Call for Papers: Two-Day International Collegium on Environmental, Social and Corporate Governance (ESG) at Christ Academy Institute of Law, Bengaluru with CEERA, NLSIU [Hybrid; 23-24 November 2026]

Christ Academy Institute of Law (CAIL), Bengaluru, in collaboration with the Centre for Environmental Law, Education, Research and Advocacy (CEERA) at the National Law School of India University (NLSIU), Bengaluru, is organising a Two-Day International Collegium on Environmental, Social and Corporate Governance (ESG) on 23 and 24 November 2026 in hybrid mode, hosted at CAIL, Bengaluru.

The Collegium is conceived as an international academic forum for scholars, researchers, practitioners, policymakers and corporate professionals from law and non-law domains to critically examine the evolving architecture of ESG. It looks at the shift of ESG from a largely voluntary, market-driven idea to a regulated framework of corporate accountability, and at concerns such as greenwashing, ESG ratings and data integrity, supply-chain responsibility, climate-related risk, human rights and the uneven application of ESG standards across jurisdictions and sectors.

CAIL is affiliated with Karnataka State Law University and managed by the Carmelites of Mary Immaculate (CMI). The Collegium is anchored by CAIL's Academic Outreach Committee and Centre for Law & Environment. CEERA-NLSIU is a research centre that has worked with the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, the Central Pollution Control Board and the Ministry of Jal Shakti on environmental law research and training.

Abstracts may be submitted on the following sub-themes. Doctrinal, interdisciplinary, comparative, empirical, case study, theoretical or critical approaches are all welcome. The list is indicative, and papers on any other emerging or interdisciplinary issue within the broader field of ESG are also accepted.

• ESG and Corporate Governance: board responsibility and directors' duties; stakeholder governance; corporate accountability and transparency; shareholder activism and institutional investors; ESG and corporate decision-making; ethics and responsible business conduct; greenwashing and ESG credibility.
• ESG Regulation and Legal Frameworks: ESG regulation in India and comparative jurisdictions; ESG vis-à-vis Corporate Social Responsibility; SEBI, BRSR and BRSR Core; ESG and company and securities law; mandatory versus voluntary standards; ESG disclosure, assurance and accountability; cross-border and transnational ESG regulation.
• Environmental and Social Dimensions of ESG: climate change and corporate responsibility; biodiversity, natural resources and environmental protection; climate justice and just transition; human rights and business responsibility; labour, diversity and inclusion; community rights and social impact.
• ESG, Finance, Markets and Supply Chains: ESG investing and sustainable finance; green bonds and sustainability-linked finance; ESG ratings and assessment methodologies; responsible supply-chain management; human rights and environmental due diligence; ESG and multinational enterprises.
• Emerging Issues and the Future of ESG: artificial intelligence, technology and ESG; ESG data and algorithmic assessment; data quality, standardisation and comparability; ESG litigation and corporate accountability; ESG and public policy; comparative and transnational perspectives; rethinking corporate responsibility and sustainability beyond ESG.

Submission of abstracts and participation are open to all interested participants, including academicians, researchers, research scholars, professionals, practitioners, policymakers, corporate professionals, industry representatives and members of civil society, from law as well as non-law backgrounds, who have an interest in ESG.

Those who wish to attend without presenting a paper may register as participants, subject to availability of seats and payment of the registration fee. Attendees can join the sessions and take part in the discussions.

• Submit an abstract of 200 to 250 words in Microsoft Word (.doc or .docx) format only, through the Abstract Submission Form, on or before 15 October 2026.
• Each submission must carry the title of the paper; the name, designation, institutional details and contact details of the participant(s); the sub-theme (write "Other" if none applies); the abstract; and 5 to 6 keywords.
• A maximum of one co-participant is permitted per paper.
• Abstracts are accepted only through the designated form. Submitting an abstract is treated as an undertaking that the proposed paper is original and that the details given are accurate.
• Acceptance of abstracts will be communicated by 20 October 2026.

Full papers are not required before or at the Collegium. Participants whose abstracts are accepted and who present at the Collegium will be invited to submit full papers, revised in light of the discussion and feedback, by 30 January 2027.

Selected papers will be considered for publication in an edited volume with an ISBN, after editorial review, double-blind peer review and compliance with the submission guidelines, provided that a sufficient number of papers of good academic quality is received. Submitting a full paper does not by itself mean acceptance; the Organising Committee may accept, seek revisions to, or reject a paper. All papers undergo a similarity and AI-generated content check, and submissions above 10% will not be accepted, though authors will be given a chance to revise and resubmit before a final decision. Hard copies of the edited volume will be available at an additional cost, to be communicated after publication.

• The registration fee is Rs 1,500 for every participant.
• Registration for paper presentation opens only after an abstract is accepted, and must be completed by 25 October 2026. Where a paper has a co-participant, both must register jointly and each must pay the fee; both may attend the sessions and present, subject to the programme schedule.
• Attend-only participants register through the separate Registration Form and pay the same fee. Paper presenters do not need to register again as participants.
• Registration is complete only on submission of the registration form and payment of the fee through the official payment link. The fee is non-refundable.
• No travel allowance, daily allowance or accommodation is provided by the host institution; participants make their own arrangements.

All registered participants will receive an e-certificate, subject to attendance at all sessions of the Collegium.

A Best Paper Presentation Award, carrying a cash prize of Rs 5,000 and a Certificate of Merit, will go to the paper judged the most original and rigorous. The evaluation looks at originality, clarity of the research questions, depth of analysis, engagement with sources, methodology, structure, contribution to ESG scholarship, the quality of the oral presentation and the ability to respond to questions. The panel's decision is final.

The brochure lists the following industry knowledge partners and speakers: Shri Saleen A (Deputy General Manager, HSE & CSO) and Dr. Vishnu S. Warrier (Senior Manager, Legal), Cochin Shipyard Limited; Mr. Shujath Bin Ali (Chief Legal Officer, Fourth Partner Energy); Mr. Abhishek Dubey (Partner, Trilegal); Mr. Jeevan Ballav Panda (Partner) and Mr. Vivek Narayan (Principal Associate), Khaitan & Co; Mr. Shreekanth Katti (India Head, Legal, Compliance and Data Privacy, Merck Group); Mr. Raghavendra Rao (Associate Director, Legal, Manipal Hospitals); Dr. Srinivas Ravindra (Chairperson, Green Skills Academy, and Director, Centre for Sustainable Development); and Mr. Rohith Kamath (Partner, Rex Law Chambers).

The Organising Committee includes Rev. Fr. Thomas Chakkramakkil, CMI, Prof. (Dr.) Fr. Davis PV, CMI, and Prof. (Dr.) Sairam Bhat of NLSIU, with CAIL faculty members.