**Executive Summary**
The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), India has launched its Online Short Term Internship Programme (OSTI) for February 2026. The two-week program, which commenced, aims to sensitize youth and equip them to be defenders and ambassadors of human rights. It includes 80 university-level students selected from 1,114 applicants. The program will conclude on February 13th, 2026.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Internship Program Overview:**
* The Online Short Term Internship Programme (OSTI) is a two-week program.
* The program includes lectures and virtual tours of institutions such as Tihar Jail, Shelter Home and Police Station.
* The program incorporates activities and competitions to enhance understanding of human rights.
* **Objectives:**
* Sensitize youth to evolve as defenders and ambassadors of human rights.
* Provide a comprehensive understanding of promotion and protection of human rights.
* Encourage interns to make the best use of exposure to various aspects of human rights.
* Urge interns to evolve as better human beings by developing compassion.
* **Participants:**
* 80 university-level students from diverse academic backgrounds.
* Selected from 1,114 applicants from 19 States and Union territories.
* **Leadership Remarks:**
* Chairperson Justice V. Ramasubramanian emphasized compassion and forgiveness.
* Secretary General Shri Bharat Lal highlighted the program's aim to sensitize youth.
* Joint Secretary, Smt. Saidingpuii Chhakchhuak gave a detailed overview of the program's curriculum.
**Impact Analysis**
**Stakeholder: Interns**
* **Impact:** Will gain a comprehensive understanding of human rights promotion and protection, including practical insights through virtual tours and activities.
* **Action Required:** Actively participate in the program, imbibe values from speakers, observe values in action, understand grievances, and engage with lived realities.
**Stakeholder: NHRC**
* **Impact:** Fulfills its mandate under the PHRC Act to propagate the human rights discourse and promote a better understanding of human rights.
* **Action Required:** Provide a well-designed curriculum, lectures, and virtual tours, and conduct activities and competitions to enhance the understanding of human rights among interns.
**Stakeholder: Indian Society**
* **Impact:** Indirectly benefits from having a more sensitized and aware youth population acting as defenders and ambassadors of human rights.
* **Action Required:** None specified in the document.
Key Entities Referenced
National Human Rights Commission (NHRC): The central agency hosting the Online Short Term Internship Programme (OSTI).
Online Short Term Internship Programme (OSTI): The specific internship program for February 2026.
Justice V. Ramasubramanian: The Chairperson of the National Human Rights Commission, instrumental in the inauguration of the internship program.
Shri Bharat Lal: The Secretary General of the NHRC.
National Human Rights Commission
NHRC, India’s Online Short Term Internship
Programme for February 2026 begins
80 university-level students from diverse academic
backgrounds shortlisted out of 1,114 applicants
Urging the interns to imbibe human values, Chairperson,
Justice V. Ramasubramanian emphasises compassion and
forgiveness as the hallmark of age-old traditions and
customs of Indian society
Secretary General, Shri Bharat Lal says, the internship aims
at sensitising the youth to evolve as defenders and
ambassadors of human rights
Posted On: 03 FEB 2026 8:17PM by PIB Delhi
The first two-week Online Short Term Internship Programme (OSTI) in 2026 of the National Human
Rights Commission (NHRC), India has begun. 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 1,114 applicants from 19 States and Union territories
across the nation are attending it. The two-week programme will conclude on 13th February 2026.Addressing them, Justice Ramasubramanian said that the OSTI, in line with the mandate of the
Commission under the PHRC Act to propagate the human rights discourse in the country, aims to provide
college / university students with a comprehensive understanding of promotion and protection of Human
Rights. Quoting shlokas from ancient Indian scriptures like the Rigvedahe highlighted that compassion
and forgiveness have been the hallmark of age-old traditions and customs of Indian society.
He encouraged the interns to make the best use of the exposure to the various aspects of human rights
during their internship with the Commission. He urged them to evolve as better human beings by
developing a sense of compassion towards others' suffering before becoming better professionals.
Before this, Shri Bharat Lal, Secretary General NHRC emphasised that the internship programme also
aims at sensitising youth to evolve as defenders and ambassadors of human rights. He said that the
selected interns should imbibe the values and knowledge from the eminent speakers during the OSTI
Programme. He said that at their core, human rights are about real people, lived experiences and everyday
conduct. Therefore, the interns also need to look beyond statutes and judgements to observe values in
action, understand grievances, engage with lived realities and reflect on how violations occur and more
importantly how they can be prevented by spreading awareness.Smt. Saidingpuii Chhakchhuak, Joint Secretary, NHRC gave a detailed overview of the programme's
carefully designed curriculum. This includes lectures and virtual tours of institutions such as Tihar Jail,
Shelter Home and Police Station to offer direct insights into the realities of human rights. She further
informed the interns about various activities and competitions aimed at enhancing their understanding of
human rights and boosting their confidence.Lt. Col. Virender Singh, Director, NHRC and staff of the Training Division were present in the inaugural
session.
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NSK
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