Key Points
- DISHA 2.0 is a Central Sector Scheme covering all Indian districts from 2026 to 2031
- Scheme includes Tele-Law for free pre-litigation advice and Nyaya Bandhu for pro-bono legal services
- VIDHI-Sanjeevani dashboard will monitor implementation across India
The Centre has launched a new five-year scheme to expand access to legal services across India, deploying technology platforms to deliver free pre-litigation advice and pro-bono legal assistance to citizens in all districts.
The Designing Innovative Solutions for Holistic Access to Justice (DISHA) 2.0 Scheme, a Central Sector Scheme running from 2026 to 2031, aims to leverage technology to develop people-friendly solution platforms for legal services. The scheme covers all districts across India, including every district in Gujarat.
Arjun Ram Meghwal, minister of state for law and justice, provided details of the scheme in a written reply to a question in the Lok Sabha on Friday (31 July).
The scheme comprises four distinct components designed to address different aspects of legal access for citizens who may otherwise struggle to afford or reach legal assistance.
DISHA 2.0 components
The first component, Tele-Law: Reaching the Unreached, provides free pre-litigation advice to all citizens. This service allows people to consult lawyers remotely before formal legal proceedings begin, helping them understand their rights and options without incurring costs.
The second component, the Nyaya Bandhu programme, coordinates pro-bono legal services. Under this programme, lawyers volunteer their time to represent citizens who cannot afford legal fees, particularly in cases involving fundamental rights or access to justice.
The third component focuses on legal literacy and legal awareness. This programme educates citizens about their legal rights, court procedures and available remedies, reducing the knowledge gap that often prevents people from seeking legal help.
The fourth component, VIDHI-Sanjeevani, serves as the technological backbone of the scheme. VIDHI stands for Vision for Integrated Delivery of Harmonized Legal Initiatives. This centralised integrated dashboard will monitor the progress of all scheme components across the country.
Monitoring framework
The ministry has established a multi-layered monitoring system to track implementation. Beyond the VIDHI-Sanjeevani dashboard, the scheme will be reviewed through regular meetings, field visits and direct feedback collected through regional workshops.
A dedicated Programme Management Unit will oversee day-to-day implementation and coordinate between central and state-level authorities. This structure is intended to ensure that the technology platforms reach their intended beneficiaries in rural and underserved areas.
The scheme builds on the first iteration of DISHA, which sought to bridge the gap between legal services and citizens who could not access them due to distance, cost or lack of awareness. The second version expands the technology infrastructure and adds the centralised monitoring dashboard to improve accountability.
Access to justice remains a challenge in India, where court backlogs exceed four crore cases and many citizens in rural areas live far from the nearest court or legal aid centre. Technology-based solutions such as Tele-Law attempt to address geographic barriers by enabling remote consultations.
The scheme’s pan-India coverage means that implementation will require coordination between the central ministry and state legal services authorities, which operate under the National Legal Services Authority framework established under the Legal Services Authorities Act, 1987.
Your Questions, Answered
What is the DISHA 2.0 scheme?
DISHA 2.0 is a Central Sector Scheme running from 2026 to 2031 that uses technology to expand access to legal services across all Indian districts. It includes free pre-litigation advice through Tele-Law, pro-bono legal services through Nyaya Bandhu, legal literacy programmes and a centralised monitoring dashboard called VIDHI-Sanjeevani.
How can citizens access free legal advice under DISHA 2.0?
Citizens can access free pre-litigation legal advice through the Tele-Law component, which enables remote consultations with lawyers. This service is designed to help people understand their legal rights and options before formal court proceedings begin.
What is Nyaya Bandhu under DISHA 2.0?
Nyaya Bandhu is the pro-bono legal services programme under DISHA 2.0. It coordinates volunteer lawyers who provide free legal representation to citizens who cannot afford legal fees, particularly in cases involving fundamental rights.
How will the DISHA 2.0 scheme be monitored?
The scheme will be monitored through VIDHI-Sanjeevani, a centralised integrated dashboard, along with regular review meetings, field visits, regional workshops for direct feedback and a dedicated Programme Management Unit.
