Centre for Business Law and Economics, HPNLU Shimla Announces National Conference on India's Tax Reforms and Contemporary Challenges
Himachal Pradesh National Law University (HPNLU), Shimla, established in 2016 by the State Government, inducts students for its undergraduate and postgraduate law programmes through CLAT and also offers PhD and LL.D. degrees. Located in the Himalayan region, HPNLU is known for its holistic, interdisciplinary approach to legal education and has drawn an accomplished faculty from across India. The university has set up centres, including the Centre for Business Law and Economics, which regularly publishes the HPNLU Journal of Law, Business and Economics and the HPNLU Journal of Tax Law.
The HPNLU Centre for Business Law and Economics is organizing a conference designed as an inclusive discourse, bringing together diverse participants to discuss India's ongoing tax reforms. The conference aims to foster a national research network and facilitate dialogue on tax reform challenges, involving academics, experts, policymakers, and students. Proceedings will be compiled and published, with outcomes available for policy reference.
India's tax reforms have predominantly focused on rationalising rates and streamlining administration, particularly with watershed changes like the Goods and Services Tax Act, 2017 and the recent Income Tax Act, 2025. While these reforms have improved compliance and business ease, key issues—including widening the tax base, ensuring equity, and the impact on lower-income groups—remain underexplored. There is an urgent need to re-examine the tax system to align it more closely with the constitutional goal of economic justice.
This conference seeks to critically assess recent reforms and unresolved issues, inviting dialogue on domestic and international developments in tax law by eminent scholars and practitioners in the field.
Proposed Sub-themes:
1. Tax Reforms in India: Reflections from History
2. Tax Reforms: Continuity and Change
3. Reflections of the Constitutional Spirit in the Tax Reforms
4. Progressive Taxation
5. The Political Economy of Tax Reforms
6. Tax Reforms: The Economic Discourse
7. Tax Reforms: From the perspective of Trade and Commerce
8. Tax Reforms and International Taxation
9. Tax Reforms and the International Trade and Investment
10. Reforms in the Administration of Taxes
11. Tax Reforms: A Journey from Use of Intent/Cyberspace to Artificial Intelligence
12. Tax Reforms: A Human Rights Perspective
13. Impact of Tax Reforms: The Rural vs. Urban Discourse
14. Any other topic relevant to the main theme.
Who May Participate?
This conference is designed to facilitate interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary approaches to the prevailing issues in taxes. Contributions from all those engaged in research from the concerned disciplines, such as History, Political Science, Economics, Sociology, Law, International Trade and Investment, and Human Rights, etc., are welcome.
Submission of Abstract/Paper and Registration Guidelines
Submissions of Abstract/Full Papers are invited from academicians from the field of law, economics, commerce, social sciences and other related disciplines. The word limit for the abstract is 800-1500 words, with 6-7 keywords, and must be without any footnotes. The submission must be in English and in MS Word format only. While preparing the abstract, contributors are suggested to be guided by the key themes prescribed above and must include a clear indication of the objectives, methodology, major results, and implications of the said work. Every abstract must be accompanied by a cover page containing the name, affiliation, and contact details of the author(s). Each submission can be of more than one author, but not beyond three, and the first page of the abstract/paper must provide the details of the co-author/s also.
The full paper should be typed in Times New Roman, 12 font size with single spacing and alignment “justify”, and the footnotes should be in Times New Roman, 10 font size with 1.0 line spacing and alignment “justify”. Footnotes should be used for citations following the HPNLU Citation style only.
All abstracts/papers shall be subject to review, including similarity/AI check, and only those abstracts/papers approved by the reviewers will be selected for the final presentation at the conference. Paper presentation in absentia shall not be considered. Full papers with an opportunity for publication in an edited book will be invited from selected presenters after the conference, and details of the same will be shared later.
Registration Fee: As per the brochure attached herewith.
NOTE:
1. Each co-author is required to register separately.
2. Except for scholars and students, the accommodation will be provided on a twin-sharing basis only.
3. Accommodation for scholars and students may be provided, subject to availability and at the rate of 1500/- per person, on a two/or three-sharing basis.
4. Participants are advised to expedite registration so that accommodation-related arrangements can be made.
5. Participants coming with family/friends are advised to arrange their accommodation on their own.
6. No TA/DA shall be admissible in favour of the participants.
7. Certificate of Presentation or Participation will be provided accordingly.
6. Abstract Submission
Google Form Link for Abstract Submission- https://forms.gle/JN5RBpGAjPspXgyo6
Time-Line
Description Last Date
Receipt of Abstract - November 15, 2025
Receipt of Full Paper - January 30, 2026
Date of Registration - November 16-25, 2025
Inauguration of Conference - February 27, 2026
Valedictory Session - February 28, 2026
Contact details:
Convener Co-convener
Prof. (Dr.) Girjesh Shukla Dr Santosh Sharma
Professor of Law, Associate Professor
Mobile No. : 8887059676 Mobile No. 9968649149
E-Mail: clbe@hpnlu.ac.in / girjesh@hpnlu.ac.in
For any additional information, participants may refer to the attached brochure.