Virudhaka originated as an inter-college sports fest proposed by NLIU Bhopal to promote sportsman spirit and friendly competition among students from across India. The fest has grown in size, student participation, and events by leaps and bounds every year. This is also due in part to the efforts left behind by the university to spread the event within and outside the legal community.
The festival also includes many events so that everyone has something to do. These contestants can engage in football, futsal, badminton, basketball, cricket, lawn tennis, bodybuilding, volleyball, chess, pool and snooker, table tennis, throwball, carrom, e-sports league, and sports mediation. This motley crowd of an event unites varied interests and skills, so it's a relaxed and fun event for all law students in India. Virudhaka began as an inter-college sports activity conducted by NLIU Bhopal with the purpose to instill sportsman spirit and friendly competition among Indian students. The event has increased immensely in size, participation, and type of activities over the years. The growth also attributes to the initiatives of the university in marketing the event outside and within the legal community. It is a success event owing to the dedication of NLIU students who organize all elements of the festival, ranging from planning and organization to marketing and execution. The faculty members also provide excellent guidance and maintain high standards. What began as a series of friendly intra-university games has evolved into one of the country's largest inter-collegiate sporting festivals. Far from being a competition, Virudhaka encourages camaraderie, fair play and unleashes the diverse talents of law students in the country. The festival is all about giving the best, creating bonds which would last an eternity and enjoying the centuries old culture of sportsman spirit. This year's VIRUDHAKA will raise the bar. In its fifteenth year, the festival expands in size and fervor. The competition finds its measure between competitive and communal, bringing together law students from across India.
The festival is not merely about empowering students to grow in sports but also in teamwork, leadership, and event management. It provides avenues for students to grow in terms of perseverance, discipline and fault-finding, demonstrating the ways in which sports develop character more than book intelligence.
In a significant move to fill the gap between legal pedagogy and professional practice, Symbiosis Law School (SLS), Hyderabad signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Tavish Law Offices on October 4, 2025. With the collaboration, it is hoping to provide students greater exposure to actual legal settings and inculcate in them the practical hands-on training they need under the evolving legal dispensation today.
The MoU was signed in the presence of Mr. Pratik V. Rajopadhye, Managing Partner, Tavish Law Offices. On the occasion, he remarked on the growing need for law students to receive practical exposure beyond college walls. "Legal education has to catch up with the profession. Our tie-up with Symbiosis Law School will allow students to understand how theory is applied," he added.
The project also aims to provide a formal platform for experiential learning through which students will get an interface with practicing lawyers, clients, and case files directly.
Symbiosis Law School, Hyderabad officials said that the tie-up is in consonance with the school's vision of harmonizing academic excellence with professional aptitude. "We want our graduates not just to know law but industry-fit as well. Arrangements like this allow our students to better acclimatize to the changing needs of the legal profession," said the school.
The MoU also provides scope for bilateral seminars, legal research work, and knowledge transfer exercises between the two institutes. It would act as an exemplar for industry-academia collaboration in legal education.
This project is another step by Symbiosis Law School, Hyderabad in providing wholistic learning experience reaffirming its commitment to the development of the future generation of capable and ethics-oriented legal professionals.
Intentionally, the workshop was designed to familiarize the students with Intellectual Property Law basics and its increasing significance in the new economy of innovation.
The workshop gave a comprehensive insight into the different types of Intellectual Property such as Trademarks, Patents, Copyrights, and Geographical Indications and how they protect creativity, enable innovation, and promote economic development. The students were also introduced to procedural and practical stages associated with filing, enforcement, and settlement of disputes in the context of IPR.
The session was conducted by eminent resource persons: Mr. K. Shravan Kumar Yadav, Senior Associate, Juris Prime Law Services, and Ms. Vishala Ande, Chairperson & Founder, VissLaw Chambers both of whom had deep experience and industry expertise to offer the discussion.
The experts presented outstanding real-life experiences of enforcement of Intellectual Property legislations, based on their professional expertise. They underlined the reality that the topic of IPR is evolving with technology advancement and globalization, and urged students to search for new frontiers in IP litigation, corporate counseling, patent search, and IP management.
