New Deans Appointed at NALSAR and GNLU

📰 Academic Leadership Changes

**Hyderabad/Gandhinagar, January 8, 2025 ** - Two of India’s premier National Law Universities have announced the appointment of new deans, bringing experienced legal academics to leadership positions at NALSAR Hyderabad and GNLU Gandhinagar.

👥 New Appointments

NALSAR Hyderabad - New Dean

Prof. Meera Srinivasan

• Position; Dean of Academic Affairs
• Previous Role; Professor of International Law, Delhi University
• Experience: 20 + years in legal education
• Specialization; International Trade Law and Human Rights
• Term: 3-year appointment starting January 15, 2025

Profile Highlights:

• Education; LLM from Harvard Law School, PhD from JNU
• Publications: 15 books, 80 + research papers
• Previous Positions; Vice-Chancellor of Central University of Law
• Awards; National Law Teacher Award 2022

GNLU Gandhinagar - New Dean

Prof. Rajiv Kumar

• Position; Dean of Student Affairs and Research
• Previous Role; Senior Advocate, Supreme Court of India
• Experience: 18 + years in legal practice and academia
• Specialization; Constitutional Law and Corporate Law
• Term: 3-year appointment starting January 20, 2025

Profile Highlights:

• Education; LLM from University of Cambridge, B. A. LLB from NLSIU
• Publications: 8 books, 60 + articles in reputed journals
• Previous Positions; Visiting Professor at multiple NLUs
• Achievements; Young Jurist Award 2021

🎯 Vision and Objectives

NALSAR’s New Academic Vision

Prof. Meera Srinivasan’s Priorities

1. International Collaboration; Expand partnerships with global law schools
2. Research Excellence; Establish centers of excellence in specialized areas
3. Curriculum Innovation; Integrate emerging areas like technology law
4. Faculty Development; Enhance faculty research and teaching capabilities

Key Initiatives:

• Center for International Trade Law; New research center establishment
• Student Exchange Programs; Double international exchange opportunities
• Legal Tech Integration; Technology law and AI integration in curriculum
• Environmental Law Focus; Specialized environmental law programs

GNLU’s Development Focus

Prof. Rajiv Kumar’s Agenda

1. Student Welfare; Enhanced student support systems
2. Career Development; Strengthen placement and internship programs
3. Research Promotion; Faculty and student research incentives
4. Industry Integration; Better industry-academia collaboration

Key Initiatives:

• Career Development Center; Modernized placement cell
• Research Grants; Increased funding for student research projects
• Mentorship Program; Alumni-student mentorship initiative
• Legal Aid Expansion; Enhanced clinical legal education

📚 Academic Reforms Planned

Curriculum Enhancements

NALSAR Academic Reforms

• New Courses:

• Artificial Intelligence and Law

• Climate Change Law

• Space Law and Policy

• Sports Law and Governance

• Teaching Methods:

• Interactive case study approach

• Guest lecture series by industry experts

• Simulation-based learning

• Interdisciplinary programs

GNLU Academic Innovations

• Program Structure:

• Flexible credit system

• Elective specialization options

• Research-based dissertations

• Industry internship requirements

• Assessment Methods:

• Continuous evaluation system

• Practical skill assessment

• Research project evaluation

• Moot court performance

🔬 Research Development Plans

NALSAR Research Initiatives

New Research Centers

1. Center for Technology Law; Focus on AI, blockchain, and cybersecurity
2. Environmental Law Research Center; Climate change and sustainability
3. Human Rights Center; Gender rights and social justice
4. Corporate Governance Center; Business ethics and compliance

Research Funding

• Annual Budget: ₹5 crore for research activities
• Faculty Grants; Up to ₹10 lakh per research project
• Student Research; Support for undergraduate and postgraduate research
• International Collaboration; Joint research with foreign universities

GNLU Research Strategy

Research Focus Areas

1. Constitutional Law; Comparative constitutional studies
2. Corporate Law; Business law and regulation
3. International Law; Trade and investment law
4. Legal Technology; Innovation in legal services

