SVKM’s NMIMS School of Law, Navi Mumbai successfully organized the 4th edition of its Annual Conference – Athena 4.0 in the month of March 2026, centred on the theme “Labour Laws in India: Rights, Reforms and the Changing World of Work.”
The conference, conducted in a hybrid mode, brought together students, academicians, and legal professionals to deliberate on critical aspects of India’s evolving labour law framework. It was organized by the Publication and Seminar Committee, fostering research-driven academic engagement.
The event was convened under the guidance of Dr. Manisha Band (Programme Chairperson & Convenor) and Dr. Deblina Majumder (Co-Convenor), who envisioned the conference as a platform for meaningful dialogue on labour law reforms within India’s constitutional framework.
A key highlight of Athena 4.0 was the Research Paper Presentation Competition, where participants presented scholarly work across diverse areas including Indian labour laws, global legal frameworks, and regulatory practices in the Middle East. The sub-themes covered critical areas such as the Four Labour Codes, gig and platform workers, gender justice, migrant worker protection, and constitutional guarantees.
Among the distinguished contributors, Ms. Shraddha Pandit was invited as a Judge and Session Chair for Track 3 (Research Paper Presentations). The conference themes were closely aligned with her Ph.D. research area, enabling her to engage deeply with the subject matter. Her participation added significant academic value, as she interacted with emerging researchers and evaluated innovative perspectives brought forward by students.
She shared that it was a valuable and enriching experience engaging with young scholars, whose research reflected evolving approaches to law, e-commerce, labour rights, policy implementation, and broader societal issues. Her involvement underscores NMIMS’ commitment to bringing experienced professionals into academic forums to mentor and guide future legal researchers.
The conference aimed to move beyond binary debates of reform versus resistance, encouraging participants to reimagine labour laws as dynamic instruments responsive to modern economic realities while remaining grounded in social justice and constitutional values.
Athena 4.0 also offered participants opportunities for academic recognition and publication, reinforcing NMIMS’ commitment to holistic legal education and research excellence.