The workshop was finalized with a live Question and Answer session, during which the students debated out the problems and trends in IPR, for instance, internet piracy as a problem, authorship in AI, and IP harmonization worldwide. The workshop was a rich platform for students to develop practical exposure, conceptual awareness, and know more about possible career avenues in the difficult domain of Intellectual Property Rights. These programs align with Symbiosis Law School, Hyderabad's mission of bringing academic study near actual practice in law, transforming its students into professional skills practitioners in the constantly changing field of law.
Symbiosis Law School, Hyderabad along with the ICSI Hyderabad Chapter organized a Career Development Session on "Career Opportunity as a Company Secretary," providing students with first-hand information regarding the changing CS profession, corporate governance, and compliance in the Indian corporate segment.
Symbiosis Law School Hyderabad (SLS-H) Training and Placement Cell jointly, in collaboration with ICSI Hyderabad Chapter, recently conducted a successful Career Development Session on "Career Opportunity as a Company Secretary." The session was conducted to enlighten the students regarding the upsurge trend of the Company Secretary (CS) profession and growing importance of corporate governance in contemporary business systems.
The interactive session gave students important facts regarding the career route, profession, and job of a Company Secretary, such as step-by-step qualification process as well as varied opportunities that are available in various industries. The speakers highlighted the growing significance of the CS profession in regulatory compliance, ethical governance, and business decision-making, qualifying it to be among the most in-demand career opportunities in the corporate world today. The session also touched on the role of Company Secretaries in corporate governance, mergers and acquisitions, securities regulation, and boardroom advisory functions, becoming pillars of integrity and sustainability of organizations. The students were encouraged to view the CS qualification as more than a mere qualification but as a stepping stone towards a wide-based and satisfying career in corporate law and management.
This scheme was a incubation platform for the students where they became exposed to the professionals from the Institute of Company Secretaries of India (ICSI) and received practical exposure, career direction, and mentoring of the dynamic nature of the CS profession. Through such affiliations, Symbiosis Law School, Hyderabad continues to keep its promise of providing industry-friendly learning experiences to career-oriented education, bridging academics with industry, and making students effective professionals in a competitive corporate and legal landscape.
The Faculty of Law Medicaps University, Indore, Madhya Pradesh, is a leading academic, research, and innovation hub. The Faculty of Law aims to inculcate analytical reasoning, professional skills, and legal ethics in students by way of experiential learning activities such as mooting, legal aid, and research development. This flagship competition is being hosted by the Moot Court Committee (MCC) of Medicaps University for bridging the gap between theoretical learning and practical practice. T Targeted at promoting analysis and collaboration, the competition will call for engagement from the best law schools in the nation.
Eligibility and Registration
The competition is for students pursuing 3-year LL.B., 5-year integrated LL.B., or LL.M. programs in recognised Indian colleges and universities. Institutions may register one team of two or three students (two speakers and one researcher). Registration Fee: ₹3,000 per team Last Date of Registration: 5th January 2026 (11:55 PM) Accommodation, if needed, will be provided on a first-come, first-served basis.
With almost 2,000 law colleges already in existence, the BCI will be looking to change tack from growth to quality improvement. The article covers the implication of the moratorium on students, colleges, and teachers, presents facts and statistics about law colleges and students, talks about causes of poor quality, and weighs its wisdom in light of judicial backlog in India. It also coincides with major-bang education reforms, including our own on Samagra Shiksha and NEP 2020.
Overview of the Moratorium
The moratorium disallows new law colleges or approval for extra sections, courses, or batches in already established institutions without first BCI approval. Already at the final clearance stage such institutions are not exempted either. The policy seeks to address the fall in the quality of legal education due to:
Rash development of sub-standard institutions
Irresponsible approvals without due verification
Commercialization and academical impropriety
Inadequate right faculty
Exceptions could be permitted for colleges serving backward classes (e.g., SC/ST, EWS, or tribal regions), subject to stringent criteria such as government sanctions and proper infrastructure. Existing colleges will be strictly checked, with the default mode of being derecognized. BCI will examine the policy every year, with the liberty of extending or amending it.
