Kautilya’s Take 1 – Kautilya Society

Kautilya's Take Edition 1

The Kautilya Society at NUSRL regularly organizes a variety of events aimed at fostering critical thinking and engaging students with contemporary legal and policy issues. These include workshops, panel discussions, guest lectures by eminent scholars and practitioners, and interactive seminars that promote interdisciplinary dialogue. The Society also hosts writing competitions and publishes its flagship blog, Kautilya’s Take, providing a platform for students to contribute original research and analysis. Through these activities, KS creates a vibrant community focused on bridging academic study with real-world governance and legal reform.

BALANCING HATE SPEECH: IMRAN PRATAPGADHI V. STATE OF GUJARAT

January 3, 2026 | by Kautilya Society NUSRL

Written by Saloni Rani student at Rajiv Gandhi National University of Law, Patiala. INTRODUCTION Section 196 of Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (hereinafter, BNS) penalizes acts that promote enmity, hatred, or disharmony between different groups based on religion, race, language, caste, or community. This section come in...

Between the Himalayas and the State: Autonomy, Arrests, and a Nation’s Dilemma

November 21, 2025 | by Kautilya Society NUSRL

Nayanika Karan (Graduate,Miranda House, Delhi University) & Kumar Astik(2nd year student, BA. LL.B(hons.) NUSRL) All is NOT well in Ladakh. What began as a peaceful hunger strike escalated into defiant protests. Unavoidably, Sonam Wangchuk, the well-known engineer and environmentalist, was arrested as a result of...

CLICKS AND COMPLIANCE: REGULATING E-COMMERCE AND FINTECH IN INDIA’S DIGITAL REVOLUTION

October 14, 2025 | by Kautilya Society NUSRL

Muskan Gupta, 3rd Year student at B.A.L.L.B. (Hons.), Maharashtra National Law University, Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar Abstract The digital revolution in India provided ten times the pace to the merger of the economic and financial tech as it changed the financial and consumer behaviour regulatory system. While...

Consent, Privacy, and Digital Exclusion: A Legal and Statistical Review of India’s Data Governance Regime

October 4, 2025 | by Kautilya Society NUSRL

Written by Ishan Yadav & Pranshur Sharma students at IIM Rohtak Abstract In a country as big and diverse as India, where millions don’t know where, how, and why they are digitally consenting, the guarantee of privacy is hollow. As digital governance expands unchecked in welfare,...

Challenging the Boundaries of Consent in India

October 2, 2025 | by Kautilya Society NUSRL

Written by Divyansh Singh, student at National University of Study and Research in Law Ranchi & Anwesha Mishra After the proceedings in the landmark case of Nipun Saxena Vs. Union of India, there has been a renewed gain in the momentum of symposium surrounding the...

MODERNIZATION OR MONITORING? THE SURVEILLANCE SHADOW OF THE INCOME TAX BILL, 2025

October 1, 2025 | by Kautilya Society NUSRL

Written by Ms. Rishita Dasgupta & Mr. Samik Mukherjee students at School of Law and Justice, Adamas University, Kolkata In recent times our lives have become digitalized like banking, communication, medical records, social relationships, even thoughts through digital notes, the Income Tax Bill, 2025 gives...

GENDER, JUSTICE, AND JAIL: THE CASE FOR WOMEN’S LEGAL ADVOCACY

October 1, 2025 | by Kautilya Society NUSRL

Written by Aboo Bakr student at Jamia Millia Islamia From the beginning of human civilisation to the modern era of unprecedented advancement, history bears witness to a grave truth: if there is one being whose dignity has been most violated, whose existence has been most...

The War Amongst Brands: The 6E Identity Crisis

September 29, 2025 | by Kautilya Society NUSRL

Written by Yash Somraj Roy student at Hidayatullah National Law University, Raipur. Trademarks and India: A Rocky Relationship A trademark is of utmost essence in today’s modern world with thousands of disputes arising each day. Its main motive is to discern the goods and services...

Law, Consent, and Control: Rethinking Biometric Data Governance

September 29, 2025 | by Kautilya Society NUSRL

Written by Aaransha Shankar & Khushi Jain students at Dr. Ram Manohar Lohiya National Law University, Lucknow Abstract Many automated verification systems commonly use biometrics since it offers several advantages over traditional verification methods. The leakage of such sensitive information will certainly lead to the...

BETWEEN PROPAGANDA AND CENSORSHIP: THE TWO-FACED CRISIS OF INDIAN MEDIA

September 29, 2025 | by Kautilya Society NUSRL

Written by Amit Dang, fourth year student at National Law University Odisha. INTRODUCTION From the genesis of the printing press by Gutenberg, history has witnessed numerous unsuccessful attempts to curb the dissemination of information by the authority. In 1538 CE, Italy was the first to...

