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10 Empirical Research Topics in Law for Academic Study

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Empirical Research Topics in Law

Empirical research in law is an essential tool for understanding the impact of legal policies and practices on society. It involves collecting and analyzing data to support or challenge existing legal theories and practices. The use of empirical research in law has grown significantly in recent years, as it allows for evidence-based decision-making in the legal field.

One fascinating aspects empirical research law diverse range topics explored. From studying effectiveness specific laws understanding behavior legal professionals, there shortage intriguing Empirical Research Topics in Law.

Sample Empirical Research Topics in Law

These examples countless empirical research topics explored field law. Each topic offers a unique opportunity to gain insights into the functioning of the legal system and its impact on individuals and society as a whole.

Case Studies

Case studies integral part empirical research law. They provide detailed examinations of specific legal issues and their real-world implications. For example, a case study might analyze the outcomes of a particular law in practice, shedding light on its effectiveness and unintended consequences.

Statistical analysis is another crucial component of empirical research in law. By collecting and interpreting relevant data, researchers can identify patterns, correlations, and trends that inform legal decision-making. For instance, statistical analysis might reveal disparities in sentencing outcomes based on race or socioeconomic status.

Empirical Research Topics in Law offer captivating glimpse inner workings legal system. Through the use of case studies, statistics, and other empirical methods, researchers can uncover valuable insights that can inform policy and practice. The diverse range of topics available for exploration ensures that there is always something new and intriguing to discover in the field of empirical research in law.

Empirical Research Topics in Law: 10 Popular Questions Answers

Empirical research topics in law contract.

Empirical research in law is a crucial aspect of legal practice and scholarship. This contract sets out the terms and conditions for conducting empirical research on specific topics in law.

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Law Research Paper Topic Ideas for law students

Home | Law Research Paper Topic Ideas for law students

03,April 2023

Introduction

Research writing hones the ability to convey complicated legal concepts in writing through targeted and in-depth research. If you are a law student, you know how difficult it may be to zero in on a good topic for your research paper. You should choose a theme that piques your curiosity and has contemporary relevance or practical application in advancing legal scholarship. This article provides a list of potential research paper topics in law . These topics apply to a broad spectrum of legal studies, from undergraduate to graduate courses.

Why is Legal Research Important?

As law students progress through their studies, they are often required to undertake research projects to explore legal concepts and gain a deeper understanding of the law. Law research papers contribute to legal scholarship, which helps shape the law and advance legal practice, as well as provides legal insights into policy-related facets. Research writing is a vital aspect of any legal education for several reasons:

• Developing Critical Thinking and Analytical Skills : Writing a research paper on a legal topic requires students to conduct an in-depth analysis of the topic at hand and to construct an argument based on that analysis and sound legal reasoning. Legal practice, passing the bar test, and advancing in a legal career all need the development of strong critical thinking skills fostered through this process.
• Developing Specialised Legal Knowledge : Students can hone their expertise in a specific area of the law by conducting in-depth research for term papers on the topic. This enables them to demonstrate their inclination towards a particular specialisation in legal research and utilise their understanding to pursue a research degree in law.
• Fostering Effective Communication Skills : Research papers require students to communicate their legal analysis in writing, which is essential for legal practice. Effective communication skills are critical for lawyers as they must be able to write clearly and persuasively to convey legal arguments to clients, colleagues, and courts.
• Contributing To Legal Scholarship : Research papers can contribute to legal scholarship by adding to the body of legal knowledge in a particular area. This is important for advancing legal practice and policy, as legal scholarship informs legal developments and helps to shape the law.

Possible Research Topics for Law Students

There are countless areas of law to explore, ranging from traditional topics such as criminal law and property law to emerging areas such as cyber law and environmental law. Additionally, interdisciplinary research topics that combine law with other fields, such as economics, sociology, or psychology, offer exciting possibilities. Some of the interesting topics for a law research paper are as follows:

Language and the Legal Discourse

The institution of law relies heavily on language as it serves as a medium for the enactment and execution of laws. The use of accessible language is a critical aspect of ensuring that the justice system is fair and accessible to all citizens, regardless of their language proficiency or background. In January this year, the Chief Justice of India, Justice DY Chandrachud, emphasised the comprehensibility of legal judgments in the Indian landscape. He remarked that English “is not comprehensible to 99.9% of the citizens… [And] access to justice cannot be meaningful unless citizens can understand a language, which they speak and comprehend.” In a country as linguistically diverse as India, the initiative of translating judgements into vernacular languages by the Supreme Court is particularly a commendable step towards ensuring meaningful accessibility to justice. In yet another laudable move, the CJI has announced that the Supreme Court will shortly release a glossary of inappropriate gendered terms used in legal discourse. This glossary aims to draw attention to the prejudice women encounter not just in the larger society and legal system but also in the language itself. Potential research paper topics related to law and language can be:

• The Language of Legal Statutes and Its Impact on Interpretation
• The Role of Language in Legal Argumentation
• Legal Language and Access to Justice
• Language and Judicial Decision-Making: The Impact of Legal Jargon and Legal Precedent
• The Role of Translation in Legal Discourse
• Language and Legal Representation
• The Impact of Culture on Legal Language and Discourse

Cyber Laws and Emerging Use of Artificial Intelligence

Several legal issues arise as artificial intelligence (AI) becomes more integrated into legal practice. These include questions about accountability for decisions made by AI systems, data protection and privacy concerns, and the potential impact of AI on legal professions. As a result of Covid-19, cybercrime has become an extremely lucrative industry. The need for legal professionals to understand the legal frameworks to protect data and prevent cyberattacks is increasing with public awareness of cybersecurity dangers. Cybercrime today involves a wide range of offences, the judicial system faces new, unaddressed challenges. Possible topics for research in this area can be:

• Cybersecurity and Data Protection: Liability and Accountability for AI Cyber Attacks - Under this umbrella, prospective research topics include data breaches, cybersecurity regulations, and the role of legal professionals in managing and mitigating cybersecurity risks.
• The Use of AI in Cybersecurity : A variety of legal difficulties come up with the widespread use of AI in cybersecurity. Data protection, transparency, and responsibility could be addressed in a paper investigating the legal frameworks for AI use in cybersecurity.
• Regulation of Autonomous Cyber Defense : Autonomous cyber defence is an emerging field that uses AI to defend against cyber attacks.
• Intellectual Property and AI : The use of AI in the creation and management of intellectual property raises a number of legal questions, including issues around ownership, infringement, and licensing. This topic could explore the legal frameworks for managing intellectual property in AI, including issues around copyright, patents, and trademarks. Other IPR-related topics for AI concerns can be:-
• The Use of AI in Copyright Infringement Detection
• Copyright Issues for AI-Generated Works
• Fair Use and AI-Generated Works
• Liability for Infringement by AI
• Regulation of AI in Copyright Licensing

Gender and the Legal Discourse

Gender and the Legal Discourse is a complex and multifaceted topic that requires a nuanced approach. Legal research papers can explore various aspects of gender and the law in India, including constitutional rights, workplace discrimination, and access to justice. Further, with gender binaries being reassessed, examining how different identities, such as gender, caste, religion, and sexuality, intersect and affect legal discourse becomes important today. The ongoing debate about the legalisation of same-sex marriages and the long-standing issue of marital rape has resulted in differing legal and socio-cultural responses. Possible research paper topics that could explore how these identities shape the law and how they result in the conceptualisation of marginalisation and discrimination in legal frameworks are:

• Gender and Constitutional Rights
• Gender-Based Violence
• Gender and Family Law
• Social Imagination and Same-Sex Marriages: The Indian Context
• Marital Rape and Indian Jurisprudence
• Women's Health and Reproductive Rights
• Transgender rights and legal recognition
• Intersex Rights and Medical Ethics
• Same-sex Marriage and Adoption
• Gender Identity and Sports
• An Analysis of the Implementation and Impact of the Maternity Benefit (Amendment) Act, 2021 on the Workforce Participation and Economic Empowerment of Women in India

Technology and Law

A range of emerging technologies can potentially transform legal practice, including virtual and augmented reality, the Internet of Things (IoT), and autonomous vehicles. This topic could explore the legal implications of these technologies, including issues around liability, regulation, and privacy. The intersection of law and technology is a rapidly evolving field with many exciting and challenging developments. With the increasing role of technology in various aspects of our lives, including legal practice, several possible topics can be researched under the broad heading of technology and law. Some of them are:

• Blockchain and Smart Contracts : Using blockchain technology in forming, performing, and enforcing contracts could significantly alter these processes. Issues of contract formation, performance, and dispute resolution are only some of the legal ramifications that could be discussed under this theme.
• Online Dispute Resolution : As more legal services move online, there is an increasing need for effective online dispute resolution (ODR) mechanisms. This topic could explore the legal frameworks for ODR, including jurisdiction, enforcement, and privacy issues.
• Altering the Digital Landscape to Be More Accessible to People with Disabilities : Universal design principles, such as using alternative formats such as audio, video, and text-to-speech features, as well as designing for compatibility with assistive technology, can be analysed.
• Identity Theft and Indian Laws: Recognised as an extension of cheating and forgery, digital identity theft is a criminal offence in India. The topic can analyse the Digital Personal Data Protection Bill, 2022 and its provisions in the light of personal data protection in India.

Miscellaneous Research Topics

• The Privacy Policy of Social Media Platforms
• Euthanasia and the Right to Die
• The Challenges of Ensuring Compliance with International Humanitarian Law in a Protracted Armed Conflict
• Confronting Climate Change While Seeking Asylum
• What COVID-19 Means for Refugees' Rights
• Tort Law and Environmental Protection in India: Difficulties in Enforcing Environmental Liability Laws and the Responsibility of Polluters
• Permissibility and Credibility of Electronic Evidence In The Light Of Indian Evidence Act, 1872
• Sealed Cover Jurisdiction and its Implication for the Judicial Process in India
• Right to Use Party Symbol
• Live Transcription of Arguments and Legal Transparency
• Impact of India's New Arbitration and Conciliation (Amendment) Act, 2021, on Enforcement and Validity of Arbitration Agreements in Commercial Contracts
• The Role of Good Faith and Fair Dealing in Contract Law: Implications for Contract Drafting and Negotiation in India
• Cultural Appropriation and Intellectual Property Rights in the Indian Fashion Industry
• Exploring the Role of Sports Organizations in Protecting Athlete Mental Health: Ethical and Legal Considerations.
• Alternate Dispute Resolution and Mediation as a Recognised Way to achieve Effective and Efficient Conflict Resolution

Undertaking research projects in law helps law students develop essential skills and fosters specialised legal knowledge. By exploring legal concepts in-depth, students gain a deeper understanding of the law and its practical applications. Therefore, law students should take advantage of the opportunity to undertake research projects to help them develop these essential skills and enhance their legal education.

