Legal Essentials for Human Resource Management

By Prof. Ameesh Samalopanan | Nalsar University of Law

Learners enrolled: 1929 | Exam registration: 357

ABOUT THE COURSE:

This course focuses on the legal guardrails and principles that shape the day-to-day activities of an HR manager, from recruitment to termination. It equips HR managers, MBA, and BBA students with a strong understanding of the labour and employment laws that govern the modern workplace. Covering industrial relations, employment contracts, social security, workplace safety, and contemporary issues, it bridges legal concepts with real-world HR practices. By the end, learners will be prepared to manage people and policies with confidence, fairness, and legal awareness.

INTENDED AUDIENCE: Students, faculties and Industry Personnels

PREREQUISITES: Class 12

Summary

Course Status :	Ongoing
Course Type :	Elective
Language for course content :	English
Duration :	8 weeks
Category :	Law
Credit Points :	2
Level :	Postgraduate
Start Date :	16 Feb 2026
End Date :	10 Apr 2026
Enrollment Ends :	16 Feb 2026
Exam Registration Ends :	27 Feb 2026
Exam Date :	17 Apr 2026 IST
NCrF Level	4.5 — 8.0

Note: This exam date is subject to change based on seat availability. You can check final exam date on your hall ticket.

Page Visits

Course layout

Week 1: Foundations of Industrial Relations- Basics on Constitution of India, The evolution of Labour laws in India; Definition of Industry, Workman, Employee, Employer and Industrial Dispute

Week 2: Employment Contracts & Work Concepts- What is Work &, Employment; How to draft Employment Contracts & Fixed Term Contracts, Non-Disclosure Agreement/Non-Compete Clauses

Week 3: Wages & Obligations- Definition of Wage, Waiving Legal Rights relating to Wages and Contracting Out, Methods of Fixing Wages, Mode of Payment of Wages, Obligations under Other Laws on Wages

Week 4: Social Security & Workplace Wellbeing I- What is Social Security,Payment of Gratuity,Payment, Provident Fund and Method of Calculation of Bonus

Week 5: Social Security & Workplace Wellbeing II: Employee Compensation Act, ESIC, Obligations under Contract Labour Act, Maternity Benefit Act & POSH Act

Week 6: Contemporary Issues in Employment: Rights of Gig Workers & Platform Workers, Legal Aspects of Moonlighting and Remote Working

Week 7: Disputes and Collective Relations: Definitions & Authorities for Dispute Resolution & Labour Administration in India, Types, Procedures & Settlement Mechanisms of Industrial Disputes, Rights of Employee to Wages during Strikes and Lockouts, History and Laws of Collective Bargaining

Week 8: Misconduct & Termination: What is Employee Misconduct? Discipline and disciplinary concepts, Drafting Chargesheet & Procedure related to Domestic Enquiry, Permissibility & Implications of Termination due to Misconduct on Earned Leaves, PF and Gratuity, Process of Full and Final Settlement & Ethical Issues in Termination – At Will Terminations and Mutual Separation

Books and references

M. Srivastava (2021). Industrial Relations and Labour Laws 8^th Edition. Vikas Publishing House

Taxmann's New Labour & Industrial Laws, latest edition

Instructor bio

Prof. Ameesh Samalopanan

Nalsar University of Law

Dr. Ameesh Samalopanan is an Assistant Professor at the Department of Management Studies, NALSAR University of Law, Hyderabad. His teaching and research span across Organizational Behavior, Labour & Industrial Relations, and Human Resource Management, with a strong interdisciplinary focus that integrates psychology, law, and management. His doctoral work was centered on workplace dignity, and he continue to build on this foundation through research on gig workers, evolving labour codes, and organizational design for startups.

Beyond academics, Dr Samalopanan actively designs and leads Management Development Programs, industry collaborations, and student-focused initiatives, with an attempt to advance SDG 8 – Decent Work. He is passionate about creating meaningful workplace solutions and foster dignified and inclusive organizational environments by bridging theory, policy, and practice

Course certificate

The course is free to enroll and learn from. But if you want a certificate, you have to register and write the proctored exam conducted by us in person at any of the designated exam centres.

The exam is optional for a fee of Rs 1000/- (Rupees one thousand only).

Date and Time of Exams: April 17, 2026 Morning session 9am to 12 noon; Afternoon Session 2pm to 5pm.

Registration url: Announcements will be made when the registration form is open for registrations.

The online registration form has to be filled and the certification exam fee needs to be paid. More details will be made available when the exam registration form is published. If there are any changes, it will be mentioned then.

Please check the form for more details on the cities where the exams will be held, the conditions you agree to when you fill the form etc.

CRITERIA TO GET A CERTIFICATE

Average assignment score = 25% of average of best 6 assignments out of the total 8 assignments given in the course.
Exam score = 75% of the proctored certification exam score out of 100

Final score = Average assignment score + Exam score

Please note that assignments encompass all types (including quizzes, programming tasks, and essay submissions) available in the specific week.

YOU WILL BE ELIGIBLE FOR A CERTIFICATE ONLY IF AVERAGE ASSIGNMENT SCORE >=10/25 AND EXAM SCORE >= 30/75. If one of the 2 criteria is not met, you will not get the certificate even if the Final score >= 40/100.

Certificate will have your name, photograph and the score in the final exam with the breakup.It will have the logos of NPTEL and IIT Madras .It will be e-verifiable at nptel.ac.in/noc.

Only the e-certificate will be made available. Hard copies will not be dispatched.

Once again, thanks for your interest in our online courses and certification. Happy learning.

- NPTEL team