Nagaland Researcher Ashraf Rehman Appointed Judge for WLSA International Debate 2026

July 16: Nagaland-based energy economics and public policy researcher Ashraf Rehman has been appointed as a judge for the World Law Student Association (WLSA) International Debate 2026, becoming the first known individual from Northeast India to adjudicate the prestigious global competition. According to The Morung Express, Rehman received an invitation from the WLSA Office of the Chairman for Academic Affairs to serve as a judge during the international debate scheduled for July 21. The organisation cited his expertise in public policy research, debating, and legal education as key factors behind the appointment.Headquartered in Nigeria, the World Law Student Association (WLSA) is an international non-profit organisation that connects law students, academics, and legal professionals through debates, academic exchanges, and leadership programmes. As a judge, Rehman will evaluate participants on legal reasoning, analytical ability, argumentation, and presentation skills. Rehman began his debating journey as a school student before competing at state and national levels, winning several university and regional debate titles. He was named Best Debater at the NIT Nagaland English Oculus Debate 2015 and recently served as the youngest judge on the panel at the Authors’ Conclave National Debate 2026.Beyond debating, he has built a distinguished career in research, focusing on public policy, governance, energy economics, sustainable development, and national security. His research and commentaries have been published in The Policy Edge, Asian Confluence, Forum for Integrated National Security, Mainstream Weekly, and Policy Circles, while his empirical research on Nagaland’s development has appeared in SAGE’s Journal of Development Policy and Practice. In 2025, Rehman became the first person from Northeast India to be selected as a Green International Fellow, where he worked on clean energy policy and sustainable development initiatives. He also represented Nagaland at the North East Youth Leaders Conclave 2023, a leadership programme supported by the European Union and the National Foundation for India.Reacting to the appointment, Rehman described the recognition as “humbling and deeply meaningful,” attributing the opportunity to the grace of Almighty God. He said the achievement reflects the vast intellectual potential of Nagaland and Northeast India and expressed hope that it would inspire more young scholars and researchers from the region to pursue opportunities on the global stage.