• https://indianexpress.com/ article/india/ cant-implement-reform- in-a-day-says- cji-ramana- local-language-courts-7895315/
• https://sociallawstoday.com/ research-topics-for- law-students-in- 2023/#:~: text=The%20impact%20of%20recent%20 judicial, Source%3A%20Supreme%20Court %20of%20India)
• https://www.moneycontrol.com/ news/trends/legal- trends/5-important-constitution-bench- cases-that-will-be-heard-in- 2023-9786991.html
• https://thelegalinfo.com/2021/ 06/27/legal-research- paper-topics-for-law-students/
• https://www.yourlegalcareercoach.com/ 50-research-topics-for- law-students-in-august- 2022-read-now/
• https://www.livelaw.in/top-stories/cji- dy-chandrachud-announces- plan-to-release-glossary-of-inappropriate- gendered-terms-used-in-legal-discourse-223888

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Legal Research in India

Related Papers

Jahlan Remtula

Legal research is "the process of identifying and retrieving information necessary to support legal decision-making. In its broadest sense, legal research includes each step of a course of action that begins with an analysis of the facts of a problem and concludes with the application and communication of the results of the investigation."

Nepal Law Review

Chandra Shekhar Khadka

khumtiya debbarma

The empirical research and participatory being one of the important research methods is hardly contributed by the legal scholars and law professors. There are ample of reasons behind such non contribution, in spite of being considered the most reliable source of information. This article stated the importance, differences, and steps in non doctrinal research and with factor that is inhabited as to why non doctrinal research is not carried out by the legal researchers. It also studied that participatory research through the empirical approach highlighted the views of the voiceless for the proper and efficient democratic processes.

Maria Tereza Dias

International Journal of Management, Technology, and Social Sciences (IJMTS)

Srinivas Publication

Human beings possess instinct of inquisitiveness in cases of confronting with the unknown aspects of life which probe to attain greater understanding on such uncertainty. This inquisitiveness is the method which man employs for obtaining knowledge is termed as research. It is the art of scientific enquiry into new facts conducted in any branch of knowledge. Generally, Research is the movement from the known towards the unknown to be called as the voyage of discovery. It originally contributes to the existing stock of knowledge facilitating its advancement. Truth is pursued with the help of study, observation, comparison and experiment. Systematic study of the law through doctrinal and non-doctrinal research methods considers to be the socio-legal studies aiming to analyze the impact of legal mechanism on the social system. This paper introduces into the fundamentals of legal research, socio-legal studies, conceptual framework on doctrinal research, steps of doctrinal studies, limitations and differences between doctrinal and non-doctrinal legal research methods.

Scientific Research

João Gilberto C da Silva

The scientific method is the strategy of science to generate knowledge. Its implementation is carried out by scientific research. Scientific research is employed in the three phases of the scientific method: in the initial phase of synthesis, to identify scientific problems; in the analysis phase, to try to solve these problems; and in the final synthesis phase, to incorporate the new knowledge generated into the existing body of knowledge. Thus, scientific research comprises systemic research, which focuses on global systems, in the initial and final phases, and analytical research, which focuses on subsystems, in the analysis phase. New scientific knowledge is achieved by analytical research, which begins with the formulation of a scientific problem. Once the initial question is posed, the systematic structure of the scientific approach becomes immediately evident. This is because research in science is very precisely structured and logically organized. This form has been developed over centuries of scientific problem-solving experience. This text summarizes the essential conceptual and methodological basis of scientific research.

Meghna Mittal

Legal research, a vital player in the course of development of a society, underpins the pressing need for quality research in the country. Legal research is not essentially different from other types of research. This is too searching for authority to substantiate some hypothesis and is a probable outcome. Its issues of enquiry naturally relate to pure law or law in relation to society. India has an important role to play in the world community, especially in the Asian and African regions. The need for research in inter-American law was emphasised in the U.S.A. in 1945 and the U.S.A. is bringing out a separate literature on the subject. Moreover, till now, India has been completely tied down to the chariot wheel of the English Common law. The Legal research in India can only be understood in the context of restraints under which it is produced. With notable exceptions, Indian academic legal scholars are generally ignored by the legal profession, the government and lay public. Deprived funds and resources, they struggle for efficiency, style and effect. Independent India has demonstrated a very strong commitment to law and the development of legal doctrine. Opinions vary on whether this was intended to achieve distributive justice or to conceal patterns of legal suppression. There was a new Constitution but only a 'scissor and paste' cosmopolitan jurisprudence to interpret it. Mature legal research has largely been produced under the support of endowment lectures, of which the most celebrated are the Tagore Law Lectures, begun in the latter part of the 19th century. As new law schools were established throughout the country, there were new possibilities for research. The least productive area of research was the codified part of private and commercial law. Personal law produced some research as it interacted with the framework of the Hindu Code. The codification of Indian law in the 19th century created a tribe of digest and practitioner textbook writers. The textbook writers included well-known names like Pollock, Mulla (later in the Privy Council), Hari Singh Gaur and Ameer Ali. These classics, reflecting an Indian 'black letter' law tradition, continue to be edited by eminent judges and practicing lawyers. Legal scholars and lawyers were always interested in legal reform and development and adaption of law in accordance with the changing needs of society. This paper focuses on how legal research has been evolved in the society and its effects in the development of legal system.

Kiyoung Kim

The policy makers or lawyers may face the need of legal research for reasons. The congressmen may plan to make new laws to address the challenges of their constituent or to the interest of nation. The lawyers may need to serve their clients who like to know the legal issues involved, the strategies to deal with their loss and recovery, and prospect for winning the case if the dispute has gotten worse. The lawyers may practice in a solo business or might work as an associate lawyer in the law firms. A senior lawyer or partner in some cases may like to exploit the junior work force about the problems or grievances from the potential clients. Since he needs to focus their attention on other matters, such as the business expansion of his law firm or more lucrative cases in need of career hands, he may tap the junior lawyer for the legal research, who could assist with the basis of his final legal opinion. The memorandum, opinion letter and brief would be such forms of professional communication for the lawyers and legal researchers. The congressman also can be supplemented with the aid of staffs in terms of his legal expertise and grasp of the issues standing for carrying their responsibility more effectively. For the lawyers and legal researchers, the structure of state and federal legal system is the kind of important variants to orient their work direction and basic frame for the most efficient and adequate scope of search and analysis. The paradigm change also is revolutionary to impact the general base of people. Decades ago, the research or researcher only related with the class of professionals, such as professors, lawyers, career officers and cadres of enterprises. They would enjoy insulation and exploit their research work as an entrance barrier from lay people. Their large shelves at home study or in the room or corner of office thrust an impression that he or she is learned and knowledgeable. This impliedly communicates his or her prestige of social or professional success. The books and articles seem to symbolize a kind of monopoly which bears to exclude unclassified or non-professional workers. The change is remarkable that every citizen could benefit from the on-line sources of information, which, of course, is generally true of professional knowledge. Now professors fear of plagiarism that students often are the kind of suspect. The legal research would turn on the help of digitization which revolutionizes to incur a new mode of research operation. About the query, the citizens and people can readily verify its truth or falsity with one clique within the personal computer. An enormous amount of information is currently flowing on the internet and on-line sources of reference, which shapes an informative and knowledgeable society. As the medical doctors warned decades ago, the precept is any most effective, “forbear from your intelligence or knowledge work for your health.” Many of them now spend long hours a day to satisfy their curiosity and intelligent search. He or she may be well awarded an academic degree if to recognize their hard work on his PC. Nevertheless, this information age does not always bring a positive progress, which arouses the kind of issues, say, right of privacy, on-line fraud. In some cases, this transformation may lead to an inferior attitude of researcher. My today’s experience is one of exotic case. I have received an e-mail from Google CEO stating that I have been selected as one of twelve winners from the pool of Google users. The award money is enormous which stalls me for some time. The authenticity and reliability have hit my head, and I utilized a verification service website managed by the team of lawyers. It costs five dollars and remaining 24 dollars would be processed upon the progress of interaction. I am waiting for an answer from the team. Then the research nowadays is not limited to the basic context of our subsistence, but influences in any depth into the professional lives

International Journal of Law Management & Humanities

Sunandini S.

Research is a process of collecting information about a subject and then analysing it for enhanced knowledge using different methods or techniques. These strategies or techniques construe what is known as 'Research Techniques'. Generally, the law follows the techniques of social sciences research as the base. However, the sources referred while undertaking the research increase due to complex laws and legislations. The most popular legal research method is Doctrinal Research, where the researcher, without stepping out in the real world, analyses the laws, legislations, case laws, amendments and other documentary pieces of evidence to conclude on a research problem. Legal research sources can be categorised into three divisions, and the evolving technology has given them a digital shape. The availability of these sources at multiple domains and collating information is a major challenge for a legal researcher. Academic institutions play a vital role in providing access to these resources and training their students. Bar Council of India mandates the institutions for the inculcation of Information Technology in providing legal education as per the Legal Education Rules of 2008 later revised in 2020. The majority of the resources are available digitally and thus require accessibility. However, does a researcher subscribe to these resources individually, burning a hole in the pocket? Looking into these considerations, intellectuals of the world came up with different initiatives to promote open access to scholarly literature. The legal fraternity also took on the open-access initiative but was a bit delayed compared to other disciplines. The open-access initiative has taken over by storm, and many intellectuals and legal scholars are contributing.

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50 Legal Research Topics For The Month Of March 2023!

In this article, Team YLCC brings you the top 50 legal research topics for law students in March 2023. Happy researching!

