Vision
To build a community of future legal leaders and policy thinkers who will drive institutional and system-level transformation in India’s law and justice system.
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Network for Institutional and Systems
Transformation (NIST) Fellowship
Network for Institutional and Systems
Transformation (NIST) Fellowship
Fellows | First Cohort
Anshuman Sahoo
Sundaramurti Ramesh
Khusbu Shah
Sumit Kumar
Satyansh Singh Parmar
Swikruti Mohanty
About the Fellowship
The NIST Fellowship is a pioneering initiative designed to nurture the next generation of legal leaders and policymakers and foster a community of practice.
This full-time, hybrid, and funded opportunity empowers researchers to challenge themselves and develop innovative regulatory and policy proposals to transform our public institutions. The programme will give the fellows a chance to join and collaborate with our network and community of like-minded doers. The programme aims to inspire problem solvers to work on solving some of India’s biggest institutional and systems challenges.
FAQs
What is the focus area for the pioneering cohort?
DAKSH has over the years done pioneering work on reimagining courts and tribunals. One of our recent focus areas has been commercial tribunals, as part of the ‘Transforming Tribunals’ initiative, where we see them not merely as forums for resolving disputes, but as engines of economic justice and powerful drivers of growth. Delays, uncertainty, and inefficiencies in justice delivery by regulators, commercial tribunals and appellate courts erode investor confidence and affect India’s global competitiveness and overall ease of doing business.
To this end, the inaugural cohort will be focusing on the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT), National Company Law Appellate Tribunal (NCLAT), Debt Recovery Tribunal (DRT), and the Debt Recovery Appellate Tribunal (DRAT), and the relevant regulators (IBBI, CCI, RoC, NFRA, etc) and appellate courts for these domains. Our ultimate goal is to spark system-level reforms, focusing on both the functioning of tribunals and underlying commercial laws, to ensure that our commercial policy is aligned with the needs of the evolving commercial landscape.
What will be the resulting impact from your participation in this Fellowship Programme?
The Fellowship will help bridge the gap between theoretical knowledge and practical application, and help facilitate you to think more deeply about institutional and system level issues plaguing our law and justice system. You will become part of a community of practice that will enable you to work with like-minded peers and experts to drive meaningful and impactful reforms to enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of India’s institutions and systems both during and after the Fellowship.
Any institutional and system-level transformation towards improving and strengthening our law and justice system invariably affects our society, public institutions, and economy. Consequently, through this Fellowship, you will get the distinct opportunity to ideate, develop and present proposals that can drive cross-systems impact at the intersection of our society, public institutions and economy, ranging from driving ease of doing business through streamlined legal processes, building investor confidence, driving increased foreign investment and making the judicial system more accessible and sustainable.
What are we at DAKSH solving?
DAKSH Society (DAKSH) is India’s leading think-tank and research institution focused on law and justice system reforms and access to justice. We are committed to driving meaningful institutional and system transformation to make the judicial system more efficient and effective. To this end, as thought leaders in the space, we have launched this fellowship programme to empower the next generation of legal leaders to transform India’s commercial justice system through experiential learning, innovative research, and collaborative problem-solving
Who is an NIST fellow?
An NIST Fellow is someone who:
● Is passionate about driving meaningful institutional and system-level transformation in India’s judicial system, particularly in the commercial law and policy landscape.
● Holds a bachelor’s degree (preferably in Law, Economics, Public Policy, Data Science) with a maximum of 0-4 years of post-qualification experience.
● Can commit to a full-time engagement of 40 hours/week for the next 6 months, demonstrating dedication and enthusiasm for the fellowship programme.
● Has previous experience in academic or policy writing, showcasing their ability to analyse complex issues and develop well-structured arguments.
What are the expectations for the fellows?
● You will be required to publish at least 6 blogs through the course of the fellowship which will be published on the DAKSH website.
● You will have to attend regular mentoring/check-in calls with the DAKSH team and the mentors.
● You will be working on a dedicated capstone project, which would be in the form of a white paper, report or policy proposal which will be published by DAKSH as part of a compendium.
● You will be required to assist on DAKSH’s ongoing programmes and research projects (this could include developing proposals, concept/background notes for workshops/sessions, and cultivating research collaborations).
● You will be required to mandatorily present your capstone project in a 2-3 day in-person conference that will be held in Bangalore/ Delhi in the last 4 weeks of the fellowship.
● You will maintain a high level of professionalism and ownership in all deliverables and interactions.
● You will proactively and transparently share regular updates and progress reports on your work.
What are the benefits of participating in this Fellowship Programme?
