**Executive Summary**
The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) India has commenced its Online Short Term Internship Programme (OSTI) for March 2026. The two-week programme, which began on an unspecified date in March 2026 and will conclude on March 20th, 2026, involves 80 university students selected from 1,147 applicants. The programme aims to enhance understanding of human rights amidst global conflicts.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Programme Inauguration:**
* The Online Short Term Internship Programme (OSTI) for March 2026 was inaugurated by NHRC Chairperson, Justice V. Ramasubramanian, in the presence of Secretary General, Shri Bharat Lal, and senior officers.
* The inauguration took place on 09 March 2026.
* **Participants:**
* 80 university-level students have been shortlisted from a pool of 1,147 applicants.
* These students represent diverse academic backgrounds from 17 States and Union Territories across India.
* **Programme Duration and Conclusion:**
* The programme is of two weeks duration.
* It will conclude on 20th March 2026.
* **Programme Objectives and Significance:**
* NHRC Chairperson, Justice V. Ramasubramanian, highlighted the crucial importance of understanding human rights, especially in the context of rising global conflicts.
* He also expressed happiness regarding the increasing participation of girls, emphasizing that education and awareness among women are vital for societal prosperity, equity, fairness, justice, and social consciousness.
* Justice Ramasubramanian hopes interns will use their acquired knowledge to advance their careers and enrich their character and outlook.
* Referring to global conflicts and their economic impact, he stressed the need to understand the true meaning and importance of human rights.
* **Collective Responsibility:**
* NHRC Secretary General, Shri Bharat Lal, stated that the country belongs to its citizens, and upholding individual dignity is a collective responsibility to create a better society.
* He emphasized that the concept of a "Developed India" should be evident in everyday experiences across various settings.
* **Learning Opportunities:**
* Interactions with eminent speakers will offer interns a unique learning experience and direct engagement with human rights practitioners.
* The programme aims to nurture interns as ambassadors of human rights.
* Participants are urged to use the internship to sensitise themselves to recognise injustice and identify discrimination.
* **Curriculum:**
* The internship curriculum includes lectures, team and individual competitions (e.g., group research project presentations, book reviews, declamation competitions), and virtual tours of institutions like Tihar Shelter Home and Police Station to provide insights into their functioning.
**Impact Analysis**
**University-Level Students**
* **Impact:** Participants will gain knowledge and understanding of human rights through lectures, interactions with experts, and a structured curriculum. They will be trained to recognise injustice and discrimination, and potentially act as human rights ambassadors.
* **Action Required:** Attend lectures, participate in competitions and activities, engage with speakers and practitioners, and utilise the learning opportunities to sensitise themselves to human rights issues.
**National Human Rights Commission (NHRC)**
* **Impact:** The NHRC is actively engaging with the next generation, fostering awareness of human rights, and potentially cultivating future advocates for human rights. The programme serves as a platform for disseminating information and promoting the NHRC's work.
* **Action Required:** Continue to conduct and facilitate the internship programme, provide curriculum content, arrange for eminent speakers and virtual tours, and oversee the students' progress.
**Society**
* **Impact:** Increased awareness and understanding of human rights among the student participants can lead to greater advocacy, promotion of justice, and a more conscious citizenry. The emphasis on collective responsibility may foster a more equitable and dignified society.
* **Action Required:** Indirectly, society benefits from the education and potential advocacy of the interns. No direct action is required from society as a whole based on this document.
Key Entities Referenced
National Human Rights Commission (NHRC): The primary organizing body of the internship program.
Online Short Term Internship Programme (OSTI): The specific program being initiated.
Justice V. Ramasubramanian: NHRC Chairperson who inaugurated the program and provided key insights.
Shri Bharat Lal: NHRC Secretary General who also addressed the interns.
17 States and Union Territories: The geographic scope of the participating students.
National Human Rights Commission
NHRC, India begins its Online Short Term
Internship Programme for March 2026
80 university-level students from diverse academic
backgrounds shortlisted out of 1,147 applicants
Inaugurating the internship, NHRC Chairperson, Justice V.
Ramasubramanian says, amid rising global conflicts,
understanding human rights is more crucial
NHRC Secretary General, Shri Bharat Lal says, upholding
every individual’s dignity is citizens’ collective duty
Posted On: 09 MAR 2026 6:47PM by PIB Delhi
The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), India today began its Online Short Term Internship
Programme (OSTI) for March 2026. Chairperson, Justice V. Ramasubramanian inaugurated it in the
presence of Secretary General, Shri Bharat Lal and senior officers. 80 university-level students from
diverse academic backgrounds shortlisted out of 1,147 applicants from 17 States and Union Territories
across the nation are attending it. The two-week programme will conclude on 20th March 2026.
Justice Ramasubramanian expressed happiness over the increasing participation of girls in the NHRC
internship programme. He said that greater education and awareness among women is essential for any
society’s prosperity, promoting equity, fairness, justice and social consciousness. He expressed the hope
that the interns will make use of the knowledge about human rights not just to advance their careers but to
enrich their character and outlook towards society.Referring to a Global Peace Index by Sydney-based international think tank - the Institute for Economics
and Peace, he said that today 78 countries in the world are engaged in armed conflicts outside their
borders in the name of peace and liberty. But the irony is that those who were talking about peace are now
talking about war. Such conflicts have severe consequences for human civilisation and the global
economy, displacing nearly 122 million people as refugees or internally displaced persons and causing an
estimated loss of about 20 trillion dollars to the global economy. He emphasised that it is in this context
that the true meaning and importance of human rights must be understood.
Before this, in his address, NHRC Secretary General, Shri Bharat Lal said that the country belongs to its
citizens and it is their collective responsibility to uphold the dignity of every individual and make it a
better and more beautiful place. He emphasised that the idea of a “Developed India” should be reflected in
the everyday experiences people have at home, in schools, colleges, hostels, workplaces and public
spaces.He said that interactions with eminent speakers will provide the interns a unique learning opportunity,
enabling them to engage directly with experienced practitioners in the field of human rights. He noted that
the programme aims to nurture the interns as ambassadors of human rights. He also urged participants to
use the two weeks to sensitise themselves so that they could recognise injustice wherever it occurs and
identify discrimination, whether systemic or otherwise.
NHRC, India Joint Secretary, Smt. Saidingpuii Chhakchhuak presented a detailed overview of the
internship's carefully designed curriculum. It includes lectures, team and individual competitions such as
group research project presentation, book review and declamation competition and virtual tours of
institutions such as Tihar Shelter Home and Police Station to offer insights into their functioning. Shri
Samir Kumar, Joint Secretary, NHRC was also present.
*****
NSK
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