• Competition (Amendment) Bill, 2023: A Critical Analysis.
• The National Security Act, 1980: Amritpal Singh Case.
• Rules and Regulations for foreign law firms and Lawyers in India: A Study.
• India’s ban on blood transfer by gay and transgender people: An Analysis.
• Digital India Bill: Need of the Hour?
• The impact of the Right to Information Act on government transparency.
• Role of International Seabed Authority (ISA) in Deep Sea Mining.
• The impact of the Motor Vehicles Act on road safety in India: A Field Study.
• Anti-spyware Declaration: Why is it needed?
• The legal and ethical implications of human organ transplantation in India.
• Exploitation of Surrogacy Laws in India.
• The legal and ethical implications of assisted suicide in India.
• Politicians claiming ‘higher immunity’ for misusing CBI and ED: A Study.
• The legal implications of online harassment in India.
• The legal status of women’s inheritance rights in India.
• The impact of the Forest Rights Act on forest dwellers’ rights in India.
• Australia’s step towards climate change: A Study.
• The impact of the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition.
• Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act on land acquisition in India.
• The impact of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act on child sexual abuse in India.
• Legal opinion on telecom regulatory authority of India repealing regulations, 2023. 
• How Rajasthan’s Advocate Protection Bill, 2023 will stop offences against Advocates?
• Role of NCPCR in the empowering of girl children. 
• How well Digital India bill will replace the Information Technology Act, 2000: A Study.
• The need for amendment in the AMASR Act, 1958. 
• Analysis of Manish Sisodia’s Liquor policy case.
• Legal opinion on Supreme Court’s refusal to hear PIL on menstrual leave. 
• Implications of the MP government’s new liquor policy. 
• Analysis of Spain’s menstrual paid leave law: A Study.
• Salient Features of Uttar Pradesh’s anti-cheating law: An Analysis.
• The legal and ethical implications of genetic testing in India.
• The legal and ethical implications of assisted reproduction in India.
• The legal status of net neutrality in India: A Study.
• Inheritance and property rights of indigenous women in tribal communities.
• Marriage Equality in Singapore: An analysis.
• Regulation of Domain Name Registrars.
• Car theft and auto insurance: How do insurance companies handle claims for stolen vehicles, and what legal recourse do victims have?
• The effectiveness of shareholder activism as a tool for corporate governance.
• Autonomous vehicle regulations: How are self-driving cars regulated, and what legal issues arise from their use on public roads?
• Legal and ethical considerations in organ transplantation in India: A critical review.
• Role of Expert Witnesses in Construction Disputes in India.
• Legal issues surrounding involuntary psychiatric treatment in India.
• Role of Competition Law in promoting innovation in the Indian tech industry.
• Role of data protection and privacy laws in regulating the use of data by dominant players in the Indian tech industry.
• Analysis of the Shraddha Walkar Case: Perspectives and Arguments.
• Concerns and Criticisms of the Electoral Bond Scheme: Analysing the Opinion of the RBI.
• Admissibility of Unregistered Agreements as Evidence in a Suit for Specific Performance: Analysing R Hemalatha v. Kashthuri (2023).
• Guidelines for Bancassurance Operations: Evidence-based Policy Formulation from the US Financial Market.
• Key Clauses of Purchase and Sales Agreement.
• Privacy and Security Compliance Challenges Faced by US Organizations: A Comprehensive Analysis.

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Gender, Law and Social Transformation in India

• © 2022
• Ajailiu Niumai 0 ,
• Abha Chauhan 1

Centre for the Study of Social Exclusion and Inclusive Policy, University of Hyderabad, Hyderabad, India

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Department of Sociology, University of Jammu, Jammu, India

• Provides invaluable insights into the gender dimension of law and social transformation in India
• Deals comprehensively with a wide range of gender issues from domestic violence
• Answers to many questions on gender and law through field-based studies and analysis of policies and legislation

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Table of contents (16 chapters)

Front matter, introduction.

• Ajailiu Niumai, Abha Chauhan

Human Trafficking, Prostitution and Child Trafficking

State, law, and prevention of child marriage and child trafficking.

• Biswajit Ghosh

Current Trends in Human Trafficking, Modus Operandi, and Law in India

Ajailiu Niumai

Human Trafficking, Prostitution, and the Law

• Sobhagmal C. Bhandari

Circumscribed Health: Whacked Body’s Struggle for Right

• Nibedita Bayen

Sexual Harassment and Related Criminal Acts

Section 498a of indian penal code: a legal instrument for social change.

• Uma Devi Bellary

Sexual Violence Against Girl Child: A Conspiracy of Social and Legislative Laws

• Juhie Mohan

Practicability of the Practice of Anti-Sexual Harassment Law: A Feminist Analysis of Jurisprudential Crisis of the Indian Legal System

Beyond the stories of elopement: understanding ‘honour’ crimes in india.

• Rani Rohini Raman

Domestic Violence Against Women

Domestic violence against women: law and practice in india.

• Y. Vishnupriya

Of Negotiations and Reframing: Law’s Response to Domestic Violence in Assam

Domestic violence against women in rural areas of jammu district: an analysis.

• Saranjit Kaur

Gender and Legal Rights

Gender, law, and rights of permanent residents in jammu and kashmir: from the lens of article 370 and beyond.

Abha Chauhan

Can Farmers Management of Irrigation Systems Act Unfasten Agrarian Gender Order? Some Evidences from Tamil Nadu

• K. Gulam Dasthagir

From Contraception to Assisted Conception: A History of Women’s Movement for Reproductive Health Rights in India

• Dipti Tripathi
• gender equality and justice
• gender and law
• discrimination and violence
• patriarchal structure of the Indian society
• Human Trafficking
• Honor Killing

About this book

This book provides deep insights into the wide-ranging issues linked to gender, law, and social transformation in India.  It focuses on women-centered laws as well as the violence of unequal and discriminatory social order. It emphasizes violence and the neutrality of laws that sustain the status quo and perpetuate the stereotypical notions related to women’s condition. Based on the first-hand experience of laws and their nuanced understanding, the essays highlight the rules associated with the private and the public domains. The chapters in the volume analyze various statutes and their enactment related to domestic violence, dowry crimes, sexual abuse at home as well as sexual harassment at the workplace, child marriages, education, property rights, trafficking, prostitution, ‘honor’ killings, and armed conflict.  The book is essential to the academics and researchers in the disciplines of social sciences, gender studies, law, and the government and policy-makers for making meaningful interventions.

Editors and Affiliations

About the editors.

Ajailiu Niumai is Professor of Sociology and Head, Centre for the Study of Social Exclusion & Inclusive Policy, University of Hyderabad (UoH), Hyderabad, Telangana, India. She is also the Senior Research Associate, Department of Sociology, University of Johannesburg, South Africa (2022-2025). She is Member, Board of Governors, Institute for Social and Economic Change, Bengaluru (2022-2025). She is an Advisory Committee Member, Executive Council Member and Board of Studies Member in several Universities. She is Member, Managing Committee of the Indian Sociological Society. She has been the Convenor of RC-04 Migration and Diaspora Studies, ISS and she is an active Member of the International Sociological Association. Previously, she has served as Assistant Professor, Department of Sociology, UoH. She holds a Ph.D from the Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi. Her research interests include Gender Studies, Indian Diaspora, North East India Studies, NGOs and Development. The Collaborative Arts and Research Translation for Humane Advancement, USA, awarded her ‘First Fellow’ grant in 2006 and UGC awarded her the Raman Postdoctoral Fellowship in USA (2013-14). She has published several articles and chapters in edited books, reputed journals such as Economic & Political Weekly, Indian Journal of Gender Studies (Sage), Sociological Bulletin (Sage), The Eastern Anthropologist and the like. She is the Editorial Board Member of several prestigious journals. She is a Life Member of the Indian Sociological Society and the Indian Association for Women’s Studies (IAWS). 

Abha Chauhan is Professor, Department of Sociology at the University of Jammu, Jammu and Kashmir (India). She is also the President of the Indian Sociological Society. She holds a Ph.D. from the Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), New Delhi. Her research interests include gender, community, kinship, marriage, culture, conflict, and borderland studies. She has published/edited books and articles in reputed journals, and attended several national and international conferences, presented papers, chaired and organized sessions. She received awards under Indo-Dutch Program on Alternative Development 2005 (ICSSR–WOTRO), Indo-French Social Scientist Exchange Program 2007 (UGC), and ESRC-ICSSR India-UK Scholar Exchange 2009. She is a Life Member of the Indian Sociological Society (ISS), the Indian Association for Women's Studies (IAWS), and the Ethnographic and Folk Culture Society. She is an active member of the International Sociological Association (ISA) and has been the South Asia Representative, RC 32 ‘Women in Society’ of the ISA (2006-2010). She was the Director, Dr. Ambedkar Studies Centre, and Editor of the Jammu University Journal (2010-2013). She has been a Member of the Editorial Board of Sociological Bulletin, the Journal of the ISS (2016–2017), Managing Committee Member (2002-2007), Convenor of RC 10 ‘Gender Studies’ (2011-2014), and Secretary (2016-2017) of the Indian Sociological Society.

Bibliographic Information

Book Title : Gender, Law and Social Transformation in India

Editors : Ajailiu Niumai, Abha Chauhan

DOI : https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-19-8020-6

Publisher : Springer Singapore

eBook Packages : Social Sciences , Social Sciences (R0)

Copyright Information : The Editor(s) (if applicable) and The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd. 2022

Hardcover ISBN : 978-981-19-8019-0 Published: 08 December 2022

Softcover ISBN : 978-981-19-8022-0 Published: 08 December 2023

eBook ISBN : 978-981-19-8020-6 Published: 07 December 2022

Edition Number : 1

Number of Pages : X, 282

Number of Illustrations : 3 b/w illustrations, 1 illustrations in colour

Topics : Gender Studies , Human Rights

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• Volume 6, Issue 5
• What empirical research has been undertaken on the ethics of clinical research in India? A systematic scoping review and narrative synthesis
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• http://orcid.org/0000-0001-7329-9574 Sangeetha Paramasivan 1 , 2 ,
• Philippa Davies 1 , 3 ,
• Alison Richards 1 , 3 ,
• Julia Wade 1 ,
• Leila Rooshenas 1 , 2 ,
• Nicola Mills 1 , 2 ,
• Alba Realpe 1 , 2 ,
• Jeffrey Pradeep Raj 4 ,
• Supriya Subramani 5 ,
• Jonathan Ives 6 ,
• Richard Huxtable 6 ,
• Jane M Blazeby 2 , 7 ,
• Jenny L Donovan 1 , 2
• 1 Population Health Sciences, Bristol Medical School , University of Bristol , Bristol , UK
• 2 University Hospitals Bristol NHS Foundation Trust , NIHR ARC West , Bristol , UK
• 3 Medical Research Council (MRC) ConDuCT-II Trials Methodology Hub, Bristol Medical School , University of Bristol , Bristol , UK
• 4 Department of Clinical Pharmacology , Seth GS Medical College and KEM Hospital , Mumbai , Maharashtra , India
• 5 Institute of Biomedical Ethics and History of Medicine , University of Zurich , Zurich , Switzerland
• 6 Centre for Ethics in Medicine , University of Bristol , Bristol , UK
• 7 University Hospitals Bristol NHS Foundation Trust , NIHR Bristol Biomedical Research Centre , Bristol , UK
• Correspondence to Dr Sangeetha Paramasivan; sangeetha.paramasivan{at}bristol.ac.uk

Introduction The post-2005 rise in clinical trials and clinical research conducted in India was accompanied by frequent reports of unethical practices, leading to a series of regulatory changes. We conducted a systematic scoping review to obtain an overview of empirical research pertaining to the ethics of clinical trials/research in India.

Methods Our search strategy combined terms related to ethics/bioethics, informed consent, clinical trials/research and India, across nine databases, up to November 2019. Peer-reviewed research exploring ethical aspects of clinical trials/research in India with any stakeholder groups was included. We developed an evidence map, undertook a narrative synthesis and identified research gaps. A consultation exercise with stakeholders in India helped contextualise the review and identify additional research priorities.

Results Titles/Abstracts of 9699 articles were screened, full text of 282 obtained and 80 were included. Research on the ethics of clinical trials/research covered a wide range of topics, often conducted with little to no funding. Studies predominantly examined what lay (patients/public) and professional participants (eg, healthcare staff/students/faculty) know about topics such as research ethics or understand from the information given to obtain their consent for research participation. Easily accessible groups, namely ethics committee members and healthcare students were frequently researched. Research gaps included developing a better understanding of the recruitment-informed consent process, including the doctor-patient interaction, in multiple contexts and exploring issues of equity and justice in clinical trials/research.

