EVENTS

Concept Note & Call for Papers

19^th All India Conference of Chinese Studies (AICCS)

The 19th All India Conference of China Studies (AICCS) is being organised by Institute of Chinese Studies (ICS), New Delhi in collaboration with the Department of International Relations, Jadavpur University from 19-21 November, 2026.

Background and Rationale

The All India Conference of China Studies (AICCS), convened annually by the Institute of Chinese Studies (ICS) since 2006, is a flagship platform for advancing research and dialogue on China in India. It brings together scholars, practitioners, and students across disciplines to engage with evolving trajectories in China’s domestic transformations and global engagements.

Over the past two decades, China Studies in India has witnessed significant expansion in terms of institutional presence, interdisciplinary approaches, and access to primary sources. At the same time, rapid changes within China and in the global order, economic restructuring, political consolidation, technological transformation, and shifting geopolitical alignments; have generated new questions and research agendas.

AICCS 2026 seeks to consolidate these developments by combining a reflection on the state of the field, a platform for new research, and a focused engagement with emerging themes shaping India–China relations and the Global South.

Conference Structure

The Conference will be organised into three components:

Part I: China Studies- State of the Field

This component reflects on the evolution of China Studies globally and in India, focusing on emerging directions, methodological innovations, and shifts in knowledge production.

Sub-themes:

• Global trends in China Studies 
• China Studies in India: trajectories and challenges 
• Language, archives, and methodological innovations 
• Interdisciplinary and comparative approaches 
• Rethinking theoretical frameworks in China Studies 
• Social Development in China

Part II: New Research on China in India

This section provides a platform for scholars, particularly early-career researchers and doctoral candidates, to present original research across diverse themes in China Studies.

Sub-themes:

• Domestic politics, governance, and the Party-state 
• Political economy, development, and inequality
• Society, culture, and identity transformations 
• Environment, sustainability, and resource governance
• Science, technology, and innovation in China
• Foreign policy, strategy, and security
• China in regional and global governance
• Health, Education, Women's Development, Population trends, Urban-Rural Issues, Migrant labour

Part III: Special Theme

AI, Emerging Technologies, and Ethics in the Global South: India–China Dynamics

Technological transformations are increasingly reshaping global power structures, governance models, and normative frameworks. In this context, India-China relations are entering a new phase where emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence, digital infrastructure, and advanced computing, are central to both competition and cooperation.

At the same time, these developments raise broader questions for the Global South concerning technological dependency, digital sovereignty, and ethical governance.

This special theme will examine these dynamics as a focused segment within the broader conference.

Sub-themes:

• Technology and shifting configurations of power
• AI, data governance, and digital sovereignty
• Competing regulatory and governance models
• Digital infrastructure, dependency, and Global South engagements
• Strategic autonomy and techno-geopolitics
• Ethical questions: labour, security, surveillance, and justice

Call for Papers

The Institute of Chinese Studies invites abstracts and panel proposals for AICCS 2026 from scholars, researchers, and practitioners working on China and related themes.

Submission Categories:

• Individual Papers (for Thematic Panels) 
• Panel Proposals (3-4 papers with a chair/discussant)
• Roundtable Proposals (for focused discussions)

Abstract Guidelines:

• Abstracts (300–400 words) should clearly outline the research question, methodology, and key argument
• Panel proposals should include a panel abstract (500–700 words) and individual paper abstracts
• Submissions must indicate the relevant Conference Part (I, II, or III)

Submission Deadlines and Timeline

• Release of Concept Note & Call for Papers: 17 April 2026
• Last Date for Submission of Abstracts: 30 April 2026
• Notification of Acceptance: 10 May 2026
• Submission of Full Papers (for selected participants): 10 June 2026
• Conference Dates: 19-21 November

Submission Details

• Submissions should be sent to: aiccs.ics@gmail.com
• Subject line: AICCS 2026 Submission – [Name] – Part I/II/III

Conference Format and Award

The conference will include Thematic Panels, Special and Invited Panels, and Roundtables.

As in previous editions, the Mira Sinha Bhattacharjea Award will be awarded to the best paper presented by a young scholar under the age of 40. It comprises prize money of INR 25,000. The selection will be based on the quality of argument, methodological rigour, and presentation. The award-winning paper will also be considered for publication by ICS.