The NIST Fellowship offers a range of benefits including:
● Stipend: A monthly stipend of INR 50,000 to support fellows during the programme.
● Mentorship and Guidance: Monthly mentoring calls with experts to fine-tune research and discuss capstone projects.
● Access to DAKSH’s Network of Experts: Opportunities to tap into DAKSH’s network for guidance and support.
● Training and Skill-Building: Training on data analysis, policy analysis, and report writing to enhance fellows’ skills.
● Community Membership: Membership to the DAKSH Community, with priority access to events and networking opportunities for the duration of the Fellowship.
● Fully-Funded In-Person Conference: Funding assistance to attend a conference to present your capstone projects and network with leaders and peers in the space.
● Opportunity to Produce Actionable Research Outputs: Contribution to actionable research and policy analysis through blogs and podcasts
● Publication Opportunity: All the capstone projects would be published by DAKSH in a compendium after the conclusion of the Fellowship Programme. You may also get the opportunity to co-author the above mentioned work with members from the DAKSH team and the expert mentors (depending on the quality of the outputs).
● Certificate: A certificate acknowledging participation in the fellowship programme upon successful completion.
● Letter of Recommendation: Exceptional fellows may secure a Letter of Recommendation from the DAKSH team and their mentors.
● Financial Assistance: Financial assistance to cover certain miscellaneous expenses for carrying out fieldwork.
About the Second Cohort
DAKSH’s NIST programme builds multidisciplinary research capacity to support law and justice reforms. The first cohort trained six young professionals from diverse backgrounds to study commercial dispute resolution, focusing on the functioning of key tribunals, regulators and appellate courts, including the NCLT, NCLAT, DRT and DRAT.
The upcoming cohort will focus on consumer forums, which play a vital role in protecting consumer rights and providing accessible redressal for grievances. Through institutional research, the programme aims to identify opportunities to strengthen these forums and improve access to justice.
Check you eligibility under the FAQs and apply. Last date to apply in November 6, 2026.
FAQs
What is the focus area for the second cohort of the NIST Fellowship?
DAKSH has, over the years, done extensive work on law and justice reforms. One of our current areas of work under Commercial Dispute Resolution is consumer forums, which will be the focus of the upcoming cohort. These forums are critical institutions that affect citizens across socioeconomic backgrounds, providing an accessible avenue for seeking redressal against unfair practices, deficient services, and other consumer grievances. Their effective functioning is essential to protecting consumer rights, strengthening public trust in the justice system, and ensuring that access to justice is meaningful and equitable.
The first cohort of the DAKSH NIST programme was a resounding success, with six young professionals from diverse backgrounds in law, economics, social sciences, and data being trained and equipped with the skills and knowledge to contribute to institutional research and reform. The cohort adopted a multidisciplinary approach, bringing together perspectives from different fields to examine key challenges and opportunities in the justice system.
The focus of the first cohort was on the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT), National Company Law Appellate Tribunal (NCLAT), Debt Recovery Tribunal (DRT), and the Debt Recovery Appellate Tribunal (DRAT), and the relevant regulators (IBBI, CCI, RoC, NFRA, etc.) and appellate courts for these domains. Our ultimate goal was to spark system-level reforms, focusing on both the functioning of tribunals and underlying commercial laws, to ensure that our commercial policy is aligned with the needs of the evolving commercial landscape.
What will be the resulting impact from your participation in this Fellowship Programme?
The Fellowship will help bridge the gap between theoretical knowledge and practical application, and help you to think more deeply about institutional and system-level issues plaguing our law and justice system. You will become part of a community of practice that will enable you to work with like-minded peers and experts to drive meaningful and impactful reforms to enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of India’s institutions and systems both during and after the Fellowship.
Any institutional and system-level transformation towards improving and strengthening our law and justice system invariably affects our society, public institutions, and economy. Consequently, through this Fellowship, you will get the distinct opportunity to ideate, develop, and present proposals that can drive meaningful impact at the intersection of citizens, consumer rights, and public institutions by strengthening consumer forums, improving the efficiency and accessibility of grievance redressal mechanisms, promoting fairness in consumer transactions, and building public trust in the justice delivery system.
What are we at DAKSH solving?
DAKSH Society is India’s leading think-tank and research institution focused on law and justice system reforms and access to justice. We are committed to driving meaningful institutional and system transformation to make the judicial system more efficient and effective. To this end, as thought leaders in the space, we, through the second cohort of this fellowship programme, continue to build the capacity of emerging professionals and empower the next generation of leaders to transform India’s justice system through experiential learning, innovative research, and collaborative problem-solving.
Who is a NIST fellow?
- You will be required to publish at least 6 blogs over the course of the fellowship, which will be published on the DAKSH website.