Conclusion The review demonstrates that while a wide range of topics have been studied in India, the focus is largely on assessing knowledge levels across different population groups. This is a useful starting point, but fundamental questions remain unanswered about informed consent processes and broader issues of inequity that pervade the clinical trials/research landscape. A priority-setting exercise and appropriate funding mechanisms to support researchers in India would help improve the clinical trials/research ecosystem.

• systematic review

Data availability statement

All analysed data relevant to this study are included in the manuscript or uploaded as supplementary information. The dataset on which this work is based consists of articles already available within the published literature.

This is an open access article distributed in accordance with the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 Unported (CC BY 4.0) license, which permits others to copy, redistribute, remix, transform and build upon this work for any purpose, provided the original work is properly cited, a link to the licence is given, and indication of whether changes were made. See:  https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ .

https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjgh-2020-004729

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Key questions

What is already known.

The increase in the number of clinical trials and clinical research conducted in India after 2005 was accompanied by many reports of ethical misconduct, with bioethics reports and health activism prompting a series of regulatory changes by the government.

While there was a corresponding increase in empirical research on various ethical aspects of clinical trials/research in India, little was known about the scope of this research or what areas of research required further attention to improve the clinical trials/research ecosystem.

What are the new findings?

Research on ethical aspects of clinical trials/research in India was often carried out with limited to no funding, covered a wide range of topics but with a focus on knowledge assessments of lay and professional groups on topics such as research ethics, and leaned on easily accessible groups such as ethics committee members and healthcare students for study populations.

A range of research gaps were identified, facilitated by a consultation exercise with key stakeholders from India, and included developing a better understanding of the different components of the recruitment and informed consent process, such as the doctor-patient interaction, developing models of informed consent specific to the Indian context and exploring issues such as equity and justice within the context of clinical trials/research.

What do the new findings imply?

There is a need to move from knowledge assessments towards addressing other fundamental questions about recruitment, informed consent, equity and justice.

The large number of research gaps identified warrants a locally led priority-setting exercise as well as appropriate funding mechanisms to support researchers in India to undertake clinical trials/research methodology and ethics-related research.

Introduction

International clinical trials recruit participants from low-income and middle-income countries (LMICs) for economic, pragmatic and scientific reasons. 1 Post-2005, when the World Trade Organisation-Trade Related Intellectual Property Rights agreement became fully binding for India, the number of clinical trials approved by the Indian government’s regulatory authority, Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation, began to increase, 2 peaking in 2010 followed by a sharp decline to 2013 3 ( online supplemental file 1 ). An identical pattern of growth and contraction was observed in India’s clinical trial sector’s growth rate, in research using clinicaltrials.gov data. 4

Supplemental material

The downward trend is attributed to the chain of events that began with unacceptable ethical practices, such as failure to obtain participants’ informed consent for trial participation, 5 being reported nationally and internationally. 6–11 In 2013, the Supreme Court of India intervened and briefly halted approvals for new clinical trials 12 in response to concerns for participant autonomy and safety, and public interest litigations from non-governmental organisations. 13 14 New regulations were introduced in 2013 as amendments to Schedule Y of the Drugs and Cosmetics Rules 1945, 15 mandating measures such as registration of ethics committees 16 and audio-visual (AV) recordings of the informed consent discussion, 17 18 the latter being a requirement that is unique to India (see Gogtay et al 18 for an overview of regulatory changes/requirements in India from 2005 to 2016). Also specific to India is that the term ‘clinical trial’ is limited to the study of ‘new drugs’ only, with Biomedical and Health Research (BMHR) referring to all other basic, applied, operational and clinical research 19 (in contrast to broader definitions of ‘clinical trial’, which include medical, surgical and behavioural interventional research). 20 21 The most recent regulatory changes outlined in the New Drugs and Clinical Trial (NDCT) Rules of 2019 19 22 bring non-drug-related research (ie, BMHR) within the regulatory ambit for the first time 19 23 (previously, regulatory mechanisms in India were principally focused on ‘new drug’ research). The NDCT Rules 19 also separate the ethics and governance processes for clinical trials and bioavailability/bioequivalence studies from those for BMHR studies. For instance, two different types of ethics committees, each with separate authorities responsible for their registration and monitoring, will approve the two groups of studies. It is also now mandatory for BMHR ethics committees and academic clinical trials to adhere to the Indian Council for Medical Research’s National Ethical Guidelines for Biomedical and Health Research Involving Human Participants. 24 25

Given this backdrop, there is a large body of theoretical bioethics literature and commentary by researchers, advocacy groups and bioethicists, covering topics such as lessons learnt from conducting clinical trials, 26–28 ‘standard care’ in clinical trials, 29 30 structure of the clinical trial industry, 31 informed consent placed within the wider socioeconomic context, 32 role of ethics committees 33 and ensuring appropriate compensation mechanisms. 34 There has also been a corresponding increase in empirical research on the ethics of clinical trials specifically and clinical research more broadly (henceforth clinical trials/research) in India, which has not been comprehensively reviewed. We therefore sought to summarise this body of research evidence through a systematic scoping review and narrative synthesis to help identify research gaps.

We undertook a systematic scoping review following the established six-step framework by Arksey and O’Malley, 35 drawing from recommendations to enhance the methodology 36–38 and adhering to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analysis extension for scoping reviews 39 ( online supplemental file 2 ).

An initial systematic review of clinical trial informed consent interventions in India (PROSPERO registration: CRD42017068966) was amended to a systematic ‘scoping’ review (not within PROSPERO’s remit, hence withdrawn) of research on the ethics of clinical trials/research in India, as the latter method is particularly useful when the aim is to map the evidence base in a broad but complex unreviewed area. 35 37 38

Identifying the research question

We sought to obtain an overview of the empirical evidence in relation to the ethics of conducting clinical trials/research in India. More specifically, we aimed:

to map the empirical research undertaken on any ethical aspect of conducting clinical trials/research in India;

to synthesise the key themes from this evidence base, with a focus on informed consent;

to identify gaps to inform future research priorities.

Identifying relevant studies

Inclusion criteria.

The research questions were assessed in relation to the setting, population, phenomenon of interest and the study design of articles ( online supplemental file 3 ). We included articles that reported (a) on original research in a peer-reviewed journal, (b) on India as a country for data collection (if study involved many countries, included if India-specific findings could be differentiated), (c) on ethical issues in relation to clinical trials/research and (d) with any key stakeholder groups—lay (public; clinical trials/research participants; patients/guardians), professional (healthcare/research faculty, students or practitioners; ethics committee members; regulatory/governmental agencies) or documents (informed consent forms; ethics applications).

Exclusion criteria

We excluded commentaries, ‘lessons learnt’ articles, abstracts, letters, audits (eg, Clinical Trials Registry-India audits, 40 41 except when linked to an ethical issue), and studies from countries other than India (eg, studies exploring views of researchers from high-income countries undertaking research in LMICs). 42 43 We excluded studies on the following topics:

Willingness to participate (WTP) in clinical trials/research and recruitment-focussed studies, except when they considered ethical issues (there are other systematic reviews on WTP 44–46 ; WTP components of included studies were not considered in this review).

Informed consent/ethical issues in relation to procedures/treatment outside of clinical trials/research (eg, in routine surgery). 47 48

Pharmacovigilance (PV) studies (there are systematic reviews on PV 49 ; PV components of included studies were not considered in this review).

Other: studies on medical/healthcare/clinical ethics (ie, not in relation to clinical trials/research or research ethics) and research skills/capacity with professional groups (eg, healthcare students). 50 51

No restrictions were applied based on language, age (children/adult), study design or quality of research.

Search strategy

We searched the following nine electronic bibliographic databases with no start date and up to 5 September 2017 and this was updated using the technique by Bramer and Bain 52 to 12 November 2019: MEDLINE, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, Scopus, Embase, PsycINFO, Cumulative Index of Nursing and Allied Health Literature, International Bibliography of Social Sciences and Online Resource for Recruitment research in Clinical TriAls. 53 Search terms relating to three domains were combined: (a) ethics, bioethics, informed consent; (b) clinical trials/research and (c) India. A comprehensive search strategy first developed on MEDLINE (SP) drew from systematic reviews on related topics, 54 55 was refined by an information specialist (ARi) and adapted to the other databases ( online supplemental file 4 —MEDLINE search strategy). Searches included other South Asian countries to gather contextual information, but the review focused on India. We used a combination of Medical Subject Headings, text word searches and search strings using proximity indicators. We searched the reference lists of eligible research articles and ineligible key opinion/commentary pieces, and contacted authors of published conference abstracts to trace studies.

Study selection

All articles identified from the databases and other sources were downloaded to EndNote-X9 56 and duplicates removed. Following the original search in September 2017, one reviewer (SP) screened the titles and abstracts of all articles with a 20% random sample screened independently by a second reviewer (PD). There was a high level of agreement across the two reviewers (disagreement in 3 of 1292 articles), with discrepancies discussed and resolved. Full text of all relevant articles were obtained and screened independently by at least two authors (SP with NM, JW, LR). Discordance was again resolved through group discussion among all four reviewers. Where it was unclear if an article or a particular topic should be included (eg, biobanking, data sharing), a decision was made by meeting with two content experts (ethicists JI and RH) and reviewing the articles together. For the search and screening update in November 2019, SP carried out all steps.

Charting the data: data extraction and quality assessment

A data extraction form was developed (SP) and independently applied by two reviewers (SP and ARe) on a sample of articles (n=10). The form was refined after discussion and captured the following information (SP, ARe, JPR, SS): authors, year of publication and data collection, location, study aim, topic area, population, study design/methods, participants and findings. Subsequently, further information was captured on (SP): (a) whether studies were conducted within the context of a real or hypothetical study/scenario and (b) whether they explored broad (eg, clinical trials/research, research ethics) or specific topics (eg, data sharing, compensation).

Two review authors (SP with LR, JW, PD, JPR, SS) independently assessed the quality 57 of the majority of studies using the following tools: Critical Appraisal Skills Programme (CASP) checklist 58 for qualitative studies; Appraisal tool for Cross-Sectional Studies (AXIS; adapted to have 14 items instead of 20) 59 for quantitative studies and AXIS, CASP and a section of the Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool 60 for mixed methods studies. Quality assessments were discussed to resolve discrepancies and used to summarise relevant methodological issues in the narrative synthesis.

Collating, synthesising and reporting the results

We first quantified the data in relation to the study characteristics. Next, we created an evidence map to visualise the volume of studies by topic, population group and methods. Finally, we synthesised the quantitative and qualitative findings reported in included studies, using EndNote-X9 56 for data management and MaxQDA-12 61 for coding articles, and used narrative and thematic description to write detailed descriptive accounts. The synthesis broadly followed the categorisations in the evidence map, but looked across all included articles to provide a comprehensive account of research on a given topic.