Implications for Stakeholders
Students
Moratorium can improve the quality of education and make students more employable. It can restrict entry in backward areas, and students have to compete very hard for admission in premier institutions such as NLUs. With ~100,000 law graduates every year, there are barely a handful of them getting high-paying jobs and others from low-grade colleges fall behind.
Colleges
Current colleges are aided by less competition, facilitating investment in people and infrastructure. Tougher audits would harm weaker colleges at risk of closure. Prohibition on new batches might limit income, especially for private colleges that depend on growth.
Staff
Staff can gain job security and professional development opportunities in quality-oriented colleges. Shoddy colleges undergoing audits, in contrast, can lose staff through lay-offs. The policy indirectly encourages research and ethics training, raising the level of scholarship.
Law Colleges and Student Strength
India has ~1,700–2,000 law colleges, including university law departments, listed by the BCI. The state-wise division is as follows:
Uttar Pradesh: ~200–250 colleges
Maharashtra: ~150–200
Karnataka: ~100–120
Tamil Nadu: ~80–100
Others: Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh each have 50–100
There are about 4–5 lakh students, out of which ~100,000 graduate each year. NLUs provide ~4,000 seats via CLAT, highlighting the strong competition for quality education
In a milestone move signaling a new era in India's legal regulatory landscape, the Bar Council of India (BCI) has officially brought into effect the Rules for Registration and Regulation of Foreign Lawyers and Foreign Law Firms in India, 2022, by way of a press note and notification on 14 May 2025. The rules, first gazetted in March 2023, are a measured step forward welcoming foreign entry into some segments of legal practice, but safely ring-fencing the domain of Indian law for Indian counsel.
This action falls at the intersection of two concurrent desires: India's desire to become an international commercial arbitration hub, and necessity to protect the professional, moral, and economic interests of its domestic legal fraternity. Instead of opening wide the floodgates, the BCI has opted to mark out and define the boundaries of acceptable foreign legal conduct by means of a formal, rule-oriented procedure that places a high premium on non-litigious advisory services, international legal cooperation, and reciprocity-based access.
Essentially, the regulatory shift bars foreign law firms from advising on foreign and international law, particularly foreign-element arbitration and cross-border transactions. Notably, it clarifies that the practice of Indian law, including appearance before tribunals and courts, legal consultancy, and litigation, is the exclusive domain of Indian advocates under the Advocates Act, 1961.
As India integrates more into the global economic system, this reform is situated not as liberalization in and of itself, but as a thoughtful group of rules to attract international legal talent, enhance investor confidence, and enable Indian lawyers to venture out while not compromising the integrity of the Indian Bar.
Key Highlights of the 2025 Amendments
The 2025 amendment to the Bar Council of India Rules for foreign law firms and foreign lawyers in India provides a comprehensive regulatory framework. Instead of an across-the-board liberalization of the Indian legal services market, these reforms are a specific and calibrated opening, with robust protections to maintain the sovereignty of the Indian legal profession.
1. Scope of Permissible Practice
Foreign law firms and foreign lawyers may practice only:
Foreign law;
International law;
International commercial arbitration under some conditions.
They are strictly barred from practising Indian law in any way, including:
Being present before courts, tribunals, or statutory/quasi-judicial authorities;
Providing advice on Indian statues, rules, or case law;
Preparing or examining Indian law-regulated contracts.
2. Regulatory Forms and Compliance Mechanism
To formalize their presence, foreign legal professionals must comply with the following filing structure:
Form A: New registration (first-time);
Form B: Renewal of registration (five years validity, renewable).
Form C: Declaration for temporary entry under Fly-In Fly-Out (FIFO) scheme.
3. Fly-In Fly-Out (FIFO) Restrictions
Foreign lawyers are permitted to make temporary entry into India for client work, but:
Their temporary stay may not exceed 60 days during any 12 months.
The scope of advice may not exceed foreign law or matters of international legal interest only.
Every visit must be pre-declared in Form C, such as jurisdiction, client, and the nature of the engagement in question.
Such a requirement aims to enable short-term cross-border advice but prevent informal or disguised practice of law on Indian soil.
