About the Conclave
The Young Scholars’ Conclave is a joint initiative of the Foundation for Agrarian Studies (FAS), an independent research organisation committed to multidisciplinary theoretical and empirical enquiry in agrarian studies, and CHRIST (Deemed to be University), Bengaluru.
Drawing on FAS’s long-standing engagement with young scholars, the conclave seeks to create a platform for emerging researchers from India and across the world working on agrarian studies and rural development, particularly in the Global South. The initiative aims to encourage the exchange of academic knowledge, strengthen research, and foster collaboration between young scholars and leading experts in the field.
The inaugural Young Scholars’ Conclave will be held at CHRIST (Deemed to be University), Bangalore, Yeshwanthpur Campus, from 2–4 December 2026.
The conclave aims to:
- Create a platform for young scholars from across the world working on rural development in the Global South.
- Provide young scholars with an opportunity to present their work and receive feedback from their peers to help shape their research.
- Facilitate interaction between young scholars and senior scholars working on different aspects of rural India and agrarian studies.
- Curate special lectures by experts in the field.
- Facilitate a discussion on databases relevant to agrarian studies and rural development.
- Foster building long-term academic networks and collaborations among emerging researchers.
Barbara Harriss-White, Emeritus Professor of Development Studies, University of Oxford, is the Academic Convenor of this conclave.
The conclave will feature research presentations and discussions organised around the following broad thematic areas:
- Role of Science and Technology in Agrarian and Rural Transformation
- Policies and Practices in Rural and Agrarian Development
- Inequality and Deprivation in the Countryside
- The Dynamics of Farm–Non-Farm Linkages
- Agriculture as an Arena of Human–Nature Interaction
Call for Papers
Applications are invited from young scholars working in the fields of agrarian studies, rural development, and allied disciplines to participate in the Young Scholars’ Conclave 2026.
- PhD candidates enrolled in recognised universities in India or abroad.
- Master’s students with 4–5 years of research experience and at least one publication in a peer-reviewed journal, who intend to register for a PhD programme.
Last date for abstract submission: September 9, 2026