Consultation

The consultation phase, considered optional in scoping reviews, 35 took place after the synthesis, with the aim of informing the review and ensuring local priorities and context were accounted for. We approached colleagues in India who were researchers, ethicists and representatives from advocacy groups, through prior networks or because they had authored seminal empirical and/or conceptual papers ( online supplemental file 5 —consultation members). Consultation was carried out via virtual conferencing, email and telephone. Findings and research gaps identified through the review were discussed. Key recommendations made by stakeholders were grouped by topic and incorporated in the manuscript, tables or supplements.

Patient and public involvement

No patients or members of the public were involved in this review.

Description of included studies

A total of 9699 unique records were identified (original, updated and manual searches), of which 282 full-text articles were assessed against the inclusion/exclusion criteria and 80 included 62–141 ( figure 1 ). Key study characteristics are summarised in table 1 (individual study details are in online supplemental file 6 ).

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Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analysis flow diagram. 160 *One study was identified through the consultation exercise. †This includes articles that reported on different aspects of the results derived from the same dataset 73 92 93 107 108 or on different datasets obtained through the same grant. 113 114 120 126 127 160

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Key characteristics of included studies

Most studies were conducted in urban settings (47/80), in the western (24/80) and southern (21/80) parts of India. Studies were mainly quantitative (60/80), questionnaire surveys (36/60), conducted with professional groups (34/80) and appeared in journals published in India (49/80), primarily the Indian Journal of Medical Ethics 142 and Perspectives in Clinical Research 143 (n=15 and 16, respectively).

There were no research studies published on the ethical issues around conducting clinical trials/research until 2008, with a large proportion published a few years before and after the landmark regulatory changes of 2013 (53/80 were published 2011–2016; online supplemental file 1 ). Many studies did not mention the year of data collection (27/80) and of those that did, only a few were carried out in/after 2013 (17/53).

Corresponding authors of most studies were based within academic institutions (69/80; 15 outside India and 54 within India), primarily within Departments of Pharmacology of various Indian institutions (24/54). Seth Gordhandas Sunderdas Medical College and King Edward Memorial Hospital, Mumbai had the most number of corresponding authors (12/54), followed by Christian Medical College, Vellore (5/54). Two-thirds of studies (53/80) did not provide information on their funding source (26/53) or stated they did not receive any funding (27/53); of the remaining, 21 were funded/supported by international grants, 4 by intramural grants and 2 by pharmaceutical companies. There was no statement on conflicts of interest in 28 studies.

Evidence map: research on ethical aspects of conducting clinical trials/research in India

We developed an evidence map that charts the total articles included (n=80) by the main focus of the topics and population covered in the studies, alongside the methods used ( table 2 ).

Evidence map of the number of primary and secondary research articles by topic and population group (studies explored multiple areas and have been categorised by main topic area studied)

Primary research (n=58) : more than half (32/58) were studies exploring knowledge (with or without attitude and practice components) of participants on topics such as information provided to obtain informed consent (primarily with lay participants), clinical trials/research, research ethics and ethics committees (primarily with professional participants), and were mainly quantitative (27/32). Studies that assessed comprehension of the informed consent form or verbal information provision (n=10) were carried out in real (8/10) and hypothetical (2/10) randomised controlled trials (RCTs), clinical trials and cohort studies.

Another large group of primary research studies (26/58) focused on perceptions, experiences and practices/processes on topics such as the extent of patient participation in informed consent discussions, AV recording of consent processes, ethics committees, research governance (eg, data sharing) and the larger clinical trials landscape in India (such as outsourcing, contract research organisations and civil society organisations). Studies employed a wider range of methods (11 quantitative, 13 qualitative studies, 2 mixed methods) and some (9/26) were conducted in the context of a real and/or hypothetical study.

Secondary research (n=22) : these studies were all quantitative and were centred around documentary reviews of the quality of application forms submitted to ethics committees, compliance of informed consent documents to guidelines/regulations, and Indian journal articles’ reporting practices on informed consent and ethical approval.

Narrative synthesis: key findings and research gaps

The findings from included studies were synthesised based on population groups (lay/professional) and key topic areas, with summaries of methodological issues where relevant. Sections A1–A6 and B1 indicated below correspond to those in table 3 , which highlights the key findings from the synthesis alongside identified gaps (see online supplemental file 7 for full report of synthesis).

Summary of synthesised findings and gaps

Primary research was synthesised in six key areas (A1–A6). The first four (A1–A4) covered studies that involved comprehension of the informed consent form and knowledge of clinical trials/research, research ethics and ethics committees (where attitudes and/or practices were reported, these were synthesised). Research on informed consent processes (A5) and broader cross-cutting themes that provided a more holistic understanding of the clinical trials industry (A6) were also synthesised. Secondary research (B1) was synthesised based on the type of documents scrutinised (eg, ethics application forms, informed consent documents, journal articles) and the area under investigation (eg, completeness, errors, quality; reporting practices). The number of articles tagged to a given topic includes studies where that topic was the main focus as well as those where the topic was briefly explored. Salient findings from the synthesis are presented below narratively.

Primary research

The synthesis ( table 3 ) established that, despite the focus on knowledge-based studies evident in the evidence map ( table 2 ), it was difficult to build a coherent picture of lay and professional participants’ understanding of the topics explored (written/verbal information provision, clinical trials/research, research ethics, ethics committees), primarily due to the methodological (eg, validity of survey instruments) and reporting limitations in studies (A1–A4). Methodological research aimed at developing locally validated tools to assess knowledge will help improve the quality of future studies and facilitate meta-analysis.

Ethics committees (A4) were among the most studied topics (18 studies) and also the source of data in a large volume of studies (16 studies, 8 each with committee members and documents submitted to/produced by committees). Studies highlighted a number of challenges faced by ethics committees 73 92 101 102 108 121 130 (eg, conflicts of interest, onerous workload, impact of frequent regulatory changes without support for implementation), which would benefit from the development of interventions to support the optimal functioning of ethics committees. Healthcare students were the next most researched group (10 studies).

Research on interventions to optimise comprehension of written/verbal information provision for informed consent (A1) were particularly lacking (except one RCT that compared group and individual counselling and found no difference in comprehension). 116 While there is some evidence of the difficulties of communicating research terminology (around terms such as research, trial, randomisation) particularly in local languages, 70 112 127 research is required on interventions to overcome these barriers (A2). There was overwhelming support for education and training on clinical trials/research and research ethics in the curriculum for key stakeholder groups, including healthcare students 75 81 98 131 137 but we do not know what, if any, aspects of these topics are currently covered in healthcare students’ curriculums so that deficiencies can be identified and addressed (A3).

There is some evidence in relation to the ‘reported’ practice of informed consent 77 126 135 138 (eg, not conducting informed consent in local languages or indication of coercion among student research participants), but limited 70 83 111 140 information on the ‘actual’ practice of gaining informed consent, what research participants consider important to know or models of informed consent that are tailored to the local context (A3, A5). Where ‘actual’ practice was examined, it was illuminating—for instance, in healthy volunteer studies, informed consent appeared to be a formality and discussions were centred around payment for participation than risks to volunteers’ health. 140 Future research on informed consent processes should include an in-depth exploration of the recruitment interaction with potential research participants that delves beyond the questions participants ask, towards the identification and dissemination of good practice, across multiple contexts (eg, consent/assent in trials with children; student-led trials in academic institutions). A good starting point would be to explore if it is feasible, within the current regulatory framework and following strict confidentiality requirements, to use the AV recordings of the consent process more proactively for these purposes, rather than be reviewed only when there are reports of ethical misconduct. 76 Similarly, the development of core information sets that help define the essential information that participants would like to receive is warranted (A3, A5).

The small group of studies (A6; seven studies) that focused beyond the surface issues around clinical trials provided rich insights into the origins, growth and workings of the clinical trials industry, while placing the industry within the wider regulatory environment and existing health inequities. Four key cross-cutting themes were examined among these primarily qualitative studies (informed by other qualitative/quantitative studies that touched on similar areas):

Compensation (for study participation, treatment or study-related injuries) was well researched and studies highlighted the need for a nuanced consideration of compensation arrangements 127 (to account for views such as free treatment being perceived as inferior/dangerous by those from lower socioeconomic groups). It also appeared that compensation determination is fraught with challenges 76 103 125 140 (such as lack of uniformity in the process and incentives approved by ethics committees being overridden). Studying current practice in relation to actual compensations that have been awarded may help chart out areas of inconsistencies that can be addressed. Also, there appear to be challenges with implementing and complying with the compensation rules, which could be investigated in future studies (no studies were conducted after NDCT Rules 2019).

Data sharing was explored in a small volume of studies 84 127 128 that nonetheless provide valuable insights. For instance, lay participants appeared cautious about consent for data sharing after receiving detailed information (despite readily agreeing initially) 127 and some professional participants supported sharing clinically relevant and actionable results with individuals who contributed to biobanking research, but acknowledged the challenges to this process. 128

Power imbalances within the clinical trials/research environment were frequently discussed by professional participants, especially members of ethics committees and civil society organisations. Imbalances of concern included the paternalistic doctor-patient relationship contributing to therapeutic misconception 127 (where participants perceive unproven trial treatments to be beneficial), the lack of correlation between India’s disease burden and diseases studied, 90 92 the equation between paid healthy volunteers (exploited due to their lower socioeconomic status) and contract research organisations (with whom the volunteers have bargaining power), 140 capacity building that does not foster local innovation 114 115 and the hierarchy between medical and non-medical experts in ethics committees. 92 108 133 Some of these concerns would benefit from empirical investigation—for instance, studying the doctor-patient interaction in trial recruitment can help delineate the components of communication that contribute to therapeutic misconception. Similarly, research, particularly qualitative, that further explores issues of equity and justice in relation to clinical trial recruitment processes is warranted. Research on patient and public involvement in clinical trials is conspicuous by its absence and should be prioritised to redress some of the power inequities.

A small group of studies provided nuanced insights into organisations that appear to be at opposite ends of the ethical debates on clinical trials in India—contract research organisations (CROs) and civil society organisations (CSOs). 114 115 Although critical of ethical malpractice in general, CRO staff were less inclined to acknowledge instances of the same in their own CROs. 115 CSO representatatives were supportive of clinical trials, felt the need to move away from pitting Indian and/or public sector clinical trials against foreign and/or private sector clinical trials as good versus bad and emphasised the need to focus on wider ethical issues that delve beyond simplistic procedure-based agendas.

