Intersections of Traditional Knowledge Systems and the Future: Law, Culture, Sustainability, and Collective Well-Being – 8th & 9th May 2026 – Friday and Saturday
Mode: Hybrid (Online and Offline)
dmelawconference@dme.ac.in
Best Paper for each Category:
- Students
- Research Scholars/ Academicians
- Professionals
WELCOME TO NEW DELHI
New Delhi, the capital city of India is regarded as the heart of the nation. Located at the banks of the Yamuna River in north-central India, it is of great historical significance as an important commercial, transport, and cultural hub, as well as the political centre of India. Home to many important historical monuments, it reflects the cultural impact of the Mughals, the ancient Indian, and the British. It also is the home to the Guru Gobind Indraprastha University, New Delhi to which DME, Noida is affiliated.
ABOUT GGSIP UNIVERSITY, NEW DELHI
Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University (GGSIPU) was the first University established in 1998 by Govt. of the NCT of Delhi. Accredited with NAAC A++, in a short span of 27 years, the University has been able to earn the best of national accreditations, educational awards, and stringent certifications. It is a teaching and affiliating University with the explicit objective of facilitating and promoting studies, research, and extension work in emerging areas of higher education with a focus on professional education and also to achieve excellence in these and connected fields. DME Noida is affiliated with GGSIPU.
ABOUT THE ORGANISERS: DME LAW SCHOOL, NOIDA
Accredited with NAAC A+, Delhi Metropolitan Education, imparts education in the fields of Law, Management, and Journalism, with the law course approved by the Bar Council of India. It was founded by the Sunshine Educational and Development Society (Est. 2004). The Society has been providing quality education to 10, 000+ students through its 6 sister institutions including schools & colleges. This conference is being organized by the DME Law School. The Law school offers LL.M. and 5-year integrated B.A., LL. B (Hons.) & B.B.A., LL. B(Hons.) programs and practices project-based pedagogy with a strong connection between classroom teaching and evolving legal & corporate needs.
CALL FOR CONTRIBUTIONS
Educators, academicians, activists, think tanks, researchers, scholars, students, professionals, and other relevant stakeholders of all disciplines are invited to contribute to this conference. Research papers describing original and unpublished works of conceptual, constructive, empirical, experimental, or theoretical work in all areas related to the theme of the conference can present papers in the event.
OVERVIEW
Traditional Knowledge Systems (TKS) are historically evolved bodies of knowledge, practices, and innovations developed by indigenous peoples and local communities through sustained interaction with their natural, social, and cultural environments. Embedded in cultural traditions, social institutions, and customary norms, these systems span domains such as medicine, agriculture, biodiversity conservation, climate adaptation, craftsmanship, and ethical governance. Despite their enduring relevance, TKS have long been marginalised, inadequately protected, or commercially exploited under dominant legal, scientific, and economic frameworks. In recent decades, however, they have gained renewed prominence within national and global legal and policy discourses, particularly in relation to intellectual property rights, biodiversity conservation, public health, sustainable development, and climate resilience, positioning traditional knowledge as a subject of global governance rather than a purely domestic concern.
International instruments such as the Convention on Biological Diversity, the Nagoya Protocol, TRIPS, and the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples seek to address recognition, protection, and equitable benefit-sharing, while national frameworks, including India’s Biological Diversity Act, Geographical Indications regime,
Traditional Knowledge Digital Library, and education reforms under the National Education Policy 2020, reflect growing institutional engagement with traditional knowledge. At the same time, the incorporation of TKS into legal, academic, and market oriented frameworks such as universities and emerging ESG governance models raises complexSocio-Legal questions concerning ownership, community agency, standardisation, consent, and commodification.
From a Socio-Legal perspective, traditional knowledge systems thus offer a critical lens to examine the interaction of law, culture, power, and governance across national and transnational contexts, forming the basis for the proposed International Socio-Legal Conference on Traditional Knowledge Systems and its comparative global focus, with particular attention to Indian Knowledge Systems.
