Effectiveness of Free Legal Aid in Jammu & Kashmir: DISHA 2.0
UPSC / SSC current affairs note · Polity
Why in news
The Ministry of Law and Justice conducted an independent third-party evaluation of the DISHA scheme (2021-26) through QCI, highlighting its relevance. The scheme has been extended as DISHA 2.0 for 2026-31, with data on free legal aid in Jammu & Kashmir presented in Rajya Sabha.
Background
DISHA (Designing Innovative Solutions for Holistic Access to Justice) is a central scheme providing free legal aid. It was initially launched for 2021-26 and has now been extended as DISHA 2.0 for 2026-31.
Key facts
DISHA 2.0 provides easy, accessible, affordable, technology-enabled, and people-centric legal services through components like Tele-Law, Nyaya Bandhu, Legal Literacy and Legal Awareness Programme, and VIDHI-Sanjeevani.
Tele-Law connects people to panel lawyers via mobile app and toll-free number 14454 for pre-litigation advice, also using video/teleconferencing at Common Service Centres (CSCs) and Village Level Entrepreneurs (VLEs).
As of 30.06.2026, in Jammu & Kashmir, 7,63,148 pre-litigation legal advices were provided by 5 panel lawyers through CSCs.
8 Nyaya Sahayaks (community legal facilitators) deployed in 10 aspirational blocks in J&K recorded 1,222 calls.
Nyaya Bandhu promotes free legal aid culture among lawyers and law students, providing free legal assistance to beneficiaries eligible under Section 12 of the Legal Services Authorities Act, 1987.
As of 30.06.2026, 197 advocates are registered under the Jammu & Kashmir Bar Council for Nyaya Bandhu.
Legal Literacy and Legal Awareness Programme (LLLAP) builds capacity of grassroots workers through workshops, webinars, IEC materials, and collaboration with Prasar Bharati.
VIDHI-Sanjeevani aims to strengthen monitoring via a centralized integrated dashboard with real-time data, including integration with Nyaya Setu AI chatbot.
VIDHI-Sanjeevani targets reaching 50 lakh beneficiaries over 2026-31.
The evaluation was conducted by Quality Council of India (QCI), an autonomous body under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry.
Prelims pointers
- DISHA 2.0 (2026-31) - Designing Innovative Solutions for Holistic Access to Justice
- Tele-Law: toll-free number 14454
- Nyaya Bandhu: free legal services under Legal Services Authorities Act, 1987
- Section 12 of Legal Services Authorities Act, 1987: eligibility for free legal aid
- VIDHI-Sanjeevani: Vision for Integrated Delivery of Harmonized Legal Initiatives
- Nyaya Setu AI chatbot
- Quality Council of India (QCI): autonomous body under Ministry of Commerce and Industry
- Common Service Centres (CSCs)
- Nyaya Sahayaks: community legal facilitators in aspirational blocks
- Legal Literacy and Legal Awareness Programme (LLLAP)
Mains angles
- GS2 Polity: Role of legal aid in ensuring access to justice for marginalized sections
- GS2 Governance: Effectiveness of technology-enabled legal services (Tele-Law, AI chatbot) in improving justice delivery
- GS2 Government Schemes: Evaluation of DISHA scheme and its impact on legal empowerment
- GS2 Polity: Legal Services Authorities Act, 1987 and its implementation