Policy Pe Charcha 1.0: The Future of Cyber Law: Policy, Privacy, and Protection
- Date: 7/2/2025
- Speaker: Mr. Gokul Narayan, CEO, Asian School of Cyber Laws
- Details: Mr. Gokul Narayan discussed “The Future of Cyber Law: Policy, Privacy, and Protection,” highlighting the importance of robust legal frameworks and analyzing the Digital Personal Data Protection (DPDP) Act. While acknowledging the Act’s merits, Mr. Narayan also pointed out its shortcomings, such as vague provisions. He advocated for public participation in legislative processes to create inclusive and practical laws. The session also covered the broader implications of cyber law on India’s digital landscape, stressing the need for continuous legal updates to keep pace with technological advancements, and concluded with a Q&A session. The discussion also involved the different ways the current legislative sphere can expand to the dark web and other underground online illegal activities.
Policy Pe Charcha 2.0: Making of Modern India and a Paradigmatic Policy Shift Over the Years
- Date: 15/2/2025
- Speaker: Prof. Aditya Mukherjee, Former JNU Faculty
- Details: Professor Mukherjee offered an analytical overview of India’s economic and governance transitions, highlighting key policy shifts historically. This discourse underlined the evolution of policymaking in shaping modern India. He then engaged with students, with the session beginning with a student’s inquiry about how to acquire “real history” when significant portions of the curriculum are omitted. This question resonated deeply with many in the audience, who expressed dissatisfaction with what they perceived as an incomplete historical education.
- The host responded in two parts: first, by confirming that such syllabus reductions have consistently been a feature of education policy across various administrations; and second, by reframing this issue as an imperative for student engagement. The host unequivocally condemned the practice of selectively presenting history, stressing that all aspects of the past whether commendable, unfavorable, or contentious are essential for a comprehensive understanding. The host asserted that any historical account excluding specific periods or events does not constitute an authentic historical narrative.
- This led to a discussion on proactive strategies for students. Rather than viewing the truncated syllabus as a definitive obstacle, the host encouraged attendees to see it as an opportunity for independent exploration. The core message was that the pursuit of “real history” does not depend on the content of a single textbook but on cultivating the skills necessary for critical and inquisitive learning.
Policy Pe Charcha 3.0: Public Policy in the Realm of Environment Protection
- Date: 15/05/225
- Speaker: Ms. Khushboo Kataruka, Partner at Hammurabi & Solomon Partners
- Details: This session offered enriching insights into the intersection of law, environmental justice, and policy reform. Ms. Kataruka’s expertise in environmental litigation, sustainable legal frameworks, and public interest interventions provided a comprehensive perspective for students and future policymakers, underscoring the urgent need for proactive legal mechanisms to protect ecological systems. The major point of discussion of the session was where as law students, future policy makers and even citizens, do we draw the line between environmental protection and development of the country. Various contemporary scenarios including the university of hyderabad were discussed.
Academic Writing Workshop
The Society conducts workshops to enhance students’ research and writing capabilities.
- Research Methodology & Academic Writing Workshop
- Date: 12/2/2025
- Speaker: Mr. Alok Prasanna Kumar, Co-Founder, Vidhi Centre for Legal Policy
Details: The intensive session, led by Mr. Alok Kumar, explored academic writing, research, and navigating legal topics. Mr.Alok Kumar emphasized writing as critical examination and self-expression, encouraging intellectual discovery over publication. Experiential learning, through interactive exercises and discussions, helped participants gain a fresh perspective on effective academic writing, understanding its connection to critical thinking and a compelling voice. The session concluded with a valuable Q&A, where Mr. AlokKumar provided insights and advice, empowering attendees with renewed confidence for their future academic pursuits. Mr. Alok also gave the attendees a very helpful advise that to write good you first need to read good , read a lot and read critically.
VIDHAN 2025 – The Policy Triathlon
This national-level competition challenges participants in policy analysis and solution development.
- Date: 09/03/2025
- Location: IIM Ranchi
- Collaborators: Polytrics, IIM Ranchi; Supported by Vidhi Centre for Legal Policy, ADR India, MyNeta; Media Partner: LiveLaw
Details: A national-level policy competition encompassing a Position Paper Submission Universal Basic Income, Caste-Based Reservations, and Social Media Regulation, where more than 160 teams from all over the country participated and submitted their papers out of which a total of 16 teams were selected for the advanced rounds at IIM ranchi campus. The advanced round included a Policy Mastermind Quiz, and a Live Policy Hackathon where the participants were given a mock problem and they were asked to formulate a policy catering to the problem and present it to the esteemed panel of judges,competing for prizes exceeding ₹25,000.
Justice Deepak Roshan Releases Podcast Teaser & Poster of Kautilya Society NUSRL
This event marked the launch of the Society’s policy podcast.
- Event: Podcast Teaser & Poster Launch
- Date:
- Guest of Honour: Hon’ble Justice Deepak Roshan
Details: Justice Deepak Roshan officially launched the teaser and poster of “NITI SAMVAAD,” a policy podcast by the Kautilya Society. This initiative aims to foster informed discussions on legal and governance issues, with a particular focus on Jharkhand.
Kautilya’s Take – Official Blog of Kautilya Society, NUSRL Ranchi
The Society’s blog serves as a platform for student and young researcher contributions.
