Centre Launches DISHA 2.0 with ₹255 Crore Outlay to Expand Access to Justice

The Centre has launched DISHA 2.0, a Central Sector Scheme with an approved financial outlay of ₹255 crore for 2026–31, aimed at expanding access to justice through technology-driven legal services across India, including Andhra Pradesh.

The Designing Innovative Solutions for Holistic Access to Justice (DISHA) 2.0 scheme seeks to make legal assistance more accessible, particularly for people who face barriers in accessing conventional legal services. It focuses on strengthening citizen-friendly platforms and delivering legal information, advice and support at the grassroots level. The scheme has four key components Tele-Law: Reaching the Unreached, Nyaya Bandhu (Pro Bono Legal Services), Legal Literacy and Legal Awareness Programme (LLLAP), and VIDHI-Sanjeevani.

Under Tele-Law, citizens can receive free pre-litigation legal advice by connecting with panel lawyers through a mobile application and the toll-free number 14454. Consultations are also facilitated through video and teleconferencing services at Common Service Centres (CSCs) and Village Level Entrepreneurs at the panchayat level. Nyaya Sahayaks, or community-based legal facilitators, have also been engaged in Aspirational Blocks to strengthen service delivery.

The Nyaya Bandhu programme promotes voluntary pro-bono legal assistance by advocates for marginalised and disadvantaged sections covered under the Legal Services Authorities Act, 1987. Pro-bono panels have been constituted in 23 High Courts, while Pro-Bono Clubs in law institutions seek to encourage community-led legal services among students. The Legal Literacy and Legal Awareness Programme will work with government departments and other stakeholders to build grassroots capacity and spread awareness about legal rights through workshops, webinars and information materials.

The technology-focused VIDHI-Sanjeevani component will establish a centralised dashboard to monitor programme performance and service delivery. It will also integrate with the Nyaya Setu AI chatbot, which provides legal information through voice and text in 22 Indian languages. VIDHI-Sanjeevani aims to reach 50 lakh beneficiaries over five years. In Andhra Pradesh, the initiative is supported by 13,361 Common Service Centres and 742 pro-bono advocates. The details were provided by Union Law and Justice Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal in a written reply to the Lok Sabha.