About the Conference
The Indian Society of Labour Economics (ISLE) is pleased to announce its 67th Annual Conference to be held in Banaras Hindu University (BHU), Varanasi, India during 19-21 December 2026. The Conference is being organised by the Department of Economics, BHU and Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), BHU. Prof. S. Madheswaran, Visiting Professor, Institute for Human Development (IHD); and Adviser, Jain University, Bengaluru, and ICRISAT; is the Conference President. Professor Nidhi Sharma, Department of Economics, Faculty of Social Sciences, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi (U.P.), is the Conference Organising Secretary, and Professor Anup Kumar Mishra, Head, Department of Economics, DAV PG College, BHU, is the Joint Organising Secretary.
Participation in the Conference is by invitation and registration only. The Conference is international and prospective contributors from both India and outside are invited to contribute papers and participate
Conference Structure and Duration
The Conference Programme will consist of presentations of selected papers on the Conference themes in the thematic and technical sessions. In addition, 3-4 Plenary lectures by eminent scholars/experts /and public intellectuals will be held during the Conference. A Plenary Panel and around 8-10 Thematic (Parallel) Panels will also be organised. The Conference will begin at 9:00 am on 19th December 2026 and conclude by 4: 00 pm on 21 December 2026. Participants are advised to reach Varanasi a day prior to the Conference and schedule their departure after 5 pm on 21 December 2026.
Pre-Conference Events
Pre-Conference Events (topics to be announced later on) will also be organised on 18 December 2026 from 4pm onwards, followed by dinner. Those interested in participating in the Pre-Conference events should aim to reach the Conference venue by the noon on 18 December 2026.
General Participation
Scholars, experts, organisations and stakeholders interested in labour and employment issues who do not want to present papers in the Conference are also welcome to register and participate in the Conference and contribute to its deliberations. Conference registration charge should be paid online at https://conference.isleijle.org by clicking the ‘Conference Participation Charges’ button.
Travel Arrangements
The Indian Society of Labour Economics does not have any regular source of funding and each year the Society tries to raise some limited resources. As such, it is expected that the paper presenters, resource persons and other participants will fund their travel costs through their own institutions or other sources. For some select keynote / invited paper writers and resource persons, who are either superannuated or cannot manage their travel costs, the Society will make an effort to meet their travel expenses.
Accommodation Arrangements
The host will provide modest accommodation for the conference days only. Delegates will be accommodated in the University guest house/transit house, as well as in hostels and guest houses adjacent to the conference venue/university. Delegates arriving early or departing late are expected to pay for this additional accommodation. Upon completion of registration, detailed accommodation information will be communicated to delegates in advance.