Tunnel Vision of the Apex Court: A Double-Edged Approach to Justice and Parity

September 29, 2025 | by Kautilya Society NUSRL

Written by Pralipsa Panda student at National Law University Odisha “I wish men had menstruation, then only, they would understand,” Far from being a casual remark parroted by the general public, the quoted text reflects the anguish voiced by Justices B.V. Nagarathna and N. Kotiswar...

Decades of Tenancy: The Supreme Court’s Verdict on Bona Fide Need and Comparative Hardship

September 29, 2025 | by Kautilya Society NUSRL

Written by Avinash Verma & Anshu Rahi students at National University of Study and Research in Law, Ranchi Seventy-three years is not just the measure of a tenancy it’s the span of nearly three generations, bound by a legal knot that finally unraveled in April...

JUDGING THE JUDGE:RE-VIEWING JUDICIAL RECUSAL THROUGH AN ETHICAL LENS

September 29, 2025 | by Kautilya Society NUSRL

Written by Bhuvi Gupta & Netra Karnam students at Institute of Law, Nirma University Introduction Every judge, before starting their career, takes an oath “that I will duly and faithfully and to the best of my ability, knowledge, and judgment perform the duties of my...

Revising Section 63 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita to Make it Gender Neutral

September 29, 2025 | by Kautilya Society NUSRL

Written by Akshat Kumar student at National University of Study and Research in Law, Ranchi & Shruti Udayan, student at National Law University, Jodhpur. INTRODUCTION: With the implementation of BNS, many changes were brought with it, aiming to modernise legal provisions; however, like many legal...

ECI’s Roll Revision: A Legal Overreach

September 29, 2025 | by Kautilya Society NUSRL

Written by Kritagya Sinha & Gaurav Kumar Mandal senior member at KS- NUSRL & Student Convenor at KS-NUSRL. The Election Commission of India (ECI) has invoked Article 324 of the Constitution and Section 21 of the Representation of People Act to undertake a “Special Intensive...

The Procedural Limits of the Inter-State River Water Disputes Act: The Need for Scientific and Equitable Apportionment Frameworks

September 29, 2025 | by Kautilya Society NUSRL

Written by Mahvish Kazmi, Programme Manager, Kautilya Society, Vidhi Centre for Legal Policy & Gaurav Kumar Mandal, Student Convenor at KS- NUSRL & student at the National University of Study and Research in Law, Ranchi Abstract India’s interstate river water disputes reveal the complex intersection...

India Justice Report 2025: Unpacking the Challenges in Jharkhand’s Justice System

September 29, 2025 | by Kautilya Society NUSRL

Written by Onam Sourabh, student at the National University of Study and Research in Law, Ranchi. The India Justice Report (IJR) 2025, which was published recently, provides a comprehensive assessment and ranks states and Union Territories on the structural and financial capacity of the justice...

From Rumour to retribution: A Legacy of superstition; Bihar’s Battle Against Witch Hunting

September 29, 2025 | by Kautilya Society NUSRL

Written By Adv. Amarjeet[i], Yogesh Anand[ii] & Subham Babu[iii] The recent outcry in Purnia, Bihar, wherein five members of a family were brutally murdered on suspicion of witchcraft, has again put the age-old practice of witch-hunting in the limelight. The evil practice, while old, is...

“No Means No”: Section 149 BSA and the Evidentiary Dignity of the Prosecutrix

September 29, 2025 | by Kautilya Society NUSRL

By Onam Sourabh & Avinash Verma, Students at the National University of Study and Research in Law, Ranchi Pink, the 2016 Bollywood courtroom drama that transcended beyond the boundary of a cinema to reflect an elementary yet intense subject: ‘No means no’. Amitabh Bachchan takes...

Reimagining Centre-State Relations in India: Lessons from the Sarkaria and Punchhi Commissions Amid Governor–Chief Minister Conflicts

September 25, 2025 | by Kautilya Society NUSRL

Written by Aman Rungta & Shamya Kumari students at Chanakya National Law University, Patna India is a union of states. It has a “Union government” at the central level and different “State governments” for each of the states. The three lists under Schedule VII of...

LGBTQ+ Rights and Legal Recognition in India: The Path Forward

September 19, 2025 | by Kautilya Society NUSRL

Written by Sakkcham Singh Parmaar, Law Student, Jindal Global Law School, O.P. Jindal Global University. “As a gay man, I’ve felt the effects of inequality, particularly in the last 10 years, so I feel very deeply committed to the cause of equality. Facing one kind...

