**Executive Summary**
This document provides details regarding the Designing Innovative Solutions for Holistic Access to Justice in India (DISHA) scheme. The scheme is a Central Sector Scheme implemented by the Department of Justice, Ministry of Law and Justice. The DISHA scheme has a total financial outlay of Rs. 250 crores for the period 2021-2026 and is aligned with the XV Finance Commission Cycle, with a sunset date of March 31, 2026.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **DISHA Scheme Overview:**
* The DISHA scheme aims to provide a comprehensive, integrated solution on Access to Justice at a pan India level.
* It includes components of Tele-Law, Nyaya Bandhu, Nyaya Mitra (discontinued in 2023), and Legal Literacy and Legal Awareness Programmes.
* The scheme leverages technology and is citizen-centric and inclusive.
* **Financial Outlay (Rs. in Crores for 2021-2026):**
* Tele-Law: Reaching the Unreached: 194.52
* Nyaya Bandhu (Pro Bono Legal Services) Programme: 5.34
* Legal Literacy and Legal Awareness (LLLAP): 23.38
* Nyaya Mitra Programme: 10.4
* Programme Management Unit: 5.00
* Contingency Cost: 2.00
* Total: 250.00
* **Tele-Law:**
* Connects citizens with lawyers through a Mobile App and Toll Free No. 14454 for pre-litigation advice.
* Utilizes video/Tele-conferencing facilities at Common Service Centres (CSCs)/Village Level Entrepreneurs (VLEs).
* Employs Nyaya Sahayaks as community-based legal facilitators.
* 269 panel lawyers are registered under Tele-Law Program as of 31st January 2026.
* **Nyaya Bandhu (Pro Bono Legal Services):**
* Registers interested Pro Bono Advocates and connects them with beneficiaries.
* Utilizes the Nyaya Bandhu Application.
* A panel of Pro Bono Advocates has been constituted in 23 High Courts.
* 10,133 advocates have volunteered and registered on the Nyaya Bandhu platform as of 31st January, 2026.
* Pro Bono Clubs have been constituted across 109 law colleges.
* **Nyaya Mitra (discontinued in 2023):**
* Focused on facilitating the disposal of 10-year-old or more pending cases at the District Level.
* **Legal Literacy and Legal Awareness Programme:**
* Collaborates with Government and private organizations to prepare information and communication (IEC) materials.
* **Evaluation:**
* M/s. Quality Council of India (QCI) has done the Third-Party Evaluation and Impact Assessment of DISHA Scheme.
* The assessment highlighted the relevance of the scheme.
**Impact Analysis**
**Citizens:**
*Impact:* Increased access to justice, legal advice, and awareness of legal rights and entitlements.
*Action Required:* Utilize the Tele-Law services, Nyaya Bandhu Application, and participate in Legal Literacy and Legal Awareness Programs.
**Lawyers and Advocates:**
*Impact:* Opportunities to provide pro bono legal services and contribute to increased access to justice.
*Action Required:* Register on the Nyaya Bandhu platform, participate in Tele-Law programs, and volunteer for pro bono work.
**Law Students:**
*Impact:* Opportunities to participate in Pro Bono Clubs and develop a long-term commitment to legal services.
*Action Required:* Join Pro Bono Clubs in their respective law colleges and actively participate in legal service activities.
**Government and Private Organizations:**
*Impact:* Collaboration opportunities to prepare information and communication (IEC) materials for legal literacy and awareness programs.
*Action Required:* Partner with the Department of Justice to develop and disseminate legal awareness materials.
Key Entities Referenced
Designing Innovative Solutions for Holistic Access to Justice (DISHA): Central Sector Scheme providing comprehensive integrated solutions for Access to Justice at a pan India level.
Ministry of Law and Justice: The ministry responsible for implementing the DISHA scheme.
Tele-Law: Component of the DISHA Scheme connecting citizens with lawyers for pre-litigation advice.
Nyaya Bandhu: Component of the DISHA scheme involving Pro Bono Legal Services.
