Human Resources Department Ministry Seeks Changes in India’s Law Education

As India emerges as a burgeoning international power—both economically and politically—a national committee seeks to revamp the country’s legal education requirements. The committee is attempting to add an interdisciplinary focus to the India’s law programs. Ideally, changing the requirements for would-be Indian lawyers will ensure better-rounded lawyers able to work within multiple fields. The changes will also, in theory, lead to better trained lawyers able to serve both in national and international courts.

While the Bar Council of India (BCI) has offered pointed criticism of the proposed educational revamp, Human Resource Development Minister Kapil Sibal stands behind the move. Sibal claims that the BCI did not have all the necessary data on the issue to make for accurate criticism.

The 12-member committee is also exploring new legal course offerings at the undergraduate level and also in the primary school curriculum. The proposed revisions will allow those with a Bachelor’s of Arts in Law to have additional marketable skills, making it possible for law students to get jobs in other fields. Additionally, the Ministry feels it is important for interdisciplinary courses to be offered so that students in other fields—like engineering or medicine—can explore legal topics useful in their fields without fully committing to a law degree.

Though Sibal has chastised BCI criticism, the Supreme Court Bar Association president assured Sibal in an official statement that the Bar will support the reforms planned by the committee.

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