Designing Innovative Solutions for Holistic Access to Justice’ (DISHA) 2.0
Why in News?
The Union Ministry of Law and Justice has approved the restructuring and continuation of the DISHA scheme as DISHA 2.0 on June 22, 2026 for a five-year period from April 1, 2026, to March 31, 2031. The scheme is designed to expand technology-enabled, citizen-centric legal services across India.
Key Specifications of DISHA 2.0
- Scheme Type: It operates as a Central Sector Scheme.
- Nodal Agency: The Department of Justice under the Ministry of Law and Justice serves as the implementing body.
- Constitutional Backing: It fulfills mandates under Articles 14 (Equality before law), 21 (Right to life), and 39A (Free legal aid).
- Global Alignment: It directly supports United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 16 (SDG-16) for Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions.
- Target Outreach: The government aims to reach a cumulative target of 3.00 crore beneficiaries during this cycle.
The Four Main Components
The revamped scheme consolidates three earlier programs and introduces one brand-new technology layer:
- 1. Tele-Law Programme: Connects marginalized communities with panel lawyers for free pre-litigation legal advice via Common Service Centres (CSCs).
- 2. Nyaya Bandhu: Promotes a pro-bono culture by connecting volunteer advocates with eligible beneficiaries for free courtroom representation.
- 3. Legal Literacy and Legal Awareness Programme (LLLAP): Runs grassroots awareness campaigns to educate citizens about their statutory rights.
- 4. VIDHI-Sanjeevani (New Component): Establishes a Centralised Digital Platform integrated with an AI-powered multilingual Nyaya Setu Chatbot to provide real-time dashboards, legal info, and grievance analytics.
Legacy and Track Record (DISHA 1.0: 2021–2026)
- Outreach Numbers: Reached over 2.37 crore beneficiaries by May 2026.
- Tele-Law Impact: Disbursed over 1.13 crore pre-litigation legal consultations.
- Advocate Mobilisation: Registered 10,681 pro-bono lawyers and set up 109 Pro-Bono Clubs across law colleges.
- Awareness Footprint: Educated more than 1.24 crore citizens via LLLAP activities.
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