Call for Papers: International Conference on Gender Discourses by University of Delhi: Submit by October 25!

University of Delhi invites abstracts for its hybrid International Conference on Gender Discourses on November 17–18, 2026.

About the Faculty of Law, University of Delhi

Established in 1924, the Faculty of Law, University of Delhi, provides legal education through undergraduate, postgraduate and doctoral programmes. Its academic work includes teaching and research in areas such as human rights, environmental law, intellectual property and gender justice.

About the Conference

The Faculty of Law is organising the International Conference on Gender Discourses: Connecting the Past, Present, and Future through the Indian Knowledge Systems, in collaboration with Prajna Pravah, Delhi, and Central Sanskrit University.

The conference examines how classical Indian philosophical, legal and cultural traditions can inform contemporary debates on gender equality, rights, obligations and justice. Contributors are encouraged to connect authentic classical texts and theoretical frameworks with current legal questions and assess their contemporary relevance.

Mode and Venue

The conference will be held in hybrid mode at the Faculty of Law, University of Delhi, Delhi, on November 17–18, 2026.

Themes

The indicative themes cover the following areas. Authors may also select another topic that meaningfully connects gender, Indian Knowledge Systems (IKS) and their contemporary relevance.

• Philosophical underpinnings of gender discourses and IKS, including dharma, equality, complementarity, women’s agency and decisional autonomy.
• Women’s education and IKS, including access to learning, empowerment, intellectual authority and educational traditions.
• Marriage and IKS, including consent, companionship, property rights, changing understandings of marriage, live-in relationships and transgender status.
• Women’s health and IKS, including reproductive health, bodily autonomy, agency, selfhood and dignity.
• Women’s participation in public life, including governance, intellectual debate, adjudication, employment and economic participation.

Eligibility Criteria

• Scholars, academicians, professionals, experts and students may submit.
• Contributions are welcome from law, political science, sociology, economics and other social science disciplines.

Submission Guidelines

• Submit an extended abstract of 300–400 words in English or Hindi, with four or five keywords.
• Describe the research questions, objectives, methodology or approach, main arguments and expected findings.
• The work must be original, unpublished and not under consideration elsewhere.
• Upload a .doc or .docx file using Times New Roman, 12-point main text, 10-point footnotes and 1.5 line spacing.
• Use the 21st Edition Bluebook citation style with appropriate references.
• The full working paper should ordinarily contain 6,000–8,000 words, including references, tables and figures, in MS Word format using the same citation style.

Review and Publication

Abstracts will undergo blind peer review. Preference will be given to papers that critically examine primary ancient texts and present original interpretations. After the conference, authors may revise their final papers using panel feedback for possible consideration in an edited book or a special issue of Delhi Law Review. Publication is subject to consideration.

Registration Fees

• Each author and co-author: INR 1,500, inclusive of GST.
• Undergraduate and postgraduate students and research scholars from organising or collaborating institutions, and organising committee members: INR 500.

Participants must arrange their own travel and accommodation. Travel and daily allowances will not be provided.

Important Dates

• Abstract submission deadline: October 25, 2026.
• Communication of selected abstracts: by October 30, 2026.
• Registration form deadline: November 3, 2026.
• Working paper submission deadline: November 10, 2026.
• Conference: November 17–18, 2026.

Contact

For queries, email gdiks2026@gmail.com.

Application Procedure

Submit the extended abstract through the prescribed Google Form. Abstracts must be submitted through the form rather than by email. Enter accurate author details, institutional affiliation, contact information, paper title, attendance mode and theme, and upload the abstract.

Selected contributors will receive a registration link. Following abstract acceptance and payment of the applicable registration fee, participants will receive a separate link for submitting the full working paper.

Submit your abstract by October 25, 2026.