Young Scholars' Conclave

The Young Scholars’ Conclave is a joint initiative of the Foundation for Agrarian Studies (FAS), an independent research organisation committed to multidisciplinary theoretical and empirical inquiry in agrarian studies, and CHRIST (Deemed to be University), Bengaluru.

Drawing on FAS’s long-standing engagement with young scholars, the conclave seeks to create a platform for emerging researchers from India and across the world working on agrarian studies and rural development. The initiative aims to encourage the exchange of academic knowledge, strengthen research, and foster collaboration between young scholars and leading experts in the field.

The inaugural Young Scholars’ Conclave will be held at CHRIST (Deemed to be University), Bangalore, Yeshwanthpur Campus, from 2–4 December 2026.

The conclave aims to:

  • Create a platform for young scholars from across the world working on rural development.
  • Provide young scholars with an opportunity to present their work and receive feedback from their peers to help shape their research.
  • Facilitate interaction between young scholars and senior scholars working on different aspects of rural India and agrarian studies.
  • Curate special lectures by experts in the field.
  • Facilitate a discussion on databases relevant to agrarian studies and rural development.
  • Foster building long-term academic networks and collaborations among emerging researchers.

Barbara Harriss-White, Emeritus Professor of Development Studies, University of Oxford, is the Academic Convenor of this conclave.

Thematic Areas

The conclave will feature research presentations and discussions organised around the following broad thematic areas:

  • Role of Science and Technology in Agrarian and Rural Transformation
  • Inequality, Deprivation, and Living Standards in the Countryside
  • Agrarian Relations
  • Dynamics of Farm and Non-Farm, and Rural and Urban Linkages (including Migration)
  • Agriculture and the Environment (including Climate Change)