SHIMLA (Himachal Pradesh, India): The Centre for Tribal and Cultural Studies at the Himachal Pradesh National Law University (HPNLU) will host a national conference on “Recognition, Rights and Realities: Tribal Identity, Governance and Justice in Contemporary India” in March 2026.
The conference will be held online on March 28, 2026. The university has invited academics, legal professionals, policy makers and students to submit abstracts by January 10, 2026, for consideration. Submissions need to focus on legal, governance, social and constitutional aspects affecting tribal communities in India, including autonomy, resource rights, customary practices and socio‑economic challenges. Details of the conference can be obtained here.
The conference aims to provide a platform for discussion of constitutional protections and governance mechanisms for tribal populations, including the Fifth Schedule of the Constitution and the Panchayats (Extension to Scheduled Areas) Act. Participants are encouraged to explore the interface of customary law, statutory rights, social transformation and justice delivery in tribal areas. Accepted abstracts, up to 300 words in length, will form the basis for online presentations during the event.
Tribal communities in India face complex challenges arising from historical marginalization, uneven implementation of legal protections and pressures from modernization. While constitutional and statutory frameworks exist to safeguard tribal autonomy and resource rights, practical enforcement often varies across states, and customary practices are sometimes in tension with formal governance structures. This has prompted legal scholars and practitioners to examine ways in which laws can be more effectively aligned with tribal realities on the ground.
The HPNLU conference also highlights issues of tribal identity, including the tension between cultural preservation and integration into broader social and political frameworks. Academic discourse has increasingly focused on how migration, development pressures and market forces affect traditional societies, raising questions about legal recognition, governance participation and socio‑economic inclusion. The event seeks to encourage dialogue on these topics and promote analysis of practical solutions that balance rights, governance and social change.
Attendees are expected to discuss both normative and applied aspects of tribal governance and justice, covering issues such as self-rule, resource management, legal pluralism and dispute resolution. The conference is intended as a forum for scholars, practitioners and community representatives to exchange insights on contemporary challenges facing tribal populations and to share approaches to policy development and legal reform.
HPNLU Shimla has steadily contributed to scholarship on law and society, and its Centre for Tribal and Cultural Studies has engaged in research exploring the intersection of law, culture and social development. This conference continues that focus by providing a structured environment for presenting research and engaging in discussion on governance, justice and tribal identity in India, reflecting ongoing efforts to understand and address the lived realities of indigenous communities.
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