SUGGESTED SUB-THEMES
- Historical Perspectives of Traditional Knowledge Systems
- Historical evolution of traditional knowledge systems- Oral traditions, folklore and literary traditions
- Comparative civilizational knowledge systems- interaction and knowledge exchange
- Understanding traditional knowledge systems for an inclusive future
- Colonialism and epistemic marginalisation of traditional knowledge
- Knowledge decolonisation and revival movements
- Oral traditions, folklore and collective memory
- Modernization, globalization and cultural transformation
- Power, Inequality and Knowledge Systems
- Caste, class, gender, ethnicity and access to knowledge and its creation
- Traditional knowledge and silenced/unheard histories
- Politics of recognition and legitimacy
- Traditional crafts, skills and their changing dimensions
- Youth, migration and changing knowledge systems
- Knowledge transmission and intergenerational dynamics
- Traditional skills and changing livelihoods
3. Social Institutions, Education, and the Future of Traditional Knowledge
- Indian Knowledge Systems and NEP 2020: Knowledge, Curriculum and Institutions
- Interdisciplinary Education and Epistemic Inclusion in Knowledge Systems
- Integrating Traditional Knowledge Systems within Universities and Knowledge Production Frameworks
- Institutional Roles in the Preservation, Promotion, and Transmission of Traditional Knowledge Systems
- Pedagogical Innovations Inspired by Traditional Knowledge Systems
- Multilingual Education and Knowledge Transmission in TKS
- Knowledge Systems in Higher Education: Future Directions and Global Challenges
- Legal Recognition of Traditional Knowledge-Based Educational Models
- Experiential and Community-Based Learning Models in Traditional Knowledge
- Digital education, open learning platforms, and technology-mediated transmission of TKS
- Assessment, accreditation, and evaluation frameworks for traditional knowledge based education
- Teacher training, faculty development, and capacity-building for TKS-based pedagogy
- Healing Systems Across the Globe: Traditional Knowledge and Governance Perspectives
- Sustainable Holistic Health: Integrating Ayurveda, Yoga, and Traditional Wellness Practices
- Health and Healing in Ancient India: Systems, Philosophies, and Knowledge Frameworks
- Traditional Global Medicine: Knowledge Systems, Practices, and Regulatory Perspectives
- Role of herbal medicine, spiritual healing, ethnomedicine, and community-based as traditional healing systems.
- Accessibility and Community Empowerment in Traditional Healthcare
- Mental Health, Well-Being and Traditional Healing Knowledge Systems
- Gender, Equity and Inclusive Access in Traditional Health Knowledge Systems
- Traditional medicine and indigenous healthcare systems
- Regulation, Standardisation, and Public Health Governance in Traditional Medicine Systems
- Role of AYUSH and other regulatory bodies in regulating and promoting Traditional Medicine
- Healing Systems and the right to health under Indian and International law
- Consumer protection laws and liability in Traditional Healthcare Practices
- Climate Change and Traditional Knowledge: Sustainability, Nature-Based Solutions, and Climate Justice
- Indian Philosophical Foundations of Sustainability and Harmony with Nature
- Traditional Agricultural, Water Management, and Ecological Practices: Models for Sustainable Living
- Indian Knowledge Systems and Contemporary Climate and Sustainability Governance
- Traditional Knowledge and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) – Alignment, Contributions, and Policy Insights
- Community-Based Development, Livelihood Sustainability, and Grassroots Policy Integration
- Reorienting ESG Frameworks to Integrate Traditional Knowledge for India’s Viksit Bharat 2047 Development Vision
- Ethical Sourcing, Sustainable Finance, and Community-Led Biodiversity Governance
- Indigenous Stewardship, Nature-Based Solutions, and Community-Led Environmental Justice
- Legal Frameworks of Traditional Knowledge System
- Collective Trademarks, Community Ownership and Commercialisation Safeguards in Traditional Knowledge Protection
- Biodiversity Governance and the Legal Recognition of Hakims, Vaids, and Traditional Healers
- Protection of Plant Varieties, Farmer Rights, seed sovereignty, and community custodianship
- Legal mechanisms, enforcement challenges, and international norms to safeguard TKS from bio-piracy
- Traditional Knowledge Digital Libraries: database governance, documentation protocols, and protection from misuse
- Role of NGOs and Civil Society in advocacy, monitoring, community mobilisation, and policy influence
- Access and Benefit-Sharing (ABS): equitable benefit-sharing, and TK-focused contractual structures
- Prior informed consent in the case of TK sharing
- Public participation and the recent forest dwellers rights
- Role of conventions and treaties in ensuring rights of indigenous people
- Indigenous rights and forest dwellers governance
- Corporate accountability, due diligence, and private sector responsibility in the use of traditional knowledge
- Cross-border protection, jurisdictional challenges, and transnational disputes involving traditional knowledge.