- You will have to attend regular mentoring/check-in calls with the DAKSH team and the mentors.
- You will be working on a dedicated capstone project, which will be in the form of a white paper, report, or policy proposal that will be published by DAKSH as part of a compendium.
- You will be required to assist with DAKSH’s ongoing programmes and research projects (this could include developing proposals, concept/background notes for workshops/sessions, and cultivating research collaborations).
- You will maintain a high level of professionalism and ownership in all deliverables and interactions.
- You will proactively and transparently share regular updates and progress reports on your work.
What are the expectations for the fellows?
● You will be required to publish at least 6 blogs through the course of the fellowship which will be published on the DAKSH website.
● You will have to attend regular mentoring/check-in calls with the DAKSH team and the mentors.
● You will be working on a dedicated capstone project, which would be in the form of a white paper, report or policy proposal which will be published by DAKSH as part of a compendium.
● You will be required to assist on DAKSH’s ongoing programmes and research projects (this could include developing proposals, concept/background notes for workshops/sessions, and cultivating research collaborations).
● You will be required to mandatorily present your capstone project in a 2-3 day in-person conference that will be held in Bangalore/ Delhi in the last 4 weeks of the fellowship.
● You will maintain a high level of professionalism and ownership in all deliverables and interactions.
● You will proactively and transparently share regular updates and progress reports on your work.
What are the benefits of participating in this Fellowship Programme?
The NIST Fellowship offers a range of benefits including:
- Stipend: A monthly stipend of INR 50,000 to support fellows during the programme.
- Mentorship and Guidance: Monthly mentoring calls with experts to fine-tune research and discuss capstone projects.
- Access to DAKSH’s Network of Experts: Opportunities to tap into DAKSH’s network for guidance and support.
- Training and Skill-Building: Training on data analysis, policy analysis, and report writing to enhance fellows’ skills.
- Community Membership: Membership in the DAKSH Community, with priority access to events and networking opportunities for the duration of the Fellowship.
- Opportunity to Produce Actionable Research Outputs: Contribution to actionable research and policy analysis through blogs.
- Publication Opportunity: All the capstone projects would be published by DAKSH in a compendium after the conclusion of the Fellowship Programme. You may also get the opportunity to co-author the above-mentioned work with members from the DAKSH team and the expert mentors (depending on the quality of the outputs).
- Certificate: A certificate acknowledging participation in the fellowship programme upon successful completion.
- Letter of Recommendation: Exceptional fellows may secure a Letter of Recommendation from the DAKSH team and their mentors.
- Financial Assistance: Financial assistance to cover certain miscellaneous expenses for carrying out fieldwork.
FAQs
What is the focus area for the pioneering cohort?
DAKSH has over the years done pioneering work on reimagining courts and tribunals. One of our recent focus areas has been commercial tribunals, as part of the ‘Transforming Tribunals’ initiative, where we see them not merely as forums for resolving disputes, but as engines of economic justice and powerful drivers of growth. Delays, uncertainty, and inefficiencies in justice delivery by regulators, commercial tribunals and appellate courts erode investor confidence and affect India’s global competitiveness and overall ease of doing business.
To this end, the inaugural cohort will be focusing on the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT), National Company Law Appellate Tribunal (NCLAT), Debt Recovery Tribunal (DRT), and the Debt Recovery Appellate Tribunal (DRAT), and the relevant regulators (IBBI, CCI, RoC, NFRA, etc) and appellate courts for these domains. Our ultimate goal is to spark system-level reforms, focusing on both the functioning of tribunals and underlying commercial laws, to ensure that our commercial policy is aligned with the needs of the evolving commercial landscape.
What will be the resulting impact from your participation in this Fellowship Programme?
The Fellowship will help bridge the gap between theoretical knowledge and practical application, and help facilitate you to think more deeply about institutional and system level issues plaguing our law and justice system. You will become part of a community of practice that will enable you to work with like-minded peers and experts to drive meaningful and impactful reforms to enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of India’s institutions and systems both during and after the Fellowship.
Any institutional and system-level transformation towards improving and strengthening our law and justice system invariably affects our society, public institutions, and economy. Consequently, through this Fellowship, you will get the distinct opportunity to ideate, develop and present proposals that can drive cross-systems impact at the intersection of our society, public institutions and economy, ranging from driving ease of doing business through streamlined legal processes, building investor confidence, driving increased foreign investment and making the judicial system more accessible and sustainable.
What are we at DAKSH solving?
