The people of the Centre

Ex-officio Coordinator

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  Prof. (Dr.) G.S. Bajpai

  Ex-officio Coordinator; Vice Chancellor, National Law University Delhi

  Prof. (Dr.) G.S. Bajpai serves as the Vice Chancellor of National Law University Delhi. He is equipped with more than thirty years of professional experience as an author, researcher, teacher and administrator.

  He has previously served as the Vice Chancellor at Rajiv Gandhi National University of Law (RGNUL), Punjab, and Registrar at National Law University Delhi. He has also served as Senior Professor of Criminology and Criminal Justice (Law), Chair Professor at K.L Arora Chair in Criminal Law, and Chairperson of the Centre for Criminology & Victimology at National Law University Delhi. Before that, he served as Professor (Law and development) & Chairperson at the Centre for Criminal Justice Administration, National Law Institute University, Bhopal. He has also held positions at the Indian Institute of Public Administration (1989), Bureau of Police Research & Development (1989- 1995), Punjab Police Academy, Punjab and Department of Criminology & Forensic Science, University of Saugar, M.P. Under his guidance, as many as 12 students have already completed doctoral dissertations (Ph. D.). In addition to a Master’s specialisation in Criminology and criminal Justice, he holds a doctorate in victimology and a post-doctorate in criminal justice from Leicester University, U.K., as a Commonwealth Fellow at the Department of Criminology, Leicester University, U.K.

The team

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  Ms Nishtha Sharma

  Research and Programme Coordinator; In-Charge, CIIPC

  Nishtha Sharma is Research and Programme Coordinator at National Law University Delhi. She currently serves as In-Charge of the Centre for Innovation, Intellectual Property and Competition (CIIPC) and the WIPO–NLU Delhi–IPO Joint Master’s/LL.M. in IP Law and Management Programme.

  Her work spans legal research, academic programme management, institutional collaboration, content development, and student engagement. She has played an instrumental role in developing key intellectual property initiatives at the University, including the WIPO–NLU Delhi–IPO Joint Master’s/LL.M. in IP Law and Management Programme, the Professional Diploma in IP Administration and Legislation, and the Vidhi Pragati National IP Moot Court Competition. Associated with all three from their formative stages, she has contributed to their development, implementation, and continued growth.

  Nishtha is also the writer and graphic creator of IP Essentials, an abridged course that makes intellectual property concepts accessible through clear content and visual communication. She has also played a key role in the transition of ScholarshIP Blog into Innovation Brief, a student-run initiative, and currently serves as its Chief Advisor. In addition, she serves as an advisor to RCC. These roles reflect her belief in holistic development and the importance of engaging with different aspects of academic life, from research and programme development to creatives, communication and student mentorship.

  Before joining academia, Nishtha practised law for over two years, gaining experience in legal practice and litigation. She holds a B.A. LL.B. (Hons.) and an LL.M. in Business Law, and qualified the UGC-NET in Law in 2023.

  4 appearances in the record

  • Indian Publishers Conference 2026: Copyright, Licensing and AI 22 Aug 2026 · moderator, session 1
  • International Conference on Geographical Indications (GDGU-ICGE 2026) 10–11 Apr 2026 · session chair
  • Design Conclave 2026: Design as a Strategic Business Asset 4 Apr 2026 · panellist
  • Design Conclave 2025: AI Design and Design Rights Date not recorded · panellist

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  Ms Priyanka Sonowal

  Research Assistant

  Ms Priyanka Sonowal is a Ph.D. researcher at National Law University Delhi, her thesis is focused on Geographical Indications. She is currently a Research Associate at the DPIIT IPR Chair and the Centre for Innovation, Intellectual Property and Competition, NLU Delhi. Her work spans across key areas of IP, including, geographical indications, trademarks, and innovation policy, combining doctrinal research, empirical analysis, and comparative legal studies. Her work includes academic publications and policy briefs submitted to the Government. She has also contributed to dialogues on intellectual property and presented at various national and international conferences. Additionally, she has contributed immensely to the Professional Diploma in IP Administration and Legislation. Presently, she is also advising Innovation Brief.

  Previously, she worked as an Assistant Professor of Law at Alliance University for over four and a half years, where she taught Public International Law, Torts, and Property Law. She also mentored students and contributed to curriculum development and academic strategy.

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  Mr Sarthak Dewan

  Research Assistant

  Sarthak Dewan is a Research Assistant at the DPIIT Chair at National Law University, Delhi. He is pursuing a PhD in Law at Panjab University, Chandigarh, and holds an LL.M., specialising in Intellectual Property Rights from the Indian Law Institute, New Delhi, and a B.A. LL.B. from Vivekananda Institute of Professional Studies, Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University, Delhi.

  He has professional experience as an Assistant Professor at the School of Law, Ideal Institute of Management & Technology, Delhi, and as an Advocate in Delhi. His academic interests include Intellectual Property Rights, Competition Law, Constitutional Law, and emerging technologies. A UGC-NET-qualified candidate for Assistant Professor in Law, he has also participated in academic training programmes relating to artificial intelligence, governance, legal research, and intellectual property.