National Conference on Tribal Custom, Law, Rights and Reforms

The Centre for Studies in Tribal and Indigenous Communities (CSTIC), Dharmashastra National Law University (DNLU), Jabalpur, in collaboration with the Tribal Research and Development Institute (TRDI), Bhopal, is organising a Two-Day National Conference on Tribal Custom, Law, Rights and Reforms.

The conference brings together law students, research scholars, academicians, legal professionals and researchers to deliberate on the customary practices, rights and legal reforms concerning India's tribal and indigenous communities, with a strong focus on the legal frameworks that shape their lives.

The conference will be held on 19-20 September 2026 at Dharmashastra National Law University, Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh.

The central theme is Tribal Custom, Law, Rights and Reforms. Suggested sub-themes include:

• Tribal customs and traditional practices
• Indigenous rights and legal frameworks
• Legal reforms affecting tribal communities
• Forest rights and the Panchayats (Extension to Scheduled Areas) Act (PESA)
• Intellectual property rights and indigenous knowledge
• Tribal governance and policy
• Related socio-legal issues

The conference is open to law students, research scholars, academicians, legal professionals, researchers and others interested in tribal and indigenous studies.

• Students: Rs.500
• Research Scholars: Rs.700
• Academicians: Rs.1000

Co-authors are required to pay 50% of the applicable registration fee.

Interested participants must submit their abstracts by 15 July 2026 and complete the registration process as per the conference guidelines released by the organisers. For submission, registration details and queries, write to cstic@mpdnlu.ac.in or contact the coordinators listed below.

Selected papers will be considered for publication in a special issue of The Vantage: A Journal of Law and Social Sciences. Accommodation will be provided for paper presenters.