DAKSH Society (DAKSH) is India’s leading think-tank and research institution focused on law and justice system reforms and access to justice. We are committed to driving meaningful institutional and system transformation to make the judicial system more efficient and effective. To this end, as thought leaders in the space, we have launched this fellowship programme to empower the next generation of legal leaders to transform India’s commercial justice system through experiential learning, innovative research, and collaborative problem-solving
Who is an NIST fellow?
An NIST Fellow is someone who:
● Is passionate about driving meaningful institutional and system-level transformation in India’s judicial system, particularly in the commercial law and policy landscape.
● Holds a bachelor’s degree (preferably in Law, Economics, Public Policy, Data Science) with a maximum of 0-4 years of post-qualification experience.
● Can commit to a full-time engagement of 40 hours/week for the next 6 months, demonstrating dedication and enthusiasm for the fellowship programme.
● Has previous experience in academic or policy writing, showcasing their ability to analyse complex issues and develop well-structured arguments.
What are the expectations for the fellows?
● You will be required to publish at least 6 blogs through the course of the fellowship which will be published on the DAKSH website.
● You will have to attend regular mentoring/check-in calls with the DAKSH team and the mentors.
● You will be working on a dedicated capstone project, which would be in the form of a white paper, report or policy proposal which will be published by DAKSH as part of a compendium.
● You will be required to assist on DAKSH’s ongoing programmes and research projects (this could include developing proposals, concept/background notes for workshops/sessions, and cultivating research collaborations).
● You will be required to mandatorily present your capstone project in a 2-3 day in-person conference that will be held in Bangalore/ Delhi in the last 4 weeks of the fellowship.
● You will maintain a high level of professionalism and ownership in all deliverables and interactions.
● You will proactively and transparently share regular updates and progress reports on your work.
What are the benefits of participating in this Fellowship Programme?
The NIST Fellowship offers a range of benefits including:
● Stipend: A monthly stipend of INR 50,000 to support fellows during the programme.
● Mentorship and Guidance: Monthly mentoring calls with experts to fine-tune research and discuss capstone projects.
● Access to DAKSH’s Network of Experts: Opportunities to tap into DAKSH’s network for guidance and support.
● Training and Skill-Building: Training on data analysis, policy analysis, and report writing to enhance fellows’ skills.
● Community Membership: Membership to the DAKSH Community, with priority access to events and networking opportunities for the duration of the Fellowship.
● Fully-Funded In-Person Conference: Funding assistance to attend a conference to present your capstone projects and network with leaders and peers in the space.
● Opportunity to Produce Actionable Research Outputs: Contribution to actionable research and policy analysis through blogs and podcasts
● Publication Opportunity: All the capstone projects would be published by DAKSH in a compendium after the conclusion of the Fellowship Programme. You may also get the opportunity to co-author the above mentioned work with members from the DAKSH team and the expert mentors (depending on the quality of the outputs).
● Certificate: A certificate acknowledging participation in the fellowship programme upon successful completion.
● Letter of Recommendation: Exceptional fellows may secure a Letter of Recommendation from the DAKSH team and their mentors.
● Financial Assistance: Financial assistance to cover certain miscellaneous expenses for carrying out fieldwork.
Inaugural Cohort: Fellows, Mentors and Their Capstone Projects
The first cohort of the NIST Fellowship brought together six young professionals from diverse disciplines to explore challenges in commercial dispute resolution. With guidance from experienced mentors, opportunities to engage with experts and practitioners, and a platform to present their research, the fellows developed six capstone projects examining key tribunals and regulatory institutions. The cohort laid the foundation for a growing community of researchers and practitioners working towards meaningful legal and institutional reform.
Explore the research and projects from the first cohort below.
FAQs
What is the focus area for the pioneering cohort?
DAKSH has over the years done pioneering work on reimagining courts and tribunals. One of our recent focus areas has been commercial tribunals, as part of the ‘Transforming Tribunals’ initiative, where we see them not merely as forums for resolving disputes, but as engines of economic justice and powerful drivers of growth. Delays, uncertainty, and inefficiencies in justice delivery by regulators, commercial tribunals and appellate courts erode investor confidence and affect India’s global competitiveness and overall ease of doing business.
To this end, the inaugural cohort will be focusing on the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT), National Company Law Appellate Tribunal (NCLAT), Debt Recovery Tribunal (DRT), and the Debt Recovery Appellate Tribunal (DRAT), and the relevant regulators (IBBI, CCI, RoC, NFRA, etc) and appellate courts for these domains. Our ultimate goal is to spark system-level reforms, focusing on both the functioning of tribunals and underlying commercial laws, to ensure that our commercial policy is aligned with the needs of the evolving commercial landscape.
What will be the resulting impact from your participation in this Fellowship Programme?