Research Infrastructure

• Digital Library; Access to global legal databases
• Research Labs; Legal tech and forensic law laboratories
• Publication Support; Journal editing and book publishing assistance
• Conference Funding; Support for national and international conferences

👨‍🏫 Faculty Development Programs

NALSAR Faculty Enhancement

Professional Development

• International Training; Faculty exchange programs with foreign universities
• Research Workshops; Methodology and writing skills development
• Teaching Excellence; Pedagogical skills enhancement programs
• Industry Exposure; Corporate law firm training programs

Recruitment Plans

• New Positions: 10 new faculty positions in specialized areas
• International Faculty; Visiting professors from top global law schools
• Industry Experts; Practicing lawyers as adjunct faculty
• Research Fellows; Post-doctoral research fellows

GNLU Faculty Growth

Capacity Building

• Skill Development; Regular faculty development workshops
• Research Support; Funding for conference presentations and publications
• Collaborative Research; Interdisciplinary research opportunities
• Mentorship; Senior faculty mentorship for junior faculty

Academic Excellence

• Teaching Awards; Recognition for teaching excellence
• Research Awards; Incentives for quality research publications
• Innovation Grants; Support for innovative teaching methods
• Performance Reviews; Regular faculty performance evaluations

🎓 Student Welfare Initiatives

NALSAR Student Support

Academic Support

• Mentoring System; Faculty-student mentoring program
• Academic Counseling; Career guidance and counseling services
• Tutorial Support; Additional tutorial classes for challenging subjects
• Language Support; English language enhancement programs

Extracurricular Activities

• Moot Court; Enhanced moot court training and competitions
• Debate Society; Regular debate competitions and training
• Legal Aid; Expanded clinical legal education programs
• Cultural Activities; Student clubs and cultural events

GNLU Student Development

Career Services

• Placement Cell; Enhanced recruitment and placement services
• Internship Programs; Structured internship programs with law firms
• Career Counseling; Professional career guidance and counseling
• Alumni Network; Strong alumni engagement for career opportunities

Personal Development

• Soft Skills; Communication and personality development programs
• Leadership Training; Student leadership development initiatives
• Entrepreneurship Support; Legal startup incubation support
• Wellness Programs; Mental health and wellness initiatives

📊 Expected Impact

Academic Excellence

Quality Improvement

• Research Output: 30% increase in research publications
• Student Performance; Enhanced academic performance metrics
• Placement Rates; Improved placement in top law firms and companies
• International Recognition; Greater global visibility and ranking

Innovation and Development

• New Programs; Introduction of innovative academic programs
• Technology Integration; Enhanced use of technology in education
• Interdisciplinary Approach; Greater integration with other disciplines
• Practical Training; Increased focus on practical legal skills

Institutional Growth

NALSAR Development Goals

• Ranking Improvement; Top 3 position in national rankings
• International Collaboration; Partnerships with 20 + international universities
• Research Excellence; Recognition as leading research institution
• Student Success: 100% placement with top-tier organizations

GNLU Growth Objectives

• Academic Excellence; Top 5 ranking in legal education
• Research Leadership; Leading research institution in specialized areas
• Industry Integration; Strong industry-academia partnerships
• Student Achievement; Outstanding student performance in all areas

📞 Contact Information

NALSAR Hyderabad

• New Dean’s Office; dean. academic@nalsar. ac. in
• Administrative Office; admin@nalsar. ac. in
• Phone: +91-40-23010666
• Website; www. nalsar. ac. in

GNLU Gandhinagar

• Dean’s Office; dean. research@gnlu. ac. in
• Administrative Office; admin@gnlu. ac. in
• Phone: +91-79-23276611
• Website; www. gnlu. ac. in

🎯 Key Takeaway; These leadership changes bring fresh perspectives and proven expertise to two of India’s top law schools, promising enhanced academic excellence and student development.

📝 Transition Period; New deans assume office in January 2025 with immediate focus on academic reforms and student welfare initiatives.

*Last Updated; January 8, 2025 | Next Review; February 2025 *