Call for Papers: International Conference on Sustainable Development, Cultural Preservation and Indigenous Communities at NLIU Bhopal [Hybrid; Jan 23-24, 2027]

The International Conference on Sustainable Development, Cultural Preservation and Indigenous Communities is organised by the Centre for Tribal Studies and Research (CTSR), National Law Institute University, Bhopal, in collaboration with the Tribal Research and Development Institute, Government of Madhya Pradesh, with Indira Gandhi Rashtriya Manav Sangrahalaya as cultural collaborator. It will be held on 23 and 24 January 2027 and keeps India as a central focus while making space for other indigenous contexts across the world.

It seeks to provide a platform for interdisciplinary and comparative dialogue between academicians, researchers, policymakers, government officials, legal professionals, Tribal Research Institutions, civil society organisations, development practitioners and representatives of tribal and indigenous communities.

The call covers the following themes:

• Indigenous Knowledge Systems and Environmental Conservation: traditional ecological knowledge and biodiversity conservation; community-based conservation models; sacred groves and customary environmental practices; indigenous agricultural systems and food security; traditional medicine and biological resources; indigenous knowledge and climate adaptation; documentation, transmission and protection of traditional knowledge.
• Sustainable Development and Tribal Communities: sustainable development and tribal perspectives; climate resilience and adaptive governance; sustainable livelihoods and inclusive development; tribal entrepreneurship and economic empowerment; natural resource governance and environmental justice; traditional tribal economies; community-led development models; indigenous approaches to sustainable economies.
• Constitutional, Legal and Governance Frameworks: constitutional safeguards for Scheduled Tribes; Forest Rights Act and implementation challenges; PESA and participatory governance; customary laws and traditional governance institutions; access to justice and legal empowerment; environmental governance and participatory decision-making; land, forests and community resource rights; state interventions and institutional practices; comparative legal frameworks concerning indigenous peoples.
• Culture, Identity and Heritage: preservation of tribal and indigenous languages; tribal art, literature, folklore, music, dance and oral traditions; documentation and digitisation of cultural heritage; protection of indigenous intellectual and cultural heritage; museums, archives and cultural institutions; technology and AI in cultural preservation; cultural identity and contemporary development; intergenerational transmission of indigenous knowledge.
• Development, Displacement and Human Rights: development-induced displacement and rehabilitation; land acquisition and tribal rights; mining, infrastructure projects and environmental governance; development and customary land rights; livelihood transitions and social justice; gender dimensions of displacement; human rights and indigenous communities; resettlement, rehabilitation and community participation.
• Education, Health and Social Development: tribal education and inclusive learning; digital inclusion and access to technology; skill development and capacity building; public health and traditional healthcare systems; nutrition and social security; indigenous languages and education; gender and social development; youth, education and leadership; Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs).
• Contemporary Policy Perspectives and Emerging Issues: intellectual property rights and protection of indigenous knowledge; tribal youth and leadership; urbanisation and migration; artificial intelligence and digital technologies for tribal development; documentation and preservation of indigenous knowledge; emerging models of tribal governance; best practices in tribal development; indigenous communities and the future of sustainable development.
• Climate Change, Environment and Sustainable Resource Management: climate change and vulnerable tribal communities; water security and community resource management; forest conservation and ecosystem restoration; human-wildlife interactions; disaster resilience in tribal regions; biodiversity and community conservation; environmental justice and indigenous communities; climate-induced livelihood transitions.

The conference welcomes faculty members and academicians, researchers and research scholars, doctoral and postgraduate students, legal professionals and judicial officers, government officials and policymakers, and representatives of Tribal Research Institutions, think tanks and public policy institutions. It also invites environmental and development practitioners, civil society and community-based organisations, tribal and indigenous community representatives, traditional knowledge holders, community leaders and social entrepreneurs, including participants from international academic and research institutions.

The conference invites original research papers, policy papers, empirical studies, case studies and interdisciplinary contributions. Papers can be submitted in English or Hindi only, and may focus on India or compare experiences from other indigenous contexts.

• Abstract word limit: 250-350 words.
• Full paper: 3,000-5,000 words, to be submitted only after the abstract has been accepted.
• Plagiarism and AI-generated content must not exceed 10%.
• File format: Microsoft Word (.doc/.docx) only.
• Font: Times New Roman, 12 pt for the main text with 1.5 line spacing; footnotes in Times New Roman, 10 pt, single (1.0) line spacing. Hindi papers use Mangal font for the main text.
• Citation style: OSCOLA 5th Edition.

Abstracts and other required details are submitted through the official Google Form.

The conference will be conducted in a physical mode at the National Law Institute University, Bhopal. Participation by international presenters through an online/hybrid mode is permitted.

• Practitioners / Industry Professionals: INR 2500/-
• Faculty / Academicians: INR 2000/-
• Students: INR 1500/-
• NLIU Students: INR 1000/-
• International Participants: 50 USD (INR 4750/-)
• Non-Presenting Participants: INR 1500/-

The registration amount includes conference kits, breakfast, lunch and high-tea for the two days. Accommodation and travel are not included. Registration and payment details will be shared by email after the abstract is accepted. The fee, once paid, is not refunded under any circumstances.

Accommodation may be available at NLIU, Bhopal, on a paid, first-come, first-served basis, subject to availability: Guest House (double occupancy) INR 525/- per person per day, and Convention Centre (double occupancy) INR 788/- per person per day.

Selected papers presented at the conference may be considered for publication, subject to peer review and applicable editorial processes. Further details will be communicated to selected authors after the conference. Certificates of participation and paper presentation will be provided to eligible participants, and the conference will recognise outstanding contributions through the Best Paper Award and Best Presentation Award.

• Call for papers: 18 October 2026
• Abstract submission deadline: 15 November 2026
• Notification of acceptance: 20 November 2026
• Full paper submission: 05 January 2027
• Conference dates: 23 and 24 January 2027

For queries, write to ctsr@nliu.ac.in or contact Dr. Srishti Chaturvedi (Organising Secretary) at +91-9691898405 or Mr. Yash Kumar Bharti (Student Coordinator) at +91-9302336554.