4. Ministry Approvals Mandatory
Registration under the new regime is conditional upon the issue of:
A No Objection Certificate (NOC) by the Ministry of Law and Justice, and
A concurrent NOC by the Ministry of External Affairs.
Such a dual approval requirement assists in ensuring that the regulatory framework under the law is in keeping with India's foreign policy as much as with trade interests.
5. Qualification, Documents, and Due Diligence
Eligibility for registration on the part of foreign lawyers and foreign law firms requires providing:
Proof of primary legal qualification within the home jurisdiction;
Proof of valid license to practice law in that jurisdiction;
A good standing certificate from their national bar or regulator;
A compliance declaration under the Advocates Act, 1961, and the BCI rules.
These steps enable only professionally regulated, qualified foreign legal persons to pursue activities permitted in India.
Together, these amendments represent a model of regulation which is open—but not exposed. They signal that India is willing to accede to global legal regimes on its own terms—by encouraging arbitration, cross-border expertise and knowledge transfer, yet declining explicitly foreign encroachment in Indian legal practice.
Protection for Indian Advocates
One of the primary objectives of the new BCI regulations is the complete protection of the Indian bar. The rules say in no uncertain terms that the practice of Indian law is specifically reserved for Indian advocates who are registered under the Advocates Act, 1961. Foreign lawyers and foreign law firms are not allowed to appear in Indian courts, conduct litigation, or provide advice on Indian legal provisions.
To preserve this exclusivity, the BCI has implemented a set of eligibility screens, compliance provisions, and time limits, such as the FIFO limit on tenure of stay, to prevent foreign participation from taking the form of clandestine domestic legal practice. Besides, Indian lawyers have their right of double registration, i.e., they can be registered as "foreign lawyers" to practice international and foreign law while retaining their rights under Indian law. This presents the opportunity for Indian advocates to expand their international exposure without jeopardizing their indigenous status.
Legal Validity and Judicial Backdrop
The amendments are in line with the jurisprudence developed in the pioneering judgments such as Bar Council of India v. A.K. Balaji (2018), wherein the Supreme Court had permitted foreign lawyers to practice on a limited scale limited to foreign law on a fly-in, fly-out basis, provided it is non-litigious and reciprocity-based. The new rules now codify and crystallize these judicial norms into a formal, structured regulatory framework.
By specifically prohibiting foreign lawyers from practicing Indian law and restricting their role to advisory services on foreign law, the amendments are in harmony with Section 29 of the Advocates Act, 1961, which allows only such advocates enrolled under the Act to practice law in India.
Requirements for Compliance by Foreign Law Firms
The rules mandate a widespread application and renewal process. Automatic registration does not apply and is to be approved in terms of qualification, professional behavior, and regulation compliance. All applicants are to furnish detailed documentation, including proof of licencing, good standing without disciplinary record, and compliance certificates with BCI standards. Temporary visits require advance notice, and all actions that fall within the remit of approved practice are to be within the mandated frameworks.
Notably, any breach or bypassing of these regulations can lead to cancellation of registration, such that not only compliance but also enforcement is facilitated. Such procedural safeguards reflect that the BCI wants to ensure participation by foreign parties to be regulated, reciprocal, and in limited terms.
Conclusion
The 2025 changes introduced by the Bar Council of India are a landmark shift in the country's legal regulatory mechanism. Instead of denoting unbridled liberalization, the framework constitutes a judiciously crafted strategy, embracing foreign lawyers and law firms into India's legal space, but on strictly regulated terms that maintain the integrity of Indian legal practice. By restricting foreign involvement to advisory roles in foreign and international law and denying them any presence whatsoever in practicing Indian law or engaging in litigation, the BCI has reaffirmed its dedication to protecting the statutory and professional sanctity of Indian lawyers.
These reforms simultaneously attest to the enhanced confidence of India as a jurisdiction entirely integrated with international trade and international dispute resolution. For Indian lawyers and law afirms, it is a shield and an opportunity—an opportunity to assert their place on the international stage through two-way frameworks, while keeping their place in the national legal order. If applied with consistency and oversight, this model of regulation could be a blueprint for other emerging economies as they balance legal sovereignty against engagement with the world.