Legal Services Authorities Act, 1987: Act under which beneficiaries are entitled to free legal aid under the Nyaya Bandhu programme.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF LAW AND JUSTICE
DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2373
TO BE ANSWERED ON FRIDAY, THE 13th FEBRUARY, 2026
DISHA SCHEME
2373. SHRI TEJASVI SURYA:
Will the Minister of LAW AND JUSTICE be pleased to state:
(a) the key details regarding the Designing Innovative Solutions for Holistic Access to Justice
in India (DISHA) scheme, including the total financial outlay across various components
of the scheme, the number of registered advocates, the number of beneficiaries and other
relevant performance details;
(b) whether the Government has under taken any assessment of the implementation of the
DISHA scheme, including its impact, performance against predefined targets, efficiency
of delivery and other outcome-based indicators and if so, the details thereof; and
(c) the plans of the Government regarding the DISHA scheme upon the conclusion of its
current period in 2026, including whether any proposal exists to extend or restructure the
scheme and if so, the details thereof?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) OF THE MINISTRY OF LAW
AND JUSTICE; AND MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF
PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS
(SHRI ARJUN RAM MEGHWAL)
(a) to (c): The Department of Justice, Ministry of Law and Justice, has been implementing a
Central Sector Scheme, namely, Designing Innovative Solutions for Holistic Access to Justice
(DISHA), with a total outlay of Rs. 250 crores for a period of five years (2021-2026). It aims
to provide a comprehensive, integrated solution on Access to Justice at a pan India level
through the components of Tele-Law, Nyaya Bandhu, Nyaya Mitra (discontinued in 2023) and
Legal Literacy and Legal Awareness Programmes. It is citizen-centric, inclusive, and leverages
1technology for ensuring ease of justice to the beneficiaries. The Component wise breakup of
the total financial outlay is as follows:
(Rs. in Crores)
Financial Outlay
S.No. Particulars
of DISHA Scheme (2021-26)
1. Tele-Law: Reaching the Unreached. 194.52
Nyaya Bandhu (Pro Bono Legal Services)
2. 5.34
Programme (Citizen Centric Legal Services)
3. Legal Literacy and Legal Awareness (LLLAP) 23.38
4. Nyaya Mitra Programme 10.4
5. Programme Management Unit 5.00
6. Contingency Cost 2.00
Total 250.00
Under the DISHA scheme, Tele Law connects citizens with the lawyers through Mobile
App and Toll Free No. 14454 for rendering pre-litigation advice through the use of video/Tele
conferencing facilities available at the Common Service Centres (CSCs)/Village Level
Entrepreneurs (VLEs) at the Panchayat level. Under the Tele Law outreach programme, Nyaya
Sahayaks are active as community based legal facilitators in the aspirational blocks of the
country. They play a critical role in creating awareness about legal rights and entitlements
through door-to-door outreach, community interactions and local campaigns. A total of 269
panel lawyers are registered under Tele-Law Program as of 31st January 2026.
Under the Nyaya Bandhu (Pro Bono Legal Services) programme, interested Pro Bono
Advocates are registered and connected to the beneficiaries (who are entitled for free legal aid
under Section 12 of the Legal Services Authorities Act, 1987) through the Nyaya Bandhu
Application (available iOS/Android/UMANG Platform). A panel of Pro Bono Advocates has
also been constituted in 23 High Courts to strengthen institutional mechanisms for delivering
pro bono legal services to the beneficiary. As on 31st January, 2026, 10,133 advocates have
volunteered and registered on Nyaya Bandhu platform. Further, to instil the spirit of pro bono
work among law students and nurture a long-term commitment to legal services, Pro Bono
Clubs have been constituted across 109 law colleges in the country.
2Under the erstwhile Nyaya Mitra programme, focus was to facilitate the disposal of 10
year old or more pending cases at the District Level. Under the Legal Literacy and Legal
Awareness Programme, institutional collaboration is done with reputed Government and
private organisations to prepare information and communication (IEC) materials in the form of
books, training modules, workshops, etc., to promote legal literacy and awareness.
The DISHA Scheme has a sunset date of 31st March, 2026, as it is aligned with XV
Finance Commission Cycle. M/s. Quality Council of India (QCI) has done the Third-Party
Evaluation and Impact Assessment of DISHA Scheme and highlighted the relevance of the
Scheme.
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