67th Annual Conference of the Indian Society of Labour Economics (ISLE)

About the Conference & Banaras Hindu University (BHU)

The Indian Society of Labour Economics (ISLE) is pleased to announce its 67th Annual Conference to be held at Banaras Hindu University (BHU), Varanasi, India, during 19-21 December 2026. The conference is being organized by the Department of Economics, BHU. It serves as an international platform open to academicians, professionals, policymakers, analysts, development practitioners, and civil society members interested in labour, employment, and development issues.

Conference Themes

• Theme I: Beyond Globalisation: Work and Employment in a Changing World
• Theme II: Shifting Dynamics in Work and Employment Relations
• Theme III: Revisiting Informal Sector: Nature, Measurement and Emerging Perspectives

Important Dates & Schedule

• Last Date for Paper Submission: 31 August 2026
• Last Date for Registration: 15 October 2026
• Pre-Conference Events: 18 December 2026, from 4:00 PM to 7:00 PM
• Conference Duration: Begins at 9:00 AM on 19 December 2026 and concludes by 3:00 PM on 21 December 2026

Conference Structure & Academic Activities

The conference programme consists of presentations of selected papers on the conference themes in thematic and technical sessions. In addition, 3-4 plenary lectures by eminent scholars, experts, and public intellectuals will be held. A plenary panel and around 8-10 thematic (parallel) panels will also be organized.

Guidelines for Paper Submission

• Papers must be submitted online at conference.isleijle.org by clicking on the ‘Paper Presenter’ button.
• The length of the paper should be between 5,000 to 7,000 words, adhering to the current style of the Indian Journal of Labour Economics (IJLE).
• All papers should include a summary/abstract of around 300-500 words.
• Submissions must be original work and will be thoroughly screened for plagiarism. Selected revised papers presented at the conference will be considered for publication in the IJLE after peer review.

Panel Proposals Guidelines

Proposals for organizing thematic panels are invited from scholars and institutions. Each proposal must include the panel title, theme description, paper titles/authors/abstracts (around 500 words), names, affiliations, 100-word biographies, high-resolution pictures of panelists/moderators/chairs, organizers’ high-resolution logos, and social media handles. The panel registration fee is ₹50,000/- for institutions within India or US $1000 for institutions outside India.

Awards & Fellowships

• Best Paper Awards: ISLE offers awards for the best papers presented at the conference by young scholars below 35 years of age.
• IWWAGE – ISLE Fellowships for Young Women Scholars: Five fellowships provided in collaboration with the Institute for What Works to Advance Gender Equality (IWWAGE) for young women scholars aged 35 or below pursuing advanced degrees in Economics, Gender Studies, Development Studies, Public Policy, and related social sciences.

Detailed Registration Fees Structure

• India (INR) – Non-ISLE Members (With Accommodation): ₹8,500
• India (INR) – ISLE Life Members (With Accommodation): ₹7,000
• India (INR) – Accompanying Person: ₹5,000
• India (INR) – ISLE Life Members (Without Accommodation): ₹4,000
• India (INR) – Non-ISLE Members (Without Accommodation): ₹5,500
• Students (Post Graduates & Ph.D.) India – With Accommodation: ₹5,500 (Non-ISLE) / ₹4,000 (ISLE Members)
• Students India – Without Accommodation: ₹4,000 (Non-ISLE) / ₹2,500 (ISLE Members) / ₹3,000 (Accompanying)
• Developing Countries (US $) – With Accommodation: $150 (Delegate) / $75 (Students)
• Developing Countries (US $) – Without Accommodation: $75 (Delegate) / $60/$50 (Students)
• Other Countries (US $) – With Accommodation: $250 (Delegate) / $125 (Students)
• Other Countries (US $) – Without Accommodation: $125 (Delegate) / $100/$75 (Students)

Cancellation & Refund Policy

Cancellations made prior to one month of the conference start date are eligible for a 75% refund. Cancellations made three weeks prior are eligible for a 50% refund. No refunds will be issued for cancellations made less than three weeks before the conference start date.

Key Contacts & Organizing Committee