NLU Odisha, Assam Make Tribal Rights Central to Environmental Law Curriculum

National Law Universities in Odisha and Assam are increasingly integrating tribal rights and indigenous land issues into their environmental law curriculum, reflecting a growing recognition of the close link between environmental governance and the rights of indigenous communities.
Institutions such as National Law University Odisha (NLUO) and the National Law University and Judicial Academy, Assam (NLUJAA) have redesigned course structures to ensure that tribal rights are not treated as peripheral topics but form a core component of environmental, constitutional and human rights law education.
At NLU Odisha, faculty members said environmental law courses now examine forest governance, land acquisition, and conservation policies through the lens of tribal rights. Students study how environmental regulations affect indigenous communities whose livelihoods, culture and identity are closely tied to land and forest resources. The curriculum also covers key legislations such as the Forest Rights Act, judicial interpretations, and international frameworks on indigenous rights.
Similarly, NLUJAA Assam places strong emphasis on the region’s unique constitutional and legal framework, particularly the Sixth Schedule, which provides autonomy to tribal areas in matters related to land and forest governance. Faculty members noted that understanding customary practices alongside statutory laws is essential for addressing environmental disputes in the Northeast.
Educators said the integrated approach helps law students appreciate the social and cultural dimensions of environmental conflicts, moving beyond technical legal analysis. By combining environmental law with anthropology, history and human rights perspectives, the curriculum aims to prepare students for work in public interest litigation, policy-making, environmental justice and governance.
The shift comes amid increasing debates across India over conservation policies, development projects and the protection of indigenous land rights. Academics believe that embedding tribal rights within environmental law education will create a new generation of legal professionals better equipped to handle these complex challenges.