Guest Lecture by Prof. (Dr.) Varsha Deshpande on "Protection, Participation, And Privacy of Children in the Digital Age"

The Centre for Child Rights at Maharashtra National Law University, Nagpur, was formally inaugurated through an engaging inaugural guest lecture session, marking the beginning of its academic driven initiatives in the domain of child rights. The session commenced with an address by Hon’ble Vice-Chancellor Prof. (Dr.) Vijender Kumar, who underscored the contemporary relevance of child rights in an increasingly digital and rapidly evolving world. His speech was followed by Dr. Ashwini Kelkar, Centre In-Charge, who introduced the Centre and thoughtfully outlined its mission, vision and objectives, and future areas of engagement. The event was also graced by Registrar Shri Deepak Bhagwat, whose presence added to the significance of the occasion. The Centre has a dedicated student member team of 26 individuals who actively contribute to its initiatives and functioning.

As part of the inaugural session, a guest lecture was delivered on 30 March 2026 by Prof. (Dr.) Varsha Deshpande on the theme “Protection, Participation, and Privacy of Children in the Digital Age.” Her lecture offered a nuanced critique of the existing legal framework, drawing attention to the gaps in protection and the growing concerns surrounding children’s privacy in digital spaces, while also emphasizing the need to ensure their meaningful participation. The session witnessed enthusiastic participation from students of MNLU Nagpur.