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Link to official notification: Shirin Paul Animal Law Ph.D to scholarship Notification for Law 2025-26_Final-Approved.pdf
About the Scholarship
NALSAR University of Law is a leading institution committed to innovation in legal education and research. The Shirin Paul Ph.D. Scholarship is established to support researchers undertaking doctoral research in animal law. The vision is to foster independent, high-quality research by providing scholars with access to global mentors, world-class resources, and a dynamic intellectual community. It seeks to bridge knowledge gaps and cultivate a body of scholarship that engages with India’s unique socio-legal landscape to advance social justice and address the triple planetary crisis.
Eligibility Criteria
Candidates must meet the following criteria:
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A Master’s Degree or equivalent in Law, Humanities, Social Sciences, or other cognate disciplines from a recognized University, securing not less than 55% marks.
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For candidates belonging to SC/ST/OBC (Non-creamy layer)/Persons with disabilities/EWS, the minimum requirement is 50% marks.
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Preference will be given to candidates with a Postgraduate/Advanced Diploma or Masters in Animal Protection Laws from NALSAR.
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A demonstrable interest in animal welfare or social work is required.
Recommended Research Areas
The University is particularly seeking interdisciplinary proposals in new and emerging areas. The selected topic must enable the candidate to make an original contribution to knowledge. Recommended research areas include:
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Fish Welfare Policy Research.
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Gaps in Regulation of Piggeries and Dairy Industry.
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Humane Education and National Education Policy (NEP) Values.
Applicants are strongly advised to review Appendix 1 of the official notification to understand the additional research outputs required (e.g., policy briefs, white papers).
Application and Admission Procedure
The admission process consists of two stages:
1. Application and Entrance Examination
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Candidates must submit the online application form along with a registration fee of Rs. 2,000/- (Rs. 1,000/- for SC/ST).
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Application Deadline: 30th October 2025.
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Entrance Exam: A 3.5-hour online entrance exam will be conducted on 15th November 2025 at 10:00 a.m. The exam will test:
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Research Aptitude and Writing Skill (50%).
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Disciplinary Knowledge (Animal Laws) (50%).
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Exemption from Exam: Applicants who have qualified for UGC-NET / UGC-CSIR NET (including JRF) are exempted from the written exam.
2. Research Proposal and Interview
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Candidates who pass the written test (by securing at least 50%) and those exempted from it must submit a preliminary research proposal (1500-2000 words).
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The proposal will be scrutinized for plagiarism (similarity index must not exceed 15%) and originality (topics already registered at the University may be rejected).
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Applicants whose proposals are found to be satisfactory and researchable will be invited for an interview.
Scholarship Details
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The scholarship is provided for three years.
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The selected scholar must enroll as a full-time student and reside on campus for at least four months every academic year.
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The scholar will receive access to all NALSAR libraries, subscriptions, hostel accommodation, and shared office space at the Animal Law Centre.
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The scholar must complete university coursework and additional Ahimsa Fellowship coursework.
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Mandatory Outputs (beyond the thesis): The scholar must publish at least two papers in Scopus-indexed journals, present at a minimum of three conferences, publish op-eds, and organize the annual Shirin Paul Lecture Series.
Contact Details
For any queries, please email: phdadmissions@nalsar.ac.in.
For more information and to access the application form, please visit the official NALSAR website: www.nalsar.ac.in.