- Why in news
- On 22 March 2026, the Department of Justice held a regional workshop on the Tele-Law programme under the DISHA Scheme at Kurukshetra University, Haryana. A DISHA Awareness Van was flagged off and two e-books on North-East tribal customary laws were launched.
- What it is
- DISHA (Designing Innovative Solutions for Holistic Access to Justice) is a scheme of the Department of Justice, Ministry of Law and Justice. It brings together Tele-Law, Nyaya Bandhu pro bono services and legal literacy and awareness programmes. Its aim is to give legal help to people in remote and underserved areas, in line with Article 39A.
- Components of DISHA
- DISHA joins Tele-Law, Nyaya Bandhu (pro bono legal services) and Legal Literacy and Legal Awareness programmes.
- Tele-Law delivery channels
- Pre-litigation legal advice is given through Common Service Centres, the Tele-Law mobile app and toll-free helpline 14454.
- Tele-Law's start and spread in Haryana
- Tele-Law began in the Aspirational District of Nuh (Mewat) with 317 CSCs. 6,197 CSCs now serve all districts of Haryana.
- Nyaya Bandhu reach
- Over 10,000 advocates are registered, with Pro Bono Clubs in 109 law colleges as of February 2026.
- Outlay and period
- DISHA has an outlay of Rs 250 crore for five years, 2021-2026, as a Central Sector Scheme.
- Tele-Law
- Tele-Law gives free pre-litigation advice through video and phone at Common Service Centres, a mobile app and toll-free helpline 14454.
- Nyaya Bandhu
- Pro bono advocates are connected through the Nyaya Bandhu app to beneficiaries entitled to free legal aid under Section 12 of the Legal Services Authorities Act, 1987.
- Nyaya Sahayaks
- Nyaya Sahayaks have been engaged since 2024 for door-to-door pre-litigation help in 500 Aspirational Blocks.
- Lok Adalat award
- Under the LSA Act, a Lok Adalat award is deemed a civil court decree, final and binding, with no appeal.
Don’t confuse with DISHA scheme vs NALSA legal services: DISHA is a Department of Justice scheme for tech-enabled access, pro bono and awareness. NALSA and SLSAs are statutory bodies under the Legal Services Authorities Act, 1987 that give free legal aid; they supported the workshop.
Don’t confuse with Article 39A vs Article 21: Article 39A is a Directive Principle on equal justice and free legal aid. Article 21 is a Fundamental Right to life and liberty, which courts have read to include access to justice.
Don’t confuse with DISHA vs NALSA: DISHA is a Department of Justice scheme; NALSA is a statutory body under the LSA Act, 1987 that runs legal aid through State and District Legal Services Authorities.
Don’t confuse with LADCS vs Nyaya Bandhu: LADCS uses full-time paid defence counsels in criminal courts; Nyaya Bandhu connects volunteer pro bono advocates to beneficiaries.
Schemes: 52 Prelims questions since 2013, 10 in Prelims 2026 alone. They test features, the period and who funds it. In Mains, 33 news-triggered questions, mostly GS3.
Why it matters
- Takes pre-litigation advice to remote and poor citizens through CSCs and a helpline, giving effect to Article 39A.
- Pro bono clubs in law colleges link legal education with practice and widen the pool of volunteer lawyers.
- Gives practical effect to Article 39A, which directs the State to ensure equal justice and free legal aid.
- Technology and last-mile workers bring legal advice to remote and aspirational areas.
Problems
- Reach depends on digital access, awareness and the quality of advice at village-level centres.
- Pro bono participation and legal awareness in regional languages remain thin in many states.
- Awareness and digital access remain uneven in remote areas.
- Pre-litigation advice does not by itself ensure court representation or timely outcomes.
Way forward
- Expand awareness in regional languages and improve coordination among CSCs, NALSA, SLSAs and panel lawyers.
- Track outcomes of advice given, not just the number of CSCs and registered lawyers.
- Strengthen Nyaya Sahayaks and local-language outreach, and link advice to legal aid lawyers.
- Evaluate quality and outcomes, not just the number of advices given.
Put in your answer
Haryana Tele-Law coverage: Tele-Law grew from 317 CSCs in Nuh to 6,197 CSCs across Haryana, including seven Aspirational Blocks.
Nyaya Bandhu numbers: Over 10,000 registered advocates and Pro Bono Clubs in 109 law colleges show growth of the pro bono model.
Tele-Law reach: More than 1.12 crore pre-litigation advices had been given by 31 January 2026.
Pro bono network: 10,133 advocates had registered on the Nyaya Bandhu platform by 31 January 2026.
Article 39A: Article 39A, a Directive Principle added by the 42nd Amendment, provides for equal justice and free legal aid.
- 2023Mains GS2 · Q2Who gets free legal aid, and NALSA's role in providing it
- 2022Mains GS4 · Q4Ethical issues of online methods, like telemedicine, for vulnerable sections
- 2024Mains GS2 · Q2Distinguish Lok Adalats from Arbitration Tribunals; do they hear criminal cases?
UPSC’s own questions that come close to this issue, from our Prelims and Mains banks.
Prelims practice · Single answer
Ours, not from a UPSC paper
Consider the following statements about access to justice in India: 1. DISHA is a Centrally Sponsored Scheme implemented by the Department of Justice. 2. Tele-Law provides free pre-litigation legal advice through Common Service Centres, a mobile application and a toll-free helpline. 3. An award made by a Lok Adalat under the Legal Services Authorities Act, 1987 can be challenged by appeal before the High Court. 4. The National Legal Services Authority was set up under the Legal Services Authorities Act, 1987.
How many of the statements given above are correct?
True or false?
1 of 7
Statements the way Prelims prints them. Say first, then see the fact.
1.DISHA is a Centrally Sponsored Scheme implemented by the Department of Justice.
False. DISHA is a Central Sector Scheme.
2.DISHA includes Tele-Law, Nyaya Bandhu and Legal Literacy and Legal Awareness Programmes as its components.
True. These are the three components of DISHA.
3.Tele-Law provides free pre-litigation advice through Common Service Centres and a toll-free helpline.
True. Delivery is via CSCs, a mobile app and helpline 14454.
4.Tele-Law provides lawyers to represent poor litigants in court hearings.
False. Tele-Law gives pre-litigation advice, not court representation.
5.Beneficiaries of free legal aid under Nyaya Bandhu are those entitled under Section 12 of the Legal Services Authorities Act, 1987.
True. Section 12 of the LSA Act defines who is entitled to free legal aid.
6.An award of a Lok Adalat can be challenged by appeal before the High Court.
False. No appeal lies against a Lok Adalat award before any court.
7.NALSA was set up under the Legal Services Authorities Act, 1987 to provide free and competent legal services to weaker sections.
True. NALSA is statutory, created under the LSA Act, 1987.
Written by us from the release, not by UPSC; checked by a second model.
Worth revising until Prelims 2027: most news questions come within two years of the event.