The Fellowship will help bridge the gap between theoretical knowledge and practical application, and help facilitate you to think more deeply about institutional and system level issues plaguing our law and justice system. You will become part of a community of practice that will enable you to work with like-minded peers and experts to drive meaningful and impactful reforms to enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of India’s institutions and systems both during and after the Fellowship.
Any institutional and system-level transformation towards improving and strengthening our law and justice system invariably affects our society, public institutions, and economy. Consequently, through this Fellowship, you will get the distinct opportunity to ideate, develop and present proposals that can drive cross-systems impact at the intersection of our society, public institutions and economy, ranging from driving ease of doing business through streamlined legal processes, building investor confidence, driving increased foreign investment and making the judicial system more accessible and sustainable.
What are we at DAKSH solving?
DAKSH Society (DAKSH) is India’s leading think-tank and research institution focused on law and justice system reforms and access to justice. We are committed to driving meaningful institutional and system transformation to make the judicial system more efficient and effective. To this end, as thought leaders in the space, we have launched this fellowship programme to empower the next generation of legal leaders to transform India’s commercial justice system through experiential learning, innovative research, and collaborative problem-solving
Who is an NIST fellow?
An NIST Fellow is someone who:
● Is passionate about driving meaningful institutional and system-level transformation in India’s judicial system, particularly in the commercial law and policy landscape.
● Holds a bachelor’s degree (preferably in Law, Economics, Public Policy, Data Science) with a maximum of 0-4 years of post-qualification experience.
● Can commit to a full-time engagement of 40 hours/week for the next 6 months, demonstrating dedication and enthusiasm for the fellowship programme.
● Has previous experience in academic or policy writing, showcasing their ability to analyse complex issues and develop well-structured arguments.
What are the expectations for the fellows?
● You will be required to publish at least 6 blogs through the course of the fellowship which will be published on the DAKSH website.
● You will have to attend regular mentoring/check-in calls with the DAKSH team and the mentors.
● You will be working on a dedicated capstone project, which would be in the form of a white paper, report or policy proposal which will be published by DAKSH as part of a compendium.
● You will be required to assist on DAKSH’s ongoing programmes and research projects (this could include developing proposals, concept/background notes for workshops/sessions, and cultivating research collaborations).
● You will be required to mandatorily present your capstone project in a 2-3 day in-person conference that will be held in Bangalore/ Delhi in the last 4 weeks of the fellowship.
● You will maintain a high level of professionalism and ownership in all deliverables and interactions.
● You will proactively and transparently share regular updates and progress reports on your work.
What are the benefits of participating in this Fellowship Programme?
The NIST Fellowship offers a range of benefits including:
● Stipend: A monthly stipend of INR 50,000 to support fellows during the programme.
● Mentorship and Guidance: Monthly mentoring calls with experts to fine-tune research and discuss capstone projects.
● Access to DAKSH’s Network of Experts: Opportunities to tap into DAKSH’s network for guidance and support.
● Training and Skill-Building: Training on data analysis, policy analysis, and report writing to enhance fellows’ skills.
● Community Membership: Membership to the DAKSH Community, with priority access to events and networking opportunities for the duration of the Fellowship.
● Fully-Funded In-Person Conference: Funding assistance to attend a conference to present your capstone projects and network with leaders and peers in the space.
● Opportunity to Produce Actionable Research Outputs: Contribution to actionable research and policy analysis through blogs and podcasts
● Publication Opportunity: All the capstone projects would be published by DAKSH in a compendium after the conclusion of the Fellowship Programme. You may also get the opportunity to co-author the above mentioned work with members from the DAKSH team and the expert mentors (depending on the quality of the outputs).
● Certificate: A certificate acknowledging participation in the fellowship programme upon successful completion.
● Letter of Recommendation: Exceptional fellows may secure a Letter of Recommendation from the DAKSH team and their mentors.
● Financial Assistance: Financial assistance to cover certain miscellaneous expenses for carrying out fieldwork.
Testimonials
Play Video
NIST Fellows: Inaugural Cohort
Play Video
Testimonial on the NIST Fellowship | Mentor: Pramod Rao
DAKSH Members
Surya Prakash BS,
Programme Director
Leah Verghese
Research Manager
Ritima Singh
Senior Research Associate
Abhishek Jain
Consultant
Our Supporters
For this edition of the Fellowship Programme, we received funding support from Premji Invest. Premji Invest primarily supports the philanthropic initiatives of the Azim Premji Foundation, a not-for-profit organization that seeks to improve the lives of the underserved and underprivileged in society .
Contact
If you have any questions about the programme, you can reach out to us at abhishek@dakshindia.org
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