- Challenges in proving ownership, authorship, and misuse of traditional knowledge
IMPORTANT DATES OF SUBMISSION
- Last date for submission of Abstract: 15th March 2026
- Acceptance of Abstract: 30th March 2026
- Last date of Registration: 10th April 2026
- Last date for Submission of Full Paper: 20th April 2026
DATE OF CONFERENCE: 8th and 9th May 2026
MODE OF CONFERENCE
The conference will be conducted in hybrid mode with both online and offline components.
REGISTRATION
Please note that the conference will be held in hybrid mode. The registration can be made at any time on or before 15th March 2025. Please mention the subject as ‘Law Conference’ while making the payment. If it is a co-authorship, both participants are required to pay the registration fees separately.
REGISTRATION FORM:
https://forms.gle/QaCYoeKzEYi546kh9
PAYMENT DETAILS-
Fee payable through IMPS/NEFT
Delhi Metropolitan Education
HDFC Bank Ltd., Sector 18, Noida
Account No: 50100187447560 (Savings Account)
IFSC: HDFC0001592
FEE PAYABLE
ONLINE PRESENTATION
Students – ₹500
Faculty and Research Scholars – ₹800
Other Professionals – ₹1300
International Participants – $60
OFFLINE PRESENTATION
Students – ₹1000
Faculty and Research Scholars – ₹1500
Other Professionals – ₹2000
International Participants – $75
GUIDELINES FOR PAPER SUBMISSION
- Well-researched papers, articles, and case studies are invited from students, scholars/researchers, faculties, bar and bench, and other professionals.
- Co-authorship of up to two authors is permitted. Each co-author would be required to pay the registration fees separately.
- The manuscript must be typed in MS Word Times New Roman,
- Font size 12 and 1.5 spacing on A4 size paper with 1” margin on all sides.
- Footnotes should follow a uniform ILI style of citation.
- The papers should be thematic, not more than 4000 words (3000-4000 words is appreciable).
- Each paper should be accompanied by an abstract of not more than 300 words.
- The sub-themes provided are merely indicative and not exhaustive. Participants are free to choose any topic of their choice relevant to the central theme of the conference.
- The abstract and the article should indicate the title of the paper, name of the author(s), organization (s), contact number, relevant sub-theme, and e-mail address.
- Research papers/articles submitted should be accompanied by a declaration by the author(s), stating that the contents of the research paper are original and have not been published elsewhere.
- All papers shall be strictly subjected to anti-plagiarism software and shall be scrutinized through blind review of the Editorial board.
- Selected research papers shall be published in a UGC CARE
- Listed Journal/ Journal with ISSN or in a book-bearing ISBN at an additional cost.
- The abstract (with the subject of the mail- “Abstract”) and the complete papers with the subject of the mail- “Full Paper”) are to be sent to dmelawconference@dme.ac.in
AWARDS- Best Paper for each Category:
- Students
- Research Scholars/Academicians
- Professionals
PATRONS
Mr. Vipin Sahni
Chairman
Ms. Kiran Sahni
Chairperson
Mr. Aman Sahni
Vice-Chairman
ADVISORY COMMITTEE
Hon’ble Mr. Justice Bhanwar Singh
Director General, DME & Former Judge, Allahabad High Court
Prof. (Dr.) Komal Vig
Director, DME Noida
Prof. (Dr.) Rajinder Kaur Randhawa
Head, DME Law School
FACULTY CONVENERS
Prof. (Dr.) Neha Bahl Dr. Anupama Ghosh
Professor, DME Law School Assistant Professor, DME Law School
FACULTY CO-CONVENERS
Ms. Sreedurga TN Ms. Mansi Madan
Assistant Professor, DME Law School Assistant Professor, DME Law School
FACULTY ORGANIZING COMMITTEE
Mr. Suhail Khan, Assistant Professor, DME Law School Noida
Ms. Kritika Gautam, Assistant Professor, DME Law School, Noida
Ms. Surbhi Arora , Assistant Professor, DME Law School
Ms. Varnika Ratogi, Assistant Professor, DME Law School, Noida
Mr. Saransh Sharma, Assistant Professor, DME Law School, Noida
STUDENT ORGANIZING COMMITTEE
Student Conveners
Prapti Chaturvedi Anshuman Mishra
Student Co-Conveners
Khushal Nagpal Ayush Pandey
Secretary
Natasha Chauhan Kriti Nigam
Joint Secretary
Aayushi Sharma Lavneesh Dang
For any queries, feel free to reach out:
Faculty Coordinators: Student Coordinators:
Ms. Sreedurga TN (8826559126)
Ms. Mansi Madan (7838256542) Prapti Chaturvedi (87662 06694)
Anshuman Mishra (92898 46657)