Secondary research

The synthesis of documentary research (B1) corroborated findings from the synthesis of primary research and reported: inadequacies in informed consent documentation, increased workload for ethics committees particularly after the 2013 regulatory changes, mismatch between clinical trials and India’s disease burden, lack of uniformity in compensation mechanisms and suboptimal clinical trial reporting practices in Indian journals. 64 66 71 74 119 124 125 139 141 The use of Western readability tests for written information provided in India 62 86 needs addressing with the development of readability tests in Indian languages. Similarly, while studies on journal reporting practices have focused on the reporting of ethical approval and informed consent, future studies could investigate reporting practices in relation to questionnaire surveys (given their frequent use and methodological/reporting limitations as indicated earlier).

Consultation exercise

Nine of the 10 individuals approached agreed to participate in the consultation exercise (virtual conferencing group: n=7, one meeting, 1 hour 30 min; telephone: n=1; email: n=1). The consultation group’s recommendations and actions taken were grouped into five key areas as summarised in table 4 (detailed in online supplemental file 5 ).

Recommendations from the consultation group and actions taken

We carried out a scoping review and narrative synthesis of the empirical literature on ethical issues in relation to clinical trials/research in India. We developed an evidence map of 80 studies and synthesised the findings narratively, revealing a wide range of topics investigated and the gaps that exist, with key insights from the consultation group. We found that some topics and populations were more favoured than others—the literature was heavily focused on ‘knowledge’ assessments of participants from lay/professional groups on various topics; ethics committees were examined from multiple angles while also being the source of data in many studies and healthcare students were often research participants. On the other hand, studies that investigated the recruitment-informed consent process, models of informed consent tailored to the Indian context and issues such as equity and justice in the context of clinical trials/research were far fewer in number or absent.

To our knowledge, this is the first systematic scoping review that focuses on empirical research on the ethical aspects of clinical trials/research in one country. Systematic reviews on related aspects (eg, willingness to participate) have tended to combine LMICs together 44 or included people living in India with those of Indian origin living in other countries. 45

Our findings indicated that the volume of literature on a given topic was not associated with whether or not it allowed the development of a cohesive synthesis on the topic. We found it challenging to develop a lucid picture of some frequently researched areas such as knowledge on clinical trials/research and research ethics. Given the diversity and scale of the population in India, this could be a reflection of reality, but the numerous methodological limitations and reporting variations, particularly among questionnaire surveys, made it difficult to identify commonalities that may exist. By contrast, although only a small number of studies focused on the wider ethical issues, they provided valuable insights into the workings of the clinical trials/research industry. This may also be because the former group of studies, primarily questionnaire surveys, were likely aiming for breadth but were often compromised methodologically, while the explorations of wider ethical issues were more amenable to qualitative research and successfully provided the depth that was warranted in intense and nuanced debates.

Research gaps were identified on topics that need to be researched (when limited or missing from current literature) as well as topics that need to be ‘better’ researched (when present in literature but requiring methodological/reporting improvements). Given that questionnaire surveys (particularly those exploring knowledge) were the predominant method used, methodological research on developing and validating culturally relevant survey tools and minimum journal reporting standards for surveys would be crucial, drawing from existing guidelines. 144–146 Small-scale, single-centre surveys may be useful to inform local practice, but consistent use of validated measures and standardised reporting practices are needed to contribute to national policy and practice. Calls to ensure inclusion of research ethics and clinical trials education in the curriculum of healthcare students would be bolstered if research can establish and evaluate the content of aspects that are already covered.

The direct impact of the 2013 regulatory changes on the research landscape are unclear in this review. A few studies investigated professionals’ perceptions of regulatory changes, 76 89 acceptability and impact of new measures such as the AV recording of consent 72 78 79 and the impact of changes on ethics committees 66 106 (latter is examined in-depth in an excluded literature review 147 ). It would have been useful to further examine the review findings through the prism of the landmark 2013 regulatory changes, but with a third of the studies not reporting the year of data collection, this was not feasible. It is also important to interpret the findings in light of the continually evolving regulatory landscape in India, with the most recent changes introduced in March 2019 (NDCT Rules). 19 For instance, some studies raised concerns in relation to the conflicts of interest that compromise the independence of ethics committee members and the hierarchy between medical and non-medical (lay) members of ethics committees, stemming partly from issues such as lack of adequate training for lay members. 92 108 133 With the NDCT Rules now requiring 50% of members to not be affiliated to the institution in which the committee is based and necessitating mandatory training for ethics committee members, 148 future studies can investigate if this has redressed some of the concerns around the independence of ethics committees and the power imbalances within. Similarly, Indian regulations on compensation for trial-related injuries are acknowledged as comprehensive and having unique features (eg, the compensation for injuries not related to research), 149 but it would be crucial to study the challenges in the implementation of these national laws on compensation.

The views expressed by some participants (and authors) of studies in this review that there was an excessive focus on the proceduralism of informed consent is conceivably true in practice and appears well documented, 67 90 101 121 yet the informed consent process was grossly under-researched. Given the breaches of good practice reported in the past and the routine AV recording of the informed consent interaction, it is notable that only one study 83 was conducted using this resource. It is unclear if the challenges in undertaking, storing and retrieving AV recordings 150 151 has a role in their underutilisation for research purposes or if this is due to regulatory restrictions. Opening the black box of the informed consent process in future qualitative research can help optimise comprehension of participants, communication of complex trial-related terminology in local languages and identify aspects of the doctor-patient interaction that contribute towards therapeutic misconception.

Given the lack of established benchmarks for what constitutes optimal information provision for potential clinical trial participants in India or in the West, 152 researchers could also establish core information sets (information of core importance to convey to patients, drawing from empirical evidence and consensus building approaches. 153 Patient and public involvement would need to be a central component in such efforts. Interventions to identify informed consent models that are suited to the Indian context (community-family based and/or Western-individual autonomy based) and to specific situations (eg, industry-led and investigator-led trials) are warranted.

It would also be useful to critically consider the topics, populations and methods that we, as researchers, choose to investigate and employ in future studies—for instance, (a) whether the ease of access to healthcare students and ethics committee members and/or its documentation justifies them being frequently researched, especially when they are so unrepresentative of participants in trials or (b) whether assessing comprehension of informed consent information is meaningful without assessing the quality of written and/or verbal information provision that preceeded it. Future research could also address the lack of readability tests in Indian languages, develop interventions to improve ethics committee functioning by overcoming some of the identified barriers and curtail the excessive focus on ‘knowledge’ to redirect efforts on the larger ethical issues to tackle the inequities and imbalances in the clinical trial industry. 90 92 105 112 114 115 121 127 128 However, if knowledge assessments were to be undertaken, it would be prudent to consider what constitutes optimal understanding among research participants 152 and whether the outcome of any knowledge assessments can be used to improve the informed consent process or the comprehension of participants locally. The suitability of interventions employed in high-income countries to improve participant understanding in informed consent for research 154 155 needs to be carefully assessed for India. Qualitative research methods, underused in the range of topics covered in this review, are best suited to investigate the larger issues that require depth of understanding rather than breadth.

The consultation exercise with key stakeholders in India was instrumental in contextualising this scoping review and identifying missed research priorities. A key structural constraint identified in the consultation exercise and evident in the dataset was that most studies were conducted with no to limited external funding. Calling for high-quality studies that span a range of topics to fill the identified gaps would be misguided without appropriate funding mechanisms. Initiatives such as the Medical Research Council’s trials methodology hubs across the UK have been instrumental in improving clinical trial design, conduct and reporting (eg, see final report of trials methodology research carried out over 4 years, 2014–2018, in one of the hubs 156 ), with subsequent provisions for initiating trials methodology projects in LMICs. 157 It is time for international/national funding agencies to consider establishing similar methodology hubs led by researchers in India, with a focus on the ethical conduct of clinical trials. It would be important, however, to ensure that in our pursuit of empirical evidence, we do not downplay the vital role played by other forms of evidence and catalysts for change, given that not all ethical issues are amenable to being researched.

Limitations

Despite our best efforts, we may have missed some relevant journal articles and studies included in books. However, if missed articles reflected the patterns of published research included in this review, it is likely that they would not substantially alter our synthesis and conclusions. A decision to only include peer-reviewed research also meant we did not seek out grey/unpublished literature 158 159 (although condensed publications from them, if any, are included 103 ). Some of the topics we excluded may have helped contexualise our findings. For instance, we included studies on research ethics but excluded those on medical/clinical ethics—an associated topic of interest that requires a separate review.

While the review has helped underline the gaps in the existing literature, it is not exhaustive and cannot claim to have identified all gaps. It also cannot prioritise the identified gaps in a meaningful way and is limited in identifying key topics that are completely absent or of importance to key stakeholders. Designing and conducting the review with the input of researchers in India from conception stages may have resulted in a different focus and outcome. Our intention was that the critical input of key stakeholders at the consultation phase helped focus the review and overcome some of the shortcomings. A locally led priority-setting exercise, informed by this review, to determine pressing concerns that warrant empirical investigation would be an ideal next step.

This systematic scoping review is the first attempt at summarising peer-reviewed empirical research on topics related to the ethics of clinical trials/research in India. The review demonstrates that while a wide range of topics have been studied in India, the focus is largely on assessing knowledge levels across different population groups. This is a useful starting point, but fundamental questions remain unanswered about the recruitment and informed consent process, such as the doctor-patient interaction, and the larger issues of equity and justice that dominate the clinical trials/research landscape.

The evidence map and narrative synthesis are meant to be a starting point for discussions on future research directions, to be used in ways that benefit the research community and patient population and contribute towards the ongoing efforts within India to improve the clinical trials/research ecosystem. A priority-setting exercise that could be informed by this review, led by researchers in India, would be an ideal next step, alongside funding mechanisms that support researchers based in India to undertake research in priority areas in clinical trials/research methodology and ethics.

Acknowledgments

We are immensely grateful to the following individuals for taking part in the consultation exercise and providing critical input on all aspects of the review, identifying additional research priorities and contextualising the findings: Amar Jesani, Anant Bhan, Gagandeep Kang, Manjulika Vaz, Nithya Gogtay, Rashmi Rodrigues, Sarojini Nadimpally, Urmila Thatte, Vijay Gopichandran (the first two members provided further input at the journal peer-review stage). Errors and omissions, if any, are ours. We would also like to thank the two anonymous reviewers for their critical input that helped improve this manuscript.

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Supplementary materials

Supplementary data.

This web only file has been produced by the BMJ Publishing Group from an electronic file supplied by the author(s) and has not been edited for content.

• Data supplement 1
• Data supplement 2
• Data supplement 3
• Data supplement 4
• Data supplement 5
• Data supplement 6
• Data supplement 7

Handling editor Seye Abimbola

Twitter @s_paramasivan1

Contributors The study was conceptualised and designed by SP, with contributions from PD, JMB and JLD at the protocol stage. SP and ARi developed and applied the search strategy. SP and PD carried out the initial title/abstract screening. SP, JW, LR and NM equally contributed to the full-text screening. JI and RH provided content expertise and reviewed studies where a decision could not be made on inclusion; PD provided methodological expertise. SP, PD, JW, LR, JPR and SS carried out the quality assessments. SP, ARe, JPR and SS extracted the data. SP wrote the first draft of the manuscript and reviewed it based on initial feedback from JLD and PD, followed by all other authors. SP conducted the consultation exercise and incorporated suggestions, with further input from JD. All authors contributed intellectual content, edited the manuscript and approved the final manuscript for submission.

