National Law University, Delhi (NLUD) is a law university in India, offering courses at the undergraduate and postgraduate levels. It is situated in Sector-14, Dwarka, New Delhi, India. NLUD is one of the national law schools in India built on the five-year law degree model proposed and implemented by the Bar Council of India. The statute provides for the Chief Justice of the High Court of Delhi to function as the University's Chancellor whereas the Vice-Chancellor functions as the chief administrator.
The primary objective of the University is to evolve and impart comprehensive and interdisciplinary legal education that is socially relevant. Through this education, we aim to promote legal and ethical values and foster the rule of law and the objectives enshrined in the Constitution of India. Furthermore, the University works toward dissemination of legal knowledge and its role in national development, so that the ability to analyse and present contemporary issues of public concern and their legal implications for the benefit of the public is improved. These processes strive to promote legal awareness in the community and to achieve political, social and economic justice.
Many believe that the path of liberalization we embarked upon in the early 90s unleashed India’s potential. Undoubtedly the country has undergone vast changes in all spheres and we see a more confident India asserting itself on the global stage. However, this progress has come with very significant challenges to the country. India’s various social classes are yet to be assimilated; their participation in the process of governance remains fractured. Cumulative progress needs to be fair and equitable. And integral to that is a legal system that empowers the marginalised, is just and fair in letter and spirit, and most importantly, does not use the law as a tool of oppression.
Our sincere endeavor is to make legal education justice education, as an instrument of social, political and economic change. Each individual who is part of this institution must be remembered for the promotion of social justice. Our students will not only be shaped as change agents as the country achieves its social and developmental goals, but will also be equipped to address the imperatives of the new millennium and uphold the Constitution of India.
National Law University, Delhi was established in 2008 by Act No. 1 of 2008 of NCT Delhi in the National Capital Territory of Delhi with the initiative of the High Court of Delhi under the leadership of Ranbir Singh (also the Founder-Director/Vice-Chancellor of Nalsar University of Law, Hyderabad), who became the first Vice-Chancellor. It was inaugurated by the President of India, Pratibha Patil. The college started functioning in 2008 from temporary buildings. By 2010, the college had completed its construction and was fully functional.
NLUD offers a five-year undergraduate (UG) B.A., LL.B. (Hons.) program. Seventy seats are offered and ten additional seats are allocated to foreign nationals. The undergraduate program is based on a credits system with additional seminar courses for further learning, pursuant according to the interests of the students. The program consists of approximately fifty subjects to be studied over the duration of ten semesters, with five subjects in each semester. Students are expected to submit fifty research projects before their graduation. The curriculum remains intensive and has led to concerns being brought about stress levels amongst the students.
