
   • Past Panelists have included: Justice A.P. Misra (Former Judge, Supreme Court), Prof. Faizan Mustafa (VC, CNLU Patna), Prof. N.L. Mitra (Former Director, NLSIU), Mr. Vikramjit Banerjee (ASG), and J. Sai Deepak (Advocate, Supreme Court).

[C] – Theme: Intersection of Constitutional Law and Technology

The symposium explores how constitutional law is reshaped by technology and the movement toward digital justice. Participants are free to include any issue within the main theme, but the following topics are suggested:

Theme 1: Transitioning from Courts to Code: Building a Transformative Digital Justice Ecosystem

• E-Courts and Beyond: Reimagining Judicial System in Digital Arena
• Integration of AI in India’s judiciary and Law Enforcement
• Bridging the Digital Divide in Access to Justice
• Safeguarding Data Security and Privacy in Digital Courtrooms and Criminal Trials
• Comparative Approaches in Building a Digital Judicial System

Theme 2: Constitutionalism in the Age of Technology

• Digital Surveillance and Right to Privacy
• Free Speech in the Age of AI and Algorithms
• Safeguarding Electoral Integrity in the Digital Age

Other: Any other constitutional law topic with contemporary relevance in India.

[D] – Eligibility

The competition is open to:

• Academicians
• Lawyers
• Social Activists
• Research Scholars
• Students

[E] – Review Process & Publication

• Review: Manuscripts will be reviewed by the Editorial Board of Manthan, followed by an external Peer Review for selected papers.
• Selection: The Top 20 (tentative) papers will be selected for presentation.
• Mode: Presentations will be conducted in strictly offline mode. No exemptions regarding the mode will be granted.
• Publication: Shortlisted manuscripts will be published in an edited book bearing an ISBN by the NLIU Manthan – Centre for Knowledge & Policy Discussion.

[F] – Awards & Cash Incentives

A total prize pool of ₹55,000 will be distributed:

[G] – Detailed Submission Guidelines

1. Manuscript Rules

• Word Limit: 5000–8000 words.
  • Note: This word limit is inclusive of the abstract and footnotes. Strict adherence is highly advised.
• Abstract: Must be included, not exceeding 300 words.
• Authorship: Co-authorship is allowed up to a maximum of three individuals (same or different institutions).
• Content: Manuscripts must be strictly original and of a highly analytical nature, arriving at a definite conclusion.
• Citations: Must conform to OSCOLA 4th Edition.
  • Submissions must use only footnotes for citations.
  • Substantive footnoting is not permitted.

2. Strict Formatting Specifications

The following format must be strictly adhered to:

• Title: Times New Roman, Size 15, Bold, 2.0 line spacing, Centre-aligned.
• Abstract: Times New Roman, Size 11, Italicised, 1.5 line spacing, Justified, Margins of 2.0.
• Main Body: Times New Roman, Size 12, 1.15 line spacing, Justified.
• Headings: Times New Roman, Size 14, 1.5 line spacing, Centre-aligned.
• Sub-headings: Times New Roman, Size 13, Italicised, 1.5 line spacing, Centre-aligned.
• Footnotes: Times New Roman, Size 10, 1.0 line spacing, Justified.
• Margins: One inch (2.54 cm) on all four sides.

[H] – Important Deadlines

• Abstract Submission: 2^nd December 2025
• Intimation of Acceptance: 9^th December 2025
• Date for Registrations: 12^th December 2025
• Full Paper Submission: 25^th December 2025
• Intimation of Final Acceptance: 6^th January 2026
• Conference Date: To be notified

[I] – Registration & Contact

Interested candidates can register online via this Link.

[J] – Contact Information:

• Email: manthan@nliu.ac.in
• Ronit Rampuriya (Convenor): +91 6265 056 936
• Bhavesh Basod (Co-Convenor): +91 94074 04808

We look forward to your participation.