Funding This study was funded in part by the MRC ConDuCT-II (Medical Research Council, Collaboration and innovation for Difficult and Complex randomised controlled Trials In Invasive procedures) Hub for Trials Methodology Research (MR/K025643/1) and support from the Royal College of Surgeons of England Bristol Surgical Trials Centre. JMB, JI and RH are part funded by the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Bristol Biomedical Research Centre at University Hospitals Bristol and Weston NHS Foundation Trust and the University of Bristol. JLD and JMB are NIHR Senior Investigators. PD and ARi were supported by the NIHR Applied Research Collaboration West (NIHR ARC West) at University Hospitals Bristol NHS Foundation Trust.

Competing interests None declared.

Provenance and peer review Not commissioned; externally peer reviewed.

Supplemental material This content has been supplied by the author(s). It has not been vetted by BMJ Publishing Group Limited (BMJ) and may not have been peer-reviewed. Any opinions or recommendations discussed are solely those of the author(s) and are not endorsed by BMJ. BMJ disclaims all liability and responsibility arising from any reliance placed on the content. Where the content includes any translated material, BMJ does not warrant the accuracy and reliability of the translations (including but not limited to local regulations, clinical guidelines, terminology, drug names and drug dosages), and is not responsible for any error and/or omissions arising from translation and adaptation or otherwise.

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Research Topics For law Students in 2023

• by Sanjay Rawat
• March 6, 2023
• 17 minutes read

Table of Contents

Introduction

Legal research is an essential skill that law students must acquire as it provides them with the tools necessary to develop critical thinking abilities, establish a solid foundation in the law, and prepare for legal practice. Moreover, legal research allows students to hone their communication skills and stay updated with any modifications to the law. With this in mind, our team with their legal expertise has compiled a list of over 100 legal research topics to assist law students in their quest for legal research topics in 2023

Subjectwise Distribution of Legal Research Topics for law students in 2023

Constitutional law- legal research topics for law students.

• The impact of the recent Pegasus spyware controversy on the right to privacy in India . (Source: Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology)
• The effectiveness of the new Constitution (Scheduled Castes) Order (Amendment) Act, 2021 in protecting the rights of scheduled castes in India. (Source: Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment)
• The legality and implications of the Citizenship Amendment Act, 2019 . (Source: Ministry of Home Affairs)
• The constitutional validity of the farm laws passed by the Indian parliament. (Source: Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare)
• The role of the Supreme Court in protecting and interpreting the Constitution of India. (Source: Supreme Court of India)
• Constitutionality of collegium system in India – Specific reference to Case laws
• The constitutional right to privacy and its implications for data protection laws in India. (Source: Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology)
• The constitutional validity of reservations in educational institutions and public employment. (Source: Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment)
• The constitutional validity of sedition laws in India. (Source: Ministry of Home Affairs)
• The role of the Election Commission in ensuring free and fair elections in India. (Source: Election Commission of India)
• The constitutional validity of the National Register of Citizens (NRC) and its implementation in Assam. (Source: Ministry of Home Affairs)
• The implications of the recent Supreme Court ruling on ECI Appointments. (Source: Supreme Court of India)

Research Topics for law students on Criminal Law

• The effectiveness of the Criminal Law (Amendment) Act, 2018 in addressing crimes against women in India. (Source: Ministry of Home Affairs)
• The implications of the recent Supreme Court ruling on the use of remand in criminal cases. (Source: Supreme Court of India)
• The effectiveness of the new Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (Amendment) Act, 2021 in tackling drug abuse in India. (Source: Ministry of Home Affairs)
• The impact of the new Anti-Trafficking Bill, 2021 on human trafficking in India. (Source: Ministry of Women and Child Development)
• The interpretation and implementation of the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015. (Source: Ministry of Women and Child Development)
• The effectiveness of the new Prevention of Money Laundering (Amendment) Act, 2021 in curbing money laundering in India. (Source: Ministry of Finance)
• The implications of the recent Supreme Court ruling on the death penalty in India. (Source: Supreme Court of India)
• The effectiveness of the new Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013 in addressing workplace harassment in India. (Source: Ministry of Women and Child Development)
• The interpretation and implementation of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, 2012. (Source: Ministry of Women and Child Development)
• The impact of the new Anti-Corruption Bill, 2021 on corruption in India . (Source: Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions)

Research topics on Family Law

• The implications of the new Personal Laws (Amendment) Act, 2021 on interfaith marriages in India. (Source: Ministry of Law and Justice)
• The effectiveness of the new Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizens (Amendment) Act, 2021 in protecting the rights of older people in India. (Source: Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment)
• The legal and ethical implications of the surrogacy regulation Act 2021 on India’s family law and social norms. (Source: Indian Council of Medical Research)
• The interpretation and implementation of the Hindu Marriage Act, 1955. (Source: Ministry of Law and Justice)
• The impact of the new Surrogacy (Regulation) Act, 2021 on surrogacy arrangements in India. (Source: Ministry of Health and Family Welfare)
• The effectiveness of the new Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Marriage) Act, 2019 in addressing the issue of triple talaq in India. (Source: Ministry of Law and Justice)

Legal Research topics on Intellectual Property Law(IPR)

• The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on intellectual property laws in India, including patent rights, trademark rights, and copyright laws. (Source: World Intellectual Property Organization)
• The legal and ethical implications of genetic engineering and gene editing technologies in India’s intellectual property laws. (Source: National Biodiversity Authority)
• The effectiveness of India’s laws and policies in protecting traditional knowledge and folklore. (Source: Ministry of Commerce and Industry)
• The impact of India’s accession to the Madrid Protocol on trademark registration and protection in India. (Source: Intellectual Property India)
• The effectiveness of India’s laws and policies in promoting innovation and creativity in the digital age. (Source: National Innovation Foundation)
• The implications of the new Copyright (Amendment) Act, 2021 on copyright law in India. (Source: Ministry of Law and Justice)
• The interpretation and implementation of the Patents Act, 1970. (Source: Ministry of Commerce and Industry)
• The effectiveness of the new Geographical Indications of Goods (Registration and Protection) Act, 2019 in protecting geographical indications in India. (Source: Ministry of Commerce and Industry)
• The impact of the new Designs (Amendment) Rules, 2021 on design law in India. (Source: Ministry of Commerce and Industry)
• The effectiveness of the new Trade Marks (Amendment) Act, 2021 in protecting trademarks in India. (Source: Ministry of Commerce and Industry)

Environmental Law Research Topics for law students

• The implications of the new Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 2021 on air pollution in India. (Source: Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change)
• The interpretation and implementation of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972. (Source: Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change)
• The implications of the recent National River Ganga (Rejuvenation, Conservation and Management) Act, 2021 on the conservation of the Ganges river in India. (Source: Ministry of Jal Shakti)
• The effectiveness of the new National Green Tribunal (NGT) (Amendment) Act, 2021 in resolving environmental disputes in India. (Source: Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change)
• The impact of the new Hazardous and Other Wastes (Management and Transboundary Movement) Rules, 2021 on hazardous waste management in India. (Source: Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change)
• The effectiveness of the new Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 2021 in addressing water pollution in India. (Source: Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change)

International Law topics for research

• The implications of India’s recent withdrawal from the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) on India’s international trade relations. (Source: Ministry of External Affairs)
• The interpretation and implementation of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), 1982, with specific reference to India’s maritime claims. (Source: Ministry of External Affairs)
• The effectiveness of the new International Financial Services Centres Authority Act, 2021 in regulating financial services in India’s international financial centres. (Source: Ministry of Finance)
• The impact of India’s recent accession to the Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction on child custody cases involving India and other signatory countries. (Source: Ministry of Women and Child Development)
• The implications of the recent International Court of Justice ruling on the Kulbhushan Jadhav case. (Source: International Court of Justice)
• The effectiveness of the new Extradition (Amendment) Act, 2021 in extradition proceedings in India. (Source: Ministry of External Affairs) or The effectiveness of India’s extradition laws in extraditing fugitives from foreign countries. (Source: Ministry of Home Affairs)
• The impact of the new Prevention of Atrocities (Amendment) Act, 2021 on international human rights law in India. (Source: Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment)
• The effectiveness of the new Bilateral Investment Treaty (BIT) Model Text, 2021 in promoting foreign investment in India. (Source: Ministry of Finance)

Corporate Law:

• The implications of the new Companies (Amendment) Act, 2021 on corporate law in India. (Source: Ministry of Corporate Affairs)
• The interpretation and implementation of the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, 2016. (Source: Ministry of Finance)
• The effectiveness of the new Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) (Listing Obligations and Disclosure Requirements) Regulations, 2021 in regulating securities markets in India. (Source: SEBI)
• The impact of the recent changes in the Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) policy on foreign investment in India. (Source: Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade)
• The effectiveness of the new Competition (Amendment) Act, 2021 in promoting competition in Indian markets. (Source: Ministry of Corporate Affairs)
• The impact of the Companies (Amendment) Act, 2020, on corporate governance in India, including the changes to the composition and functioning of the board of directors, and the enhanced role of auditors and independent directors. (Source: Ministry of Corporate Affairs)
• The challenges of regulating new forms of corporate entities in India, such as limited liability partnerships and one-person companies, and the implications of these entities for traditional forms of corporate organization. (Source: Ministry of Corporate Affairs)
• The role of corporate social responsibility in India, including the legal framework for mandating and monitoring CSR activities, and the challenges of balancing the interests of shareholders, stakeholders, and society. (Source: Ministry of Corporate Affairs)
• The regulation of mergers and acquisitions in India, including the role of the Competition Commission of India in assessing the anti-competitive effects of M&A transactions, and the challenges of balancing competition and economic growth. (Source: Competition Commission of India)
• The impact of recent judicial decisions on corporate law in India, including the interpretation of provisions of the Companies Act, 2013, and the evolving jurisprudence on issues such as shareholder activism, minority rights, and corporate liability. (Source: Supreme Court of India)

Labour Law:

