Dehradun : The School of Law at IMS Unison University, inaugurated its 4th International Conference on Legal, Ethical, and Regulatory Challenges from the Use of Emerging Technologies in Healthcare, Trade and Commerce on 17th April 2026 with great enthusiasm and academic rigour. The two-day conference, being held on 17th-18th April 2026, is organized in collaboration with Skyline University, Nigeria.
The inaugural function was graced by the presence of Smt. Meenakshi Lekhi, Senior Advocate, Supreme Court of India, Former Minister of State for External Affairs and Minister of State for Culture, Government of India, as the Chief Guest. Smt. Lekhi has formerly been a Member of Parliament representing the New Delhi constituency. She has been a beacon of legal excellence and public service since her election to the 16th Lok Sabha in 2014 and subsequent re-election to the 17th Lok Sabha in 2019.
The distinguished guest offered a floral tribute to the Wall of Martyrs at the university and was warmly felicitated by the university dignitaries, including Dr. Anil SubbaRao Paila, Vice Chancellor, and Dr. Anitha Ramachander, Pro Vice-Chancellor of IMS Unison University. The conference chairs, Dr. Amit Adlakha, Dean, School of Law, IMS Unison University, and Dr. Muhammad Nuruddeen, Dean, School of Legal Studies, Skyline University, Nigeria, joining virtually, extended a warm welcome to all participants.
Addressing requests from scholars and students in the gathering, Smt. Lekhi opened with an anecdote of the assertion of gender equality in the country’s legal language while serving as the Chairperson of the Parliamentary Committee on Privileges (2016–2019), and recommending replacing the masculine pronoun “he” with gender-neutral or inclusive terms such as “she” in parliamentary and legal texts to reflect equality. She also emphasized on balanced legal frameworks that encourage technological innovation while ensuring fairness, transparency, and compliance in the global commercial system, as law does not exist in isolation, but within the larger ambit of our society. Closing her address, she commended the organizers for bringing together scholars, practitioners, and policymakers to address pressing challenges arising from artificial intelligence and automation in commerce and healthcare.
The conference has received an overwhelming response with over 110 research abstracts from 55 prestigious institutions, including Banaras Hindu University (BHU), Symbiosis Law School, Delhi University, Panjab University, Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology (KIIT), University of Lagos, Nigeria, and the collaborating institution, Skyline University, Nigeria. This diverse participation underscores the global relevance of the conference theme and reflects the growing need for interdisciplinary dialogue on emerging technologies.
The conference focuses on six key themes: AI Accountability and Automated Decision-Making; CSR, Environmental Sustainability & Governance; Role of Emerging Technologies in Creating Ethical Healthcare System; Emerging Technologies: Technical, Legal, and Regulatory Frameworks; Cyber Security and Data Protection in the Age of AI; and Social-Economic Impact of Digitalization.
The inaugural session concluded with a vote of thanks by the convenor, Dr. Shoaib Mohammad, setting the stage for intensive academic deliberations over the next two days. The conference will feature expert panels, research presentations, and collaborative sessions aimed at shaping a responsible and sustainable AI-driven commercial ecosystem.
