Call for Papers | 2-Day National Conference on Four Decades of the NDPS Act, 1985 by MNLU Nagpur: Submit by Mar 22

About Maharashtra National Law University, Nagpur

Maharashtra National Law University, Nagpur is a premier institution established with the objective of advancing legal education, research, and policy engagement in India. The University under the guidance of Hon’ble Shri Justice Atul S. Chandurkar, Chancellor and Prof. (Dr.) Vijender Kumar, Hon’ble Vice-Chancellor of the University, regularly undertakes academic initiatives including conferences, seminars, lectures, and research programmes aimed at facilitating informed discourse on contemporary legal and public policy issues. Through such initiatives, the University endeavours to provide a platform for constructive engagement between members of the judiciary, legal scholars, practitioners, researchers, and students.

About The Conference

Maharashtra National Law University, Nagpur is organising a Two-Day National Conference titled “Four Decades of the NDPS Act, 1985: Jurisprudential Evolution, Contemporary Challenges, and India’s Visionary Roadmap Towards a Drug-Free India by 2047” scheduled to be held on 10–11 April 2026.

The Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985 (NDPS Act) constitutes the principal statutory framework governing the regulation, control, and enforcement relating to narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances in India. Over the course of nearly four decades, the implementation and judicial interpretation of the Act have generated significant jurisprudential developments and raised complex legal and institutional questions relating to criminal procedure, evidentiary standards, bail jurisprudence, sentencing principles, and the constitutional balance between stringent narcotics control and the protection of personal liberty and due process.

The Conference seeks to provide a structured academic and policy platform for examining these developments and engaging in critical deliberation on the contemporary challenges associated with narcotics regulation in India. The event will bring together members of the judiciary, legal scholars, academicians, practitioners, law enforcement officials, policy experts, and researchers to deliberate on the legal, constitutional, and institutional dimensions of narcotics control.

About Call For Papers

The Organising Committee invites original and unpublished research papers addressing issues relating to narcotics law, criminal justice administration, and the broader regulatory and policy framework governing narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances in India. Submissions may adopt doctrinal, theoretical, comparative, empirical, orinterdisciplinary approaches.

Selected authors will be invited to present their papers during the technical sessions of the Conference.

Eligibility

Submissions are invited from:

• Academicians and researchers
• Legal practitioners and policy professionals
• Students of law and allied disciplines

Themes

• Theme I: Criminal proceedings under the NDPS Act, 1985, procedural safeguards,  effective prosecution and defence strategies.
• Theme II: Law enforcement responses for combating narcotics trafficking, illicit financial flows, and cross-border drug networks.
• Theme III: Rehabilitation & de-addiction as a legal and socio-institutional response to drug dependence and social reintegration.
• Theme IV: contemporary challenges in regulation, accountability and implementation of NDPS Act, 1985.
• Note: Participant are advised to refer the sub-themes provided in the conference brochure.

Submission Categories

Research Papers relevant to the given themes.

All submissions shall adhere to the MNLU Mode of Citation, available here.

Submission Guidelines

For Abstract

• The abstract should not exceed 300-350 words and must be submitted on or before March 22, 2026.
• All abstracts must be accompanied by a cover letter containing the following details:
• Name of the Author(s)
• Theme and Sub-Theme(s)
• Email ID of the Author(s)
• Contact Number of the Author(s)
• Postal Address

For Full Paper

The following guidelines should be adhered to while submitting the paper:

• The word limit of the paper shall be 4000 to 8000 words (exclusive of footnotes).
• The font style of the paper should be Times New Roman with font size being 12 for the main text and 10 for the footnotes.
• The line spacing for the main text and footnotes should be 1.5 and 1 respectively (Endnotes are not permitted).
• Margins of 1 Inch should be maintained on all four sides of the pages.
• Citation Style to be followed is MNLU Mode of Citation.
• The File Name should be in the format given: Name of Author-Title of paper. The abstract and full paper have to be submitted in .doc/.docx format.
• A plagiarism declaration statement should be attached along with the full paper. (The permitted similarity index is 10%). The use of AI in writing is prohibited.
• The abstract and full paper have to be submitted in .doc/.docx format.

Note: The link for submission of the full paper shall be shared once the abstract is accepted.

Registration Fees

Students & Research Scholars

• Single Authorship – Rs. 700
• Co-Authorship – Rs. 1,000

Academicians and Professional

• Single Authorship – Rs. 1,200
• Co-Authorship – Rs. 1,500

Non Presenting participants – Rs. 400

Registration Process

Participants are required to complete the registration process through the official abstract submission link.

Important Dates

• Last Date for Abstract Submission: 22 March 2026
• Communication of selected abstracts: 24 March 2026
• Opening of registration and payment: 24 March 2026
• Last date of registration: 28 March 2026
• Submission of full manuscripts: 07 April 2026
• Two-Day National Conference: 10-11 April 2026 at Maharashtra National Law University, Nagpur (Hybrid Mode).

Submission Procedure

Click Here to Submit.

Contact Information

Conference Email: [email protected]

Faculty Coordinators

• Dr. Trisha Mittal – [email protected]
• Dr. Ila Deshpande – [email protected]

Student Coordinators

• Naman Sharma – 9131793638 | [email protected]
• Nandini – 8619245868 | [email protected]
• Alen Thomas Pallatu – 7306174983 | [email protected]
• Shashwat Raut – 9370501177 | [email protected]
• Vineet – 8607190309 | [email protected]

The brochure is here.