- Peer Review Board Includes: Ananya Jha, Eshita Pandey, Leah Verghese, Mahvish Kazmi, Prakhyat Mathur, Shashvi Mehra, Shaoli Chakraborty, Srijan Thakur, Shantanu Kumar Mandal, Vikash Kumar Bairagi, Himanshu Shukla.
- Vision: Kautilya’s Take is designed as a platform for students and young researchers to contribute evidence-based insights and perspectives on law, governance, and public policy. The blog’s name, inspired by Kautilya’s wisdom, reflects a commitment to strategic thought, rational analysis, and practical solutions for contemporary policy challenges. It provides a valuable space for newcomers to engage meaningfully in policy discourse.
Details: This version of “Kautilya’s Take” had put out a call for blogs, and authors were encouraged to contribute to a thoughtful and reform-oriented policy discourse. While they provided a list of suggested themes including Law and Public Policy, Governance and Institutional Reform, Economic Policy, and Social Security and Welfare Schemes, we made it clear that this list was not exhaustive. Authors were welcome to explore any topic that aligned with the broader mission of promoting inclusive and innovative policy discussions. The first edition received more than 100 submissions from both national and international authors, including students, academicians, policy enthusiasts etc.
NITI SAMVAD 1st Video Podcast
The inaugural episode of the “NITI SAMVAD” podcast explores a significant act.
- Topic: PESA Act—its significance, challenges, and implications for tribal self-governance and land rights in Jharkhand
- Speaker: Dr. Ram Chandra Oraon, Assistant Professor at NUSRL and a member of the PESA Rules Drafting Team of the Government of Jharkhand.
Details: This inaugural video podcast episode delves deep into the PESA Act, exploring its significance, the challenges it faces, and its implications for tribal self-governance and land rights in Jharkhand. Dr. Oraon, a key contributor to the PESA Rules Drafting Team, offers invaluable insights into how PESA shapes local governance in Scheduled Areas and outlines the path forward. In this episode of podcast , prof Oraon took us through the history of PESA,what is it all about? why we, in the state of Jharkhand, need it? How does it appeals to the problem of land alienation? How the provision through empowering the gram sabha saves the tribal cultural integrity and role of the major stakeholders in bringing of PESA?
Policy Pe Charcha 4.0: Print Journalism’s Core Values
Policy Pe Charcha 4.0: Print Journalism: Ethics, Clarity, and the Craft of Writing
- Topic: Print Journalism: Ethics, Clarity, and the Craft of Writing
- Guest Speaker: Monica Behura, Senior Financial Journalist and Author
Details: The session, led by Senior Financial Journalist and Author Monica Behura, provided participants with valuable perspectives on the evolving craft and various facets of journalism. The discussion focused on the enduring importance of Ethics in print media, stressing its role as an anchor of public trust and accountability in the digital age. Key segments explored the necessity of Clarity—how quality writing must translate complex information (especially in financial reporting) into accessible prose for the public. Furthermore, the session celebrated the Craft of Writing itself, highlighting the value of narrative structure, in-depth analysis, and developing an authoritative voice. The overall focus was on how print media maintains its credibility and vital role in informing society through its commitment to ethical rigor and superior writing standards. The event concluded with an interactive session where the students engaged directly with Ms. Behura, providing a valuable opportunity for participants to pose questions and gain further clarity on the topics discussed.
Policy Pe Charcha 5.0: Government Consulting and Public Policy Practice
Policy Pe Charcha 5.0: Government Consulting and Public Policy Practice
- Topic: Government Consulting and Public Policy Practice
- Guest Speaker: Tushant Shreshtha, Consultant, KPMG India
Details: The Kautilya Society, National University of Study and Research in Law (NUSRL), Ranchi, hosted an online session on “Government Consulting and Public Policy Practice.” Drawing from experiences within government systems, policies, and people, the conversation went beyond traditional frameworks and consulting jargon.
The session established that public policy is intrinsically linked to human behaviour, exploring how laws, incentives, and institutions interact to shape change. A key theme was the intersection of law and policy, determining whether reforms remain “on paper” or successfully reach the people.
The core facets of government consulting were defined not by strategy decks, but by institutional memory, continuity, and empathy—the softer, unseen pillars that ensure good governance is sustainable.
Justice Definitions Edit-a-thon
- KSOC, NUSRL Ranchi: Justice Definitions Edit-a-thon
- Topic: Orientation Session for the Justice Definitions Edit-a-thon
- In Collaboration With: DAKSH
- Session Leader: Mr. Bhavya Sudhir, Research Associate, DAKSH
Details:
The Kautilya Society (KSOC), NUSRL Ranchi, successfully conducted the Orientation Session for the one-week-long Justice Definitions Edit-a-thon in collaboration with DAKSH. The session was led by Mr. Bhavya Sudhir, Research Associate at DAKSH, who introduced the participants to the Justice Definitions Project and outlined the specific objectives of the Edit-a-thon. A core part of the session involved training on the Wiki-based research and editing process to be used throughout the week. The event saw participation from students and faculty members who will contribute to developing and refining definitions related to justice and legal processes on an open-source platform. Through this collaborative Edit-a-thon, NUSRL Ranchi is directly contributing to building a national repository of justice-related definitions, thereby fostering accessible legal knowledge and collaborative research in law and governance.