About the Institution
Gujarat National Law University (GNLU), established under the Gujarat National Law University Act, 2003, is a premier national law university recognized by the Bar Council of India and the University Grants Commission. GNLU operates from its Gandhinagar and Silvassa campuses and is consistently ranked among the top law schools in India. In 2025, the National Institutional Ranking Framework placed GNLU as the 5th best law school in India, while GSIRF accorded it a Five-Star rating with the highest CGPA. Outlook and India Today rankings have similarly positioned GNLU among the top three law institutes nationally. The University continues to be a center of excellence for legal education, research, and policy engagement.
About the Conference
The 4th International Conference on Rule of Law in Space seeks to provide a platform for researchers, professionals, policymakers, and students to engage with evolving challenges in international and national space law. As space activities expand due to private sector participation, technological integration, and national reforms, the conference aims to examine the adequacy of existing legal frameworks and explore pathways for future governance of outer space. Anchored in contemporary developments such as the Artemis Accords, International Lunar Research Station, and India’s space sector reforms, this conference will facilitate critical dialogue for shaping the future of space governance.
Theme
Rule of Law in Space: Addressing contemporary and emerging legal challenges in the exploration, use, commercialization, and governance of outer space.
Sub-themes
- Indicative sub-themes include:
- Delimitation of Space
- Militarisation and Weaponisation of Outer Space
- Space Mining and Space Tourism
- Space Traffic Management
- Regulation of Space Environment and Debris
- Space Insurance and Space Financing
- Intellectual Property Rights in Space
- Regulation of Satellites
- Moon as Gateway for Deep-Space Exploration
- Dispute Resolution Mechanisms in Space Law
- National Space Legislations
- Space Crimes and Space Weather
- Space Start-ups
- Space Reforms for Viksit Bharat@2047
Participants may also submit papers on any other relevant contemporary issue in space law.
Who Can Submit
Submissions are invited from students, academicians, legal practitioners, researchers, policymakers, government officials, space industry professionals, and members of international and national institutions engaged in the fields of space law, technology, security, and governance.
How to Submit
Participants are required to submit their abstracts and full papers through the designated online submission links provided by the organizers. Abstracts must be submitted by 15 January 2026, after which acceptance will be communicated by 24 January 2026. Full papers are to be submitted by 15 March 2026. All submissions should be made in Microsoft Word format (.doc/.docx).
Submission Categories
- Research Papers
- Conceptual Papers
- Case Studies
- Policy Papers
- Analytical Essays
Co-authorship is allowed up to a maximum of two authors. Selected papers may be considered for publication in the forthcoming issue of the GNLU Journal of Air and Space Law, subject to peer review.
Submission Guidelines
- Abstract word limit: 300–500 words
- Paper word limit: 3500–5000 words (excluding references)
- Citation style: OSCOLA (4th edition)
- Formatting: Times New Roman, font size 12, spacing 1.5
- Similarity: Up to 10 percent as per UGC Regulations
- Include a cover page with title, name, and institutional affiliation
- Submissions must be in English and free from any identifying marks within the manuscript
- Topic, once registered, cannot be changed
- Multiple or incomplete submissions will not be considered
- Late submissions will be rejected
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Participation Fee
- Students: INR 2360 (early bird), INR 3540
- Professionals: INR 3540 (early bird), INR 4720
- Foreign Nationals: USD 118 (early bird), USD 136
GNLU students receive a fee concession.
Fees include GST and cover conference kit, participation or presentation certificate, meals, and refreshments. Accommodation at GNLU VIP Residency may be booked separately depending on availability.
General Instructions
- Ensure adherence to word limits, formatting, and citation guidelines.
- Papers exceeding similarity thresholds or containing identification marks will be disqualified.
- The organizers reserve the right to reject submissions that do not meet academic or ethical standards.
- Participation is subject to completion of registration and fee payment within prescribed deadlines.
- Only selected abstracts will qualify for paper submission and presentation.
Contact Details
For any queries –
Write to us on – gnluspacelawcon_vsmcasl@gnlu.ac.in
