‘As institutions should prepare experts, NLU focusing on students’ specialisation’

Dr BR Ambedkar National Law University (BRANLU) in Rajiv Gandhi Education City at Rai in Sonepat, just 40 km from national capital Delhi, is gearing up to collaborate with international as well as national-level institutions to upgrade its status to prepare the best law professionals.

The NLU was established in 2012 and the university was formally established in 2019 after the completion of construction work. Initially, the university offered only a five-year course (BALLB), an integrated law programme with an intake of 120 seats. The first batch graduated in 2024, and the second this year.

The university has started working with the state government as well as with the Central government, and has also begun working with national-level institutions like the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), National Women’s Commission, etc. In conversation with Mukesh Tandon, Vice-Chancellor, Professor (Dr) Devinder Singh, delves into how the university is preparing law professionals.

How does the NLU Sonepat differ from other NLUs?

It is the only national law university in Haryana among a total of 27 other national law universities across the country. But it is different from other NLUs for more than one reason. Number 1 is that it is in the NCR, and due to the NCR, the quality of students is better here as it is the first choice for the students. Another reason is that the university is drafting courses in such a way that those respond to the demands of the NCR. Number 3 is that this NLU is well-supported by the state government, and the government is providing funds to the university. These three things are taking BRANLU, Sonepat, ahead of other NLUs in the country. This is a National Law University, as in the other states, and it is competing at the national level. So, the admission procedure in this university is different from other state universities of Haryana. As many as 75 per cent of students are admitted from the all-India level, and 25 per cent of seats are reserved for residents of Haryana. This composition shows the national character of the university.

What new courses were launched at the university?

The university has started Masters in Law (LLM) (one year) with specialisations and LLM (two-year) part-time in session 2025-26. PhD (law) with 23 students has also been started. Keeping in view the need of law professionals in the NCR, as it is a corporate area, the LLM one-year course with 60 seats was started with four specialisations — corporate laws, intellectual property rights (IPR) law, environment laws and mediation law. NCR is full of specialised opportunities. Educational institutions like NLU should provide experts to the region. Therefore, we are concentrating on the specialisation of students. The two-year LLM course is being run in the evening and the remedial classes are on the weekend and other holidays. It is for the people who wish to get a law degree, but during the day, they are working.

What facilities are being provided to the students?

This is a totally residential institution and almost all rooms in hostels have air conditioning and 24-hour power backup for the students. Common room, mess, reading room and outdoor facilities for sports are being provided to them. The campus is fully Wi-Fi. The students decide their food menu themselves. No students are allowed to have their personal vehicles here.

What steps are being taken to improve research at NLU?

To promote research at NLU and maintain the standard of national law university, we have chosen 12 teachers who reside on the campus. They have established 12-13 centres — on Constitution law, public policy, technology and women empowerment. Every centre is conducting its own activities. By the beginning of session 2026-27, five centres will start specific programmes to improve research. The university will start funding these centres, and these centres will also collaborate outside. In the coming year, comprehensive research will start.