Event Details

South Asian Conference on Election Law, Governance and Administrative Reforms in the Age of Artificial Intelligence (SAC ELGAR AI 2026)

FROM 14 Dec 2026 TO 15 Dec 2026

Venue : Faculty of Law, Manipal University Jaipur, in Online Mode via MS Teams @

The Faculty of Law, Manipal University Jaipur, is organising the South Asian Conference on Election Law, Governance and Administrative Reforms in the Age of Artificial Intelligence (SAC ELGAR AI 2026) on 14-15 December 2026, in collaboration with the Faculty of Legal Studies, South Asian University; the Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR), New Delhi; and Asia Centre, Thailand.

The conference is supported by CAISR International as the Research Partner, Manupatra as the Knowledge Partner, and Lawctopus as the Media Partner.

At a time when artificial intelligence is reshaping democratic processes and public institutions, the conference seeks to examine how legal and administrative frameworks can respond to technological change while preserving constitutional values and democratic legitimacy. It recognises the need for sustained scholarly engagement with the opportunities and challenges that emerging technologies present for governance, institutional accountability and public participation.

Conceived as an interdisciplinary forum, the conference will bring together scholars, judges, legal professionals, election administrators, policymakers, technologists, researchers and civil society representatives. It will provide a platform for exchanging ideas, examining institutional experiences and developing comparative perspectives on the future of democratic governance.

Through academic deliberations and dialogue between scholarship and practice, the conference aims to advance research and generate practical recommendations for strengthening democratic institutions. Its broader objective is to contribute to transparent, accountable and inclusive governance, ensuring that technological advancement remains consistent with fundamental rights, human dignity and the rule of law.

Broad Themes for SAC ELGAR AI:

Theme 1: Foundations of Democratic Theory

• Reimagining Democracy in the Twenty-First Century
• Democratic Backsliding and Constitutional Resilience
• Philosophical and Comparative Perspectives on Democratic Governance

Theme 2: Constitutional Governance, Administration and Rule of Law

• Judicial Independence and Constitutional Accountability
• Administrative Reforms and Good Governance
• Federalism, Decentralisation and Democratic Deepening
• Institutional Integrity and Constitutional Design

Theme 3: Artificial Intelligence, Technology and Digital Governance

• Algorithmic Governance and Administrative Decision-Making
• AI, Public Administration and the Rule of Law
• Social Media Regulation and Electoral Processes
• Digital Rights, Data Governance and Democratic Accountability

Theme 4: Gender, Diversity and Political Representation

• Women's Political Participation and Representation
• Constitutional Approaches to Gender Equality
• Minority Rights and Democratic Inclusion
• Identity, Representation and Electoral Justice

Theme 5: Elections, Electoral Integrity and Democratic Reform

• Electoral Governance and Institutional Independence
• Disinformation, Deepfakes and Election Security
• Campaign Finance Transparency and Electoral Accountability
• Electoral System Reforms and Democratic Representation

Theme 6: Democracy and Emerging Global Challenges

• Majoritarianism, Populism and Constitutional Pluralism
• Democracy in the Age of Artificial Intelligence
• Deliberative, Participatory and Digital Democracy
• Democratic Futures, Sovereignty and Global Governance

Publishing and Editorial:

Selected submissions may be considered for publication in Scopus-indexed journals, including Public Administration & Policy (Q2), subject to the respective journals' peer-review processes and editorial acceptance. Additional submissions may also be considered for inclusion in a Scopus-indexed edited volume, subject to the quality of the papers and the discretion of the Editorial Board.

Any applicable article processing charges (APCs) or other publication fees will be borne separately by the participants, at the actual rates prescribed by the respective publishers.

Timeline of Conference:

Abstract Submission: https://forms.gle/DmoTr6P8571UfxJh9

Payment Link: https://formbuilder.ccavenue.com/live/ccavenue/manipal-university-jaipur-2/2026025-sac-elgar-ai-2026

Conference Registration Charges:

Conveners:

Dr. Vedansh Sharma
vedansh.sharma@jaipur.manipal.edu
+91-8302965771

Mr. Toshan Chandrakar
toshan.chandrakar@jaipur.manipal.edu
+91-9770780682

Contact Information:

sac.elgar.conf@gmail.com