**Executive Summary**
The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), India, inaugurated its two-week Online Short Term Internship Programme (OSTI) on May 19, 2026. Shortlisted from 1,417 applicants, 100 university-level students will undergo training to sensitize them to human rights issues and societal challenges. The program features 45 curated sessions and is scheduled to conclude on May 29, 2026.
**Key Points / Main Content**
**Program Overview and Selection**
* **Duration:** A two-week online program running from May 19 to May 29, 2026.
* **Participant Selection:** 100 students were shortlisted from a pool of 1,417 applicants representing 29 states and union territories.
* **Format Evolution:** Launched during the COVID-19 pandemic to remove logistical barriers, the program now runs six times a year, training a total of 600 students annually.
**Educational Objectives**
* **Sensitization:** Aims to help students become more empathetic, fair, and sensitive toward human rights and societal issues.
* **Character Building:** Focuses on imbibing constitutional values such as equality, justice, fraternity, and the Indian scriptural concept of ‘Daya’ (empathy).
* **Global Context:** Provides awareness regarding the 130 current global armed conflicts, displacement of 122 million people, and the economic impact of global instability.
**Curriculum and Activities**
* **Expert Sessions:** 45 sessions will be conducted by 40 speakers, including senior government officials, academicians, and human rights defenders.
* **Practical Exposure:** The program includes virtual tours of a police station, Tihar Prison, and the Asha Kiran Shelter Home.
* **Interactive Learning:** Students will participate in book review competitions, declamation, and group research project presentations.
**Impact Analysis**
**Stakeholder: Selected University Interns**
**Impact**
Interns gain diverse academic and practical insights into human rights protection and law enforcement without financial or logistical constraints. They are exposed to high-level discourse on global conflicts and ethical questions surrounding justice.
**Action Required**
Interns must attend all 45 sessions, participate in virtual tours, and complete assigned research projects and competitions by the May 29 deadline.
**Stakeholder: NHRC Officials and Organizers**
**Impact**
The Commission is able to expand its reach and influence, increasing its intake from 80 to 100 students per batch to foster a larger cohort of human-rights-sensitive citizens.
**Action Required**
Officials must coordinate with 40 eminent speakers and manage the technical and administrative delivery of the two-week online curriculum.
Key Entities Referenced
National Human Rights Commission (NHRC): The primary statutory body in India responsible for the protection and promotion of human rights, which organized and conducted the internship program.
Online Short Term Internship Programme (OSTI): A two-week educational initiative designed for university students to build awareness, empathy, and practical knowledge of human rights issues.
Justice V. Ramasubramanian: The Chairperson of the NHRC who inaugurated the programme and provided the keynote address on global conflicts and the importance of human rights dialogue.
Global Peace Index 2025: A referenced international report used to contextualize the urgency of the internship program amid rising global armed conflicts and economic damage.
National Human Rights Commission
NHRC, India’s Online Short Term Internship
Programme for May 2026 begins
100 university-level students from diverse academic
backgrounds shortlisted out of 1,417 applicants
Chairperson, Justice V. Ramasubramanian says, the
internship aims to help students become more empathetic,
fair and sensitive towards society and human rights issues
NHRC Secretary General, Shri Bharat Lal stresses
compassion for the needy and character-building
Posted On: 19 MAY 2026 6:11PM by PIB Delhi
The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), India began its two-week Online Short Term
Internship Programme (OSTI) for university-level students. Chairperson, NHRC, Justice V.
Ramasubramanian inaugurated the programme in the presence of Secretary General, Shri Bharat Lal, Joint
Secretary, Smt. Saidingpuii Chhakchhuak, Director, Shri Irsad Alam and senior officers. 100 students from
diverse academic backgrounds, shortlisted out of 1,417 applicants from 29 states and union territories
across the country, are undergoing the internship. The two-week programme will conclude on 29th May
2026.
Addressing them, Justice V. Ramasubramanian said that the world is facing nearly 130 armed conflicts,
the highest since World War II, underscoring the growing importance of human rights awareness and
dialogue. Citing the Global Peace Index 2025, he said that 98 countries are currently experiencing external
conflicts and the global economic damage has reached nearly 20 trillion dollars. He noted that more than
120 non-state armed groups are involved in these conflicts, many of which have continued for over adecade, leading generations to grow up amid violence and insecurity. He said that over 122 million people
worldwide have been forcibly displaced, while in 17 countries, more than five per cent of the population
are refugees or internally displaced.
Justice Ramasubramanian noted that technology has created new opportunities for communication and
participation in society. At the same time, it has also contributed to unrest and instability in several
instances, with protests amplified through social media at times turning violent and influencing political
developments in different countries. Referring to ethical and philosophical questions surrounding justice
and fairness, he encouraged the interns to remain open to dialogue and differing viewpoints. Stressing the
importance of empathy or ‘Daya,’ which is regarded in Indian scriptures as the greatest dharma, he said
that the programme aims to help students become more empathetic, fair and sensitive towards society and
human rights issues.
Earlier, NHRC, India Secretary General, Shri Bharat Lal said that the OSTI, launched during the COVID-
19 pandemic, enables students from across the country to participate without facing financial and
logistical constraints. He said that the number of internship programmes conducted annually has increased
from three or four in a year to six, while the intake has risen from 80 to 100 students per batch. This
enables the NHRC to reach 600 students in a year through this format. Urging the interns to make full use
of the opportunity, he encouraged them to imbibe constitutional values of equality, justice and fraternity
and to develop the capability to observe. He also urged the interns to develop sensitivity and the ability to
reflect before reacting to situations.Emphasising the need for sensitivity and compassion in daily life, he urged the interns to extend support to
those in need. He highlighted the focus of the two-week programme on building the character of the
interns and preparing them to face future challenges.
Smt. Saidingpuii Chhakchhuak, Joint Secretary, NHRC gave a detailed overview of the internship
programme. The interns will have 45 sessions curated for them, with 40 eminent speakers drawn from a
pool of senior government officials, academicians, human rights defenders, representatives from
international organisations, civil society organisations and experts in law enforcement, mental health,
child rights and human rights protection. The interns will also have virtual tours of a Police station, Tihar
Prison and Asha Kiran Shelter Home to gain practical insights into their functioning. The programme will
also include interactive learning activities such as book review competitions, declamation and group
research project presentations.
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NSK
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