Green Infrastructure: Building Resilient and Sustainable Cities in the Face of Climate ChangeGreen infrastructure

September 12, 2025 | by Kautilya Society NUSRL

Written by Bhumika Rani student at Amity University Jharkhand Abstract The rapidly rising temperatures have accelerated the effects of climate Change. Green infrastructure (GI) has become a viable and affordable Solution to these problems, incorporating natural systems into the urban Fabric. This essay examines the...

The Consent Illusion: Tribal Autonomy and the Failure of Participatory Governance in India

September 12, 2025 | by Kautilya Society NUSRL

Written by Akhil Yadav student at Gujarat National Law University, Gandhinagar. Introduction India’s constitutional safeguards grant self-governance to tribal citizens in the Fifth Schedule and the PESA Act of 1996. Close to three decades after PESA took effect, the gap between constitutional promise and ground...

UNFAIR WORKING AND WAGE CONDITIONS OF GIG WORKERS IN INDIA

September 12, 2025 | by Kautilya Society NUSRL

Written by Piyush mani Tripathi student at INDIAN INSTITUTE OF LEGAL STUDIES, SILIGURI Introduction– Do you know about the gig economy? Yes, it is a market system that mainly depends on temporary and part-time jobs instead of traditional full-time employment or the conventional employer-employee system....

Environment and Sustainable Development policy : Pathways to a Greenery Future Endeavour

September 7, 2025 | by Kautilya Society NUSRL

Written by Faijul Islam, Lecturer of Law, Prime University of Bangladesh Introduction The 21st century stands at a critical juncture of success where humanity’s survival and prosperity depend heavily on how we treat the environment in different ways. Environmental degradation, climate change,environmental justice and resource...

DATA PRIVACY AND CYBERSECURITY IN ONLINE EDUCATION PLATFORMS:

September 7, 2025 | by Kautilya Society NUSRL

“A Focus on Children’s Data and the Need for Targeted Regulation” Written by Sukriti Chaudhary & Rudra Swami students at National University of Study and Research in Law, Ranchi. CHAPTER I : INTRODUCTION The COVID-19 pandemic has dramatically reshaped education around the world, pushing schools...

SOCIAL MEDIA, MENTAL HEALTH AND THE LAW WE OVERLOOK

September 7, 2025 | by Kautilya Society NUSRL

Written by Uniqua Singh, Teaching and Research Associate, Gujarat National Law University. Introduction Mental health is a state of mental well-being that enables people to cope with the stresses of life, realize their abilities, learn well and work well, and contribute to their community. It...

Between the Lines: Mental Health in India’s Union Budget

September 7, 2025 | by Kautilya Society NUSRL

Written by Supriya Kaushik, Research Assistant, Center of Policy Research and Governance (CPRG). Taking an expansive approach, the Economic Survey 2024-25 views mental well-being as an economic issue, defining it as “the ability to navigate life’s challenges and function productively.” This signals a growing recognition...

Justice Delayed or Greenwashed? The Critiques and Controversies of the NGT

September 6, 2025 | by Kautilya Society NUSRL

Written by Aadya kumar, University School of law and legal studies,GGSIPU Dwarka Introduction In today’s world, where the threat of environmental destruction is more pressing than ever, the National Green Tribunal (NGT) stands out as a symbol of hope—or a source of debate, depending on...

Reimaging Data protection for the Marginalized: Why India’s Digital Policies Must Prioritize the Vulnerable First

September 6, 2025 | by Kautilya Society NUSRL

Written by Setu Kumar Rai & Tanisha Nath students at National Law University, Meghalaya. Introduction India’s digital revolution has transformed commerce, education, governance, and social interaction at an unforeseen speed. From the introduction of Aadhar in 2009 to the large-scale adoption of 4G networks in...

THE EQUILIBRIUM OF ADR AND JUDICIAL SAFEGUARDS IN THE CPC

September 5, 2025 | by Kautilya Society NUSRL

Written by Ankush Saxena & Kushagra Nigam student at UPES, Dehradun The code of Civil Procedure, 1908. serves as a Cornerstone of India’s civil justice system, which strives to strike a delicate balance between two crucial objectives that is, the fostering growth of Alternative Dispute...

Reimagining Welfare Delivery: Leveraging Digital Public Infrastructure for Inclusive Governance in India

September 5, 2025 | by Kautilya Society NUSRL

Written by Akshat Jain student at Christ (Deemed to be University), Bengaluru. Modern public policy reveals technology governance convergence as its dominant characteristic during the twenty-first century. India leads this transformation through its goal to establish Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI), which serves as a model...

