Prof. (Dr.) Bimal N. Patel is Vice-Chancellor and Professor of Public International Law at Rashtriya Raksha University (India), where he provides academic and strategic leadership across research, teaching and executive training in law- and security-related fields. He has served since 2016 as a Member of India’s National Security Advisory Board (National Security Council). Previously, he was Director/Vice-Chancellor and Professor of Public International Law at Gujarat National Law University (2008–2019) and has been associated with law-reform work, including membership in the 21st Law Commission of India.
In 2021, the United Nations General Assembly elected him to the International Law Commission for the five-year term (from 1 January 2023 to 31 December 2027). His academic training includes a PhD in International Law from Leiden University, a further PhD from Jaipur National University, an LL.M. in International Law (Leiden University), and an MA in International Relations (University of Amsterdam).
His research interests span the law of the sea and maritime law, arbitration law and practice, unilateral and multilateral sanctions, national security laws, and dispute settlement before international courts and tribunals. Selected publications include National Security of India and International Law (Brill, 2020) and The State Practice of India and the Development of International Law (Brill, 2016).