• The effectiveness of the new labour codes proposed by the Ministry of Labour and Employment in 2021 in regulating and protecting workers’ rights. (Source: Ministry of Labour and Employment)
• The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the labour market in India and the adequacy of legal protection for workers during the pandemic. (Source: International Labour Organization)
• The legal and ethical implications of outsourcing and subcontracting in the Indian labour market. (Source: International Labour Organization)
• The effectiveness of the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013 in preventing and addressing workplace sexual harassment. (Source: Ministry of Women and Child Development)
• The impact of the gig economy on labour laws and social protection in India. (Source: International Labour Organization)
• The implications of the recent Industrial Relations Code, 2020 on labour law in India. (Source: Ministry of Labour and Employment)
• The interpretation and implementation of the Minimum Wages Act, 1948. (Source: Ministry of Labour and Employment)
• The effectiveness of the new Employees’ State Insurance (Amendment) Act, 2021 in providing social security to workers in India. (Source: Ministry of Labour and Employment)
• The impact of the recent changes in the Apprentices Act, 1961 on apprenticeships in India. (Source: Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship)
• The effectiveness of the new Maternity Benefit (Amendment) Act, 2021 in protecting the rights of working women in India. (Source: Ministry of Women and Child Development)
• The implications of the recent Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021 on freedom of speech and expression in India’s digital media. (Source: Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology)
• The interpretation and implementation of the Information Technology Act, 2000. (Source: Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology)
• The effectiveness of the new Personal Data Protection Bill, 2021 in protecting personal data of Indian citizens. (Source: Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology)
• The impact of cybercrime on the Indian economy and society. (Source: National Crime Records Bureau)
• The effectiveness of India’s cybercrime investigation and prosecution framework in dealing with cybercrime cases. (Source: Ministry of Home Affairs)

Taxation Law:

• The impact of India’s new Equalization Levy, 2021 on digital businesses and cross-border e-commerce. (Source: Ministry of Finance)
• The legal and ethical implications of tax avoidance and evasion in India’s tax laws and policies. (Source: Central Board of Direct Taxes)
• The effectiveness of India’s tax incentives and exemptions in promoting foreign direct investment and economic growth. (Source: Ministry of Finance)
• The impact of India’s Goods and Services Tax (GST) on small and medium-sized businesses and the informal sector. (Source: Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs)
• The legal and ethical implications of tax competition and international tax treaties on India’s tax sovereignty and revenue collection. (Source: Ministry of Finance)

Research topics on Sports Law for law students

Here are some more research topics for law students in India in 2023 related to sports law:

• The legal and ethical implications of gender discrimination and sexual harassment in sports, with a focus on India’s sports industry. (Source: Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports)
• The effectiveness of India’s sports law framework in regulating doping, match-fixing, and other forms of cheating in sports. (Source: National Anti-Doping Agency, India)
• The impact of India’s new National Sports Code, 2011, on the governance and management of sports organizations in India. (Source: Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports)
• The legal and ethical implications of athlete welfare and protection in sports, including issues such as athlete contracts, injury prevention, and mental health support. (Source: Sports Authority of India)
• The role of alternative dispute resolution mechanisms, such as sports arbitration, in resolving disputes in the sports industry, with a focus on India’s experience. (Source: Indian Olympic Association)

Fashion Law

Here are some research topics for law students in India in 2023 related to fashion law:

• The legal and ethical implications of intellectual property protection in the fashion industry, with a focus on India’s experience. (Source: Ministry of Commerce and Industry)
• The impact of India’s new Consumer Protection Act, 2019, on consumer rights and product liability in the fashion industry. (Source: Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution)
• The effectiveness of India’s laws and policies in regulating the use of child labour in the fashion industry, and promoting ethical and sustainable production practices. (Source: Ministry of Labour and Employment)
• The legal and ethical implications of cultural appropriation and intellectual property rights in the fashion industry, with a focus on India’s traditional designs and crafts. (Source: Ministry of Textiles)
• The role of alternative dispute resolution mechanisms, such as mediation and arbitration, in resolving disputes in the fashion industry, with a focus on India’s experience. (Source: Ministry of Law and Justice)

Contract Law

Some research topics for law students in India in 2023 related to contract law are

• The legal and ethical implications of force majeure clauses in commercial contracts during the COVID-19 pandemic, with a focus on India’s experience. (Source: Ministry of Law and Justice)
• The effectiveness of India’s Contract Act, 1872, in regulating electronic contracts and e-commerce transactions, and the challenges posed by the increasing use of technology in commercial transactions. (Source: Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology)
• The impact of India’s new Arbitration and Conciliation (Amendment) Act, 2021, on the enforcement and validity of arbitration agreements in commercial contracts. (Source: Ministry of Law and Justice)
• The legal and ethical implications of contractual interpretation and construction in commercial disputes, with a focus on India’s courts’ approach. (Source: Supreme Court of India)
• The role of good faith and fair dealing in contract law, and its implications for contract drafting and negotiation in India. (Source: Ministry of Law and Justice)

Arbitration Law

Some research topics for law students in India in 2023 related to arbitration law are-

• The effectiveness of India’s Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996, in promoting arbitration as a preferred mode of dispute resolution, and the challenges faced by the arbitration industry in India. (Source: Ministry of Law and Justice)
• The role of institutional arbitration in India, with a focus on the rules and procedures of institutions such as the Mumbai Centre for International Arbitration and the Delhi International Arbitration Centre. (Source: Indian Council of Arbitration)
• The legal and ethical implications of investor-state dispute settlement (ISDS) in India, with a focus on India’s experience in bilateral investment treaties (BITs) and investment disputes. (Source: Ministry of Finance)
• The impact of India’s new Arbitration and Conciliation (Amendment) Act, 2021, on the appointment and qualifications of arbitrators, and the procedure for challenging and enforcing arbitral awards. (Source: Ministry of Law and Justice)
• The role of technology in arbitration in India, including the use of electronic evidence, virtual hearings, and online dispute resolution platforms. (Source: National Law School of India University)
• The effectiveness of the Indian judiciary in supporting arbitration, including the approach of Indian courts to issues such as interim relief, jurisdictional challenges, and public policy considerations. (Source: Supreme Court of India)
• The role of international commercial arbitration in India, with a focus on the practice and procedure of international arbitration in India and the recognition and enforcement of foreign arbitral awards. (Source: International Chamber of Commerce India)
• The impact of India’s new Commercial Courts, Commercial Division and Commercial Appellate Division of High Courts Act, 2015, on the resolution of commercial disputes through arbitration and other alternative dispute resolution mechanisms. (Source: Ministry of Law and Justice)

Administrative law

Research topics for law students in India in 2023 related to administrative law:

• The scope and limitations of the principle of natural justice in administrative law, with a focus on the Indian context and the role of courts in enforcing the principles of procedural fairness. (Source: Ministry of Law and Justice)
• The relationship between administrative law and human rights in India, including the constitutional protection of fundamental rights and the role of administrative agencies in promoting human rights. (Source: National Human Rights Commission)
• The impact of India’s Right to Information Act, 2005, on transparency and accountability in administrative decision-making, and the challenges faced in implementing the Act. (Source: Central Information Commission)
• The role of the judiciary in administrative law in India, including the scope of judicial review of administrative action and the development of principles such as proportionality and reasonableness. (Source: Supreme Court of India)
• The legal and ethical implications of administrative discretion in India, including the scope and limitations of administrative discretion and the accountability of administrative decision-makers. (Source: Administrative Law Review)

Evidence Law

• The admissibility and reliability of electronic evidence in Indian courts, including the challenges of preserving and authenticating electronic evidence and the legal framework for admitting electronic evidence. (Source: Evidence Act, 1872)
• The impact of recent amendments to the Indian Evidence Act, 1872, on the law of evidence in India, including the new provisions on the admissibility of electronic evidence, presumptions as to documents, and the use of expert evidence. (Source: Ministry of Law and Justice)
• The role of the judge in the trial process and the evaluation of evidence in Indian courts, including the principles of burden of proof, presumption, and standard of proof, and the discretion of the judge in weighing evidence. (Source: Supreme Court of India)
• The impact of the Indian Evidence (Amendment) Act, 2002, on the admissibility of confessions and the protections afforded to accused persons, including the requirement for video recording of confessions and the admissibility of retracted confessions. (Source: Ministry of Home Affairs)
• The role of scientific evidence in criminal trials in India, including the admissibility and reliability of forensic evidence such as DNA analysis, fingerprinting, and ballistics evidence. (Source: National Forensic Sciences University)
• The evolution of the law of torts in India, with a focus on the development of principles such as negligence, nuisance, and strict liability, and the role of the judiciary in shaping the law. (Source: Indian Council of Legal Research)
• The liability of the State and its officials for tortious acts in India, including the scope and limitations of sovereign immunity and the remedies available to victims of tortious acts committed by the State. (Source: Constitution of India)
• The role of tort law in consumer protection in India, including the liability of manufacturers, sellers, and service providers for defective products and services, and the remedies available to consumers. (Source: Consumer Protection Act, 2019)
• The impact of technological developments on tort law in India, including the liability of internet service providers and social media platforms for defamation, and the challenges of regulating emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence and autonomous vehicles. (Source: Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology)
• The relationship between tort law and environmental law in India, including the liability of polluters for harm to the environment and the challenges of enforcing environmental standards through the law of torts. (Source: Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change)

International Humanitarian law

Some recent international humanitarian law research topics for law students in 2023 are-

• The legal and ethical implications of autonomous weapons systems under international humanitarian law, including the challenges of ensuring compliance and accountability for their use. (Source: Human Rights Watch)
• The role of non-state actors in armed conflicts and their responsibilities under international humanitarian law, including the legal framework for regulating the conduct of armed groups and the challenges of enforcing accountability. (Source: Geneva Academy of International Humanitarian Law and Human Rights)
• The impact of counter-terrorism measures on international humanitarian law, including the legal framework for regulating the use of force in counter-terrorism operations and the challenges of ensuring compliance with human rights standards. (Source: International Committee of the Red Cross)
• The legal framework for protecting civilians and non-combatants in the context of the ongoing conflict in eastern Ukraine , including the challenges of ensuring compliance with international humanitarian law in the midst of a protracted armed conflict. (Source: International Committee of the Red Cross)
• The role of international criminal law in addressing alleged violations of international humanitarian law in Ukraine, including the legal framework for investigating and prosecuting war crimes and the challenges of ensuring accountability for those responsible. (Source: International Criminal Court)

I hope this comprehensive list of over 100 topics of research for law students will help you find the correct topic for your research. However, the topic you choose to research will always depend on your personal interests. So, it’s best to give some thought to finding which topic suits your interests.

Download 100 Research Topics for Law Students

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A Research Study On Live-In Relationships In India

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Research executive:  shambhavi goswami, research coordinators:  animesh srivastava,  navya dubey., research interns:  aastha walia,  harsha tripathi,  hitesh kar,  laura  consalter,  sandeep  kumar,  tanvi vijh..

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Live-in relationships reflect the choice of two individuals to live together like partners without engaging in the institution of marriage. Years after independence, it is not just the Indian society that discriminates against people entering into live-in relationships but also the Indian legal system, which systematically discriminates between the socially acceptable institution of marriage and the “taboo” practice of being in a live-in relationship. The legal stature of these live-in relationships is rather unsettled and ambiguous. At times, the mindset of the judges sitting on the bench becomes the sole decider of whether the court will grant protection and sanction to a couple living in a live-in relationship or not.

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

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CSLR | The Centre for Socio Legal Research (CSLR) was established with an aim to address the existing social issues and address them with a legal lens by encouraging empirical research in the field of law and policymaking and providing students across the country with a hands-on experience of the existing inequalities through the means of research.

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