REFRAMING COMMUNITY SERVICE AS A REFORM TOOL: A MODERN APPROACH TO JUSTICE IN INDIA

September 4, 2025 | by Kautilya Society NUSRL

Written by Bhardwaj Netam student at Hidayatullah National Law University, Raipur. INTRODUCTION The past year has been tumultuous in terms of sentencing within the Indian criminal justice system. Indian law has always been dependent on some form of penal measure be it imprisonment, fines, and forfeiture of...

Threshold for Justice: Legal Analysis of Section 7 Proviso for Homebuyers

September 3, 2025 | by Kautilya Society NUSRL

Written by Aanchal Ahuja student at Maharashtra National Law University, Aurangabad Abstract This article delves into a comprehensive analysis of the threshold requirement introduced under Section 7 of the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, 2016, specifically concerning homebuyers. It requires that in order to start CIRP,...

Justice at the Margins: Legal Empowerment as a Tool for Social Transformation

September 3, 2025 | by Kautilya Society NUSRL

Written by Rohaan Thyagaraju, student at Symbiosis Law School, Hyderabad. Access to justice in India’s multifaceted socio-legal environment is heavily conditioned by class, caste, gender, religion, and geography. Constrained by constitutional promises of equality and non-discrimination, the poor and marginalized remain far from able to...

DIGITAL COLONIALISM: HOW BIG TECHS MARGINALIZE INDIGENOUS RIGHTS

September 3, 2025 | by Kautilya Society NUSRL

Written by Aakash Varma & Prasi Jain students at Gujarat National Law University, Silvassa Campus Indigenous knowledge is not only the foundation of modern science; it is also what could be described as the reference and referral centre- by Suman Suhaiu Indigenous knowledge systems were...

Beyond the App: Legal Protections for India’s Gig Workforce

September 3, 2025 | by Kautilya Society NUSRL

Written by Himanshu Verma & Nishka Shah students at Gujarat National Law University (GNLU), Gandhinagar INTRODUCTION As of 2025, there are over 12 million gig workers in India, working for companies such as Zomato, Swiggy, Uber, and Ola, primarily as delivery partners and drivers who...

Coding the Climate: Digital Colonialism in Global Environmental Governance

September 3, 2025 | by Kautilya Society NUSRL

Written by Sanya Darakhshan Kishwar, Assistant Professor & Sakkcham Singh Parmaar student at Jindal Global Law School, O.P. Jindal Global University Abstract This paper explores how digital colonialism reshapes global climate policy by concentrating environmental data and technological control in the hands of powerful tech-corporations....

Digging Responsibly: The Legal Side of Sustainable Mining

September 3, 2025 | by Kautilya Society NUSRL

Written by Keshav Agarwal student at Gujarat National Law University, Gandhinagar Introduction: Can mining fuel progress without wounding the planet? In India, mining powers essentials such as the electricity, steel, smartphones, roads. India, with 95 minerals, is a global mining leader, exporting resources like iron...

Attempt to Rape: Trapped Between Rape and Outraging Modesty – A Legal Dilemma?

September 3, 2025 | by Kautilya Society NUSRL

Written by Saumya Tripathi student at Dr. Ram Manohar Lohiya National Law University, Lucknow Introduction Attempt to commit a crime takes place when a person develops the intention to commit an offense and does everything that is required to commit it but fails. Attempt is...

THE EVOLUTION OF PAPARAZZI: FROM LA DOLCE VITA TO SOCIAL MEDIA FRENZY

September 3, 2025 | by Kautilya Society NUSRL

Written by Dipanshu Raj & Harsh Gupta students at Maharashtra National Law University, Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar. The assertive photographers and journalists, called “Paparazzi”, play a paramount role in clicking interesting photos of celebrities. This fad started with the Italian film La Dolce Vita and has now...

AN ANALYSIS OF LEGAL, POLICY, AND SOCIETAL BARRIERS TO ADOLESCENT SEX EDUCATION IN INDIA: NEED FOR STRONGER LAWS

September 3, 2025 | by Kautilya Society NUSRL

Written by Akhil Kumar K.S. & Gowri Prakash students at The National University of Advanced Legal Studies, Kochi. “In India, the misconceptions about sex education are widespread and contribute to its limited implementation and effectiveness. Many people, including parents and educators, hold conservative views that...

THE RIGHT WAY TO BE FORGOTTEN: WHAT INDIA CAN BORROW FROM THE E.U.

