Courses_for_Winter_Semester_2026
The manifold_agendas_of_public_policy_and_legal_reform_in_India_remain_impoverished_in_the_absence_of_substantial_research_in_many_areas_that_impact_the_everyday_life_of_Indian_citizens._Since_its_inception,_the_Centre_for_the_Study_of_Law_and_Governance_has_initiated_a_new_interest_in_examining_how_practices_of_governance_get_stabilised_through_law_and_how_these_practices_open_law_to_further_contestation._The_Centre_adopts_a_multidisciplinary_approach_to_framing_research_and_teaching_on_the_relationship_between_law_and_governance._. The_study_of_governance,_in_its_various_forms_and_at_different_sites,_is_central_to_several_contemporary_issues:_the_reform_of_public_institutions_and_public_law;_the_creation_and_establishment_of_procedures_and_rules_that_lead_to_greater_efficiency,_transparency,_and_accountability;_and_the_challenge_of_making_governance_more_inclusive_and_participatory_through_the_strengthening_of_democracy_and_civil_society. The_Centre’s_interdisciplinary_focus_draws_on_critical_social_science_approaches_in_its_attempt_to_explore_how_practices_of_law_and_governance_are_embedded_in_political,_economic,_social_and_historical_processes;_how_practices_of_governance_are_dispersed_over_various_sites_ranging_from_the_government,_bureaucracy,_judiciary,_community_and_family;_the_socio-legal_processes_that_deter_or_provide_access_to_justice;_and_notions_of_governmentality,_sovereignty_and_rights_in_specific_politico-jural_regimes. The_normative_ideals_of_justice,_equity_and_freedom_thus_inflect_the_Centre’s_critical_interrogations_of_existing_institutions_and_practices_of_law_and_governance._It_is_in_this_spirit_that,_while_the_Centre’s_academic_programme_produces_scholarly_research_in_these_areas,_it_also_seeks_to_translate_theory_into_practices_of_governance_and_by_initiating_debate,_sharing_research_and_providing_a_platform_for_dialogue_between_the_academy,_government,_civil_society_and_international_agencies. In_the_decade_since_it_came_into_existence_the_Centre_for_the_Study_of_Law_and_Governance_has_developed_at_least_three_attributes_that_make_it_a_distinctive_part_of_the_intellectual_landscape._First,_the_Centre_is_explicitly_inter-disciplinary,_as_evidenced_by_the_diverse_academic_trainings_of_its_faculty_and_its_student_body_as_well_as_in_the_teaching_and_research_programme_it_has_fostered._Second,_the_Centre_has_developed_a_reputation_as_a_location_where_academic_rigour_can_be_meshed_with_reflection_on_policy_and_advocacy._Third,_the_Centre_has_become_a_focal_point_for_understanding_the_links_between_the_formal_legal_framework_and_governance_in_practice. As_with_the_Jawaharlal_Nehru_University_as_a_whole,_the_Centre_also_draws_students_from_a_diversity_of_backgrounds_–_regional,_social-economic_and_academic._Its_students_are_selected_by_an_all-India_examination_conducted_by_the_University_in_71_centres_across_the_country_and_one_in_Nepal._The_Centre_also_attracts_a_large_number_of_foreign_students,_some_attending_courses_and_many_seeking_research_affiliation._Some_of_the_Universities_whose_students_have_been_affiliated_for_research_to_the_Centre_and_its_faculty_are:_Johns_Hopkins_University,_Princeton_University,_Stanford_University,_the_University_of_Wisconsin_at_Madison,_the_University_of_Geneva,_the_University_of_Zurich,_Paris-II,_Université_Paris_X_Nanterre,_Graduate_Institute_of_International_and_Development_Studies,_Geneva,_Università_di_Roma_La_Sapienza,_Rome,_and_King’s_College,_London. The_Centre_has_successfully_attempted_pedagogical_innovations._Its_teaching_of_optional_courses_is_largely_in_the_seminar_format_where_students_read_in_advance_of_the_class,_making_presentations_and_engaging_in_discussion_in_the_classroom._The_faculty_also_makes_use_of_audio-visual_materials_such_as_documentary_and_feature_films._In_some_courses,_open-book_examinations_are_also_conducted. The_Centre_for_the_Study_of_Law_and_Governance_has_entered_into_fruitful_and_mutually_enriching_academic_collaborations_with_a_variety_of_institutions_over_time._These_include_the_University_of_Warwick,_the_University_of_Essex,_the_University_of_Sydney_and_the_University_of_New_South_Wales.