September 1, 2025 | by Kautilya Society NUSRL

Written by Khyati Sinha & Suyash Srivastava students at Maharashtra National Law University, Chhatrapati, Sambhajinagar. INTRODUCTION We leave behind a data trail while using the internet, either actively or passively, across various websites and platforms. These digital footprints build up over time and incorporate everything...

Balancing Mind and Law: A Forensic Psychological Inquiry into Juvenile Justice

September 1, 2025 | by Kautilya Society NUSRL

Written by Ananya Sharma & Anubhuti Singh students at Dr. Ram Manohar Lohiya National Law University, Lucknow. The Confluence of Mind and Law: Introducing Juvenile Justice and Forensic Psychology At the very nexus of behavioural science and the notion of jurisprudence lies an extremely convoluted...

Bridging the gap: The need for urgent reforms to deal with income inequality

September 1, 2025 | by Kautilya Society NUSRL

Written by Aditya Raj student at Chanakya National Law University, Patna. Introduction “Big achievement! India to become 4th largest economy in 2025 overtaking Japan; will be 3rd largest by 2028.” This was reported by the popular news outlet Times of India on May 5, 2025....

Green Hydrogen and the Single Bidding Zone Dilemma: Can India and the European Union Align for a Sustainable Future?

September 1, 2025 | by Kautilya Society NUSRL

Written by Priyanshu Gupta student at National Law Institute University, Bhopal. Introduction Transitioning to a hydrogen-driven economy is increasingly viewed as a critical step toward achieving global decarbonization goals and addressing climate change. Green hydrogen (“GH2”), produced using renewable energy sources, has emerged as a...

Reciprocity and Regulation: Analyzing the 2025 Amendments to BCI Rules on Foreign Legal Practice in India

September 1, 2025 | by Kautilya Society NUSRL

Written by Jagatpal Choudhary, a student at Gujarat National Law University, Gandhinagar. Introduction The Bar Council of India [hereinafter “BCI”] has notified Amendment Rules for Registration and Regulations of Foreign Lawyers and Foreign Law Firms in India [hereinafter “Rules”] (such power is conferred by Section...

Understanding India’s Legal Stance on Holding The Indus Water Treaty in Abeyance

September 1, 2025 | by Kautilya Society NUSRL

Written by Suvansh Shanker & Gargi Srivastava “Many of the wars of this century were about oil, but the wars of the next century will be about water.” Ismail Serageldin (Former Vice President, World Bank) Pakistan, on Monday, urged India to resume the normal functioning...

Federalism and Centre-State Relations: Balancing Harmony and Autonomy in India’s Constitutional Framework

September 1, 2025 | by Kautilya Society NUSRL

Written by Shri Ganarchit.B India’s constitutional framework establishes a unique federal system that seeks to harmonize a strong central authority with regional autonomy, creating a delicate balance between national unity and state diversity. Described as a “Union of States” under Article 1, India’s quasi-federal structure...

INDIAN FEDERALISM: SCENARIOS OF POWER SHARING

September 1, 2025 | by Kautilya Society NUSRL

Written By Arshdeep Kaur student at National University of Study and Research in Law, Ranchi. INTRODUCTION– We Indians have evolved from the times of Kings to the present-day Democratic Government while we still see countries like Britain with Queen as the apex authority. One of...

AN INTRODUCTION TO FEDERALISM AND TERRITORIAL INTEGRITY

September 1, 2025 | by Kautilya Society NUSRL

Written by Nikita Kujur During the American Civil War, neither the Southern States, nor the Union was able to destroy the other, thus, concretizing an essential feature of federalism, i.e., the Union or the States cannot abolish the other. This can be taken as finality...

Centre vs. State: The Federal Tug-of-War in India and the U.S.

September 1, 2025 | by Kautilya Society NUSRL

Written by Supriya Kumari & Atulya tripathi students at Chanakya National Law university, Patna. IntroductionIn India, the federalism model was adopted to manage its vast diversity of languages, cultures, and regional identities while still maintaining unity. But what does federalism actually mean in practice? And...

Iska Ram, Kiska Ram: Party-Bound Speakers & Their Enduring Impact On The Legislative Process

September 1, 2025 | by Kautilya Society NUSRL

Written by Sakshi Vimal student at National Law Institute University, Bhopal. INTRODUCTION “…the Speaker upholds the dignity and freedom of the House, symbolizing liberty and democracy, and must be held by individuals of exceptional ability and impartiality.” ~ Former Prime Minister Nehru The Constitution of...