MEASURES BY GOVERNMENT TO MAKE AVAILABLE AFFORDABLE, QUALITY AND SPEEDY LEGAL SERVICES TO THE COMMON MAN, INCLUDING DIVYANGJANS
1. At a Glance
- Umbrella of statutory and scheme-based interventions by the Ministry of Law & Justice to operationalise Article 39A (equal justice and free legal aid) through NALSA and the Department of Justice (DoJ) [S1][S2].
- Two pillars: (i) statutory legal aid under the Legal Services Authorities (LSA) Act, 1987 delivered by NALSA/SLSAs/DLSAs; (ii) DoJ’s DISHA umbrella scheme (Tele-Law + Nyaya Bandhu + Legal Literacy) [S2][S3].
- Relevance: GS-II (welfare schemes, vulnerable sections, judiciary), with Divyangjan-specific carve-out via the new NALSA Scheme, 2024 for the mentally ill and intellectually disabled [S1].
2. Why in the News
- PIB release dated 06 Feb 2026 by Ministry of Law and Justice highlighted measures including the NALSA (Legal Services to the Mentally Ill and Persons with Intellectual Disabilities) Scheme, 2024 and Manonyay units [S1].
- NALSA SAMVAD Scheme, 2025 launched for community-based outreach delivery [S4].
- Tele-Law crossed 1.12 crore pre-litigation advices as on 28.02.2026 [S3].
3. Background & Evolution
- Art. 39A inserted by 42nd Constitutional Amendment, 1976 — directs State to provide free legal aid [S2].
- LSA Act, 1987 — statutory framework; NALSA constituted 1995, started functioning 1998 [S2].
- Tele-Law launched 2017; Tele-Law 2.0 unveiled 2023 [S5].
- Nyaya Bandhu (Pro Bono Legal Services) launched 2017; mobile app rolled out subsequently [S6].
- DISHA Scheme launched 2021 for 5 years (2021–2026), outlay ₹250 crore [S3].
- NALSA Scheme for Mentally Ill & PwIDs, 2024 notified; NALSA SAMVAD Scheme, 2025 [S1][S4].
4. Core Static Facts
- Parent Ministry: Ministry of Law & Justice; nodal body for DISHA — Department of Justice [S3].
- Statutory base: Section 12(d), LSA Act, 1987 — persons with disability entitled to free legal services [S1].
- NALSA Chief Patron: Chief Justice of India; Executive Chairperson: 2nd senior-most SC judge (LSA Act) [S2].
- DISHA outlay: ₹250 crore (2021–2026); components — Tele-Law, Nyaya Bandhu, Legal Literacy [S3].
- Tele-Law network: ~2.50 lakh CSCs at Gram Panchayat level across 777 districts, 112 Aspirational Districts, 500 Aspirational Blocks, 36 States/UTs [S3].
- Tele-Law cumulative advices: 1.12 crore+ (as on 28.02.2026) [S3].
- Nyaya Bandhu: 9,261 advocates registered; 14,888 women beneficiaries (till 30 June 2025) [S3].
- DISHA cumulative reach: ~2.10 crore beneficiaries (till 30 June 2025) [S3].
- Manonyay (LSUM) units established in all States/UTs except Ladakh and Dadra & Nagar Haveli [S1].
- Free legal services provided: 39.44 lakh persons during 2022-23 to Dec 2024 [S7].
- Legal awareness camps: 12,49,496 camps and 1,26,966 programmes (2022-23 to Dec 2024) by LSAs [S8].
5. Multi-Dimensional Analysis
Legal / Constitutional - Operationalises Art. 39A (DPSP) and Art. 14, 21, 22(1) access to justice [S2]. - Sec. 12, LSA Act entitles SC/ST, women, children, victims of trafficking, PwDs, industrial workmen, custodial persons, victims of mass disaster, those with income below ceiling [S1].
Social - Special outreach in Dumka (Jharkhand) LS Constituency, J&K UT, Odisha tribal areas [S1]. - Manonyay units mainstream mental illness and intellectual disability into legal aid — addresses dignity under RPwD Act, 2016 and Mental Healthcare Act, 2017 [S1].
Administrative - 4-tier delivery: NALSA → SLSA → DLSA → Taluka LSC; Lok Adalats as ADR forum [S2]. - DISHA leverages CSC e-Governance Services India Ltd. (MeitY) for last-mile reach [S3].
Technological - Tele-Law uses video/tele-conferencing — frontline application of e-Governance for justice delivery [S3][S5]. - Mobile apps for Nyaya Bandhu and Tele-Law dashboard [S6].
Governance / Equity - Aspirational Districts overlay ensures geographic equity; women-centric tracking under Nyaya Bandhu [S3].
6. Recent Developments (12–18 months)
- Feb 2026: PIB release reiterating government measures incl. Divyangjan focus [S1].
- 2026 (as of 28 Feb): Tele-Law crosses 1.12 crore advisories [S3].
- 2025: NALSA SAMVAD Scheme, 2025 for community outreach [S4].
- 2024: Notification of NALSA Scheme for Mentally Ill & PwIDs, 2024; rollout of Manonyay units [S1].
- 2024–25: 39.44 lakh beneficiaries of free legal aid cumulatively reported [S7].
7. Prelims Hooks
- Free legal aid is a Directive Principle under Article 39A, inserted by 42nd Amendment, 1976 [S2].
- LSA Act enacted 1987; NALSA constituted 1995, operational 1998 [S2].
- Section 12(d), LSA Act entitles persons with disability to free legal services [S1].
- NALSA Scheme for Mentally Ill & Persons with Intellectual Disabilities — year: 2024 [S1].
- Specialised units under the 2024 scheme are called ‘Manonyay’ (LSUM) [S1].
- Manonyay units rolled out in all States/UTs except Ladakh and Dadra & Nagar Haveli [S1].
- DISHA Scheme — 2021–2026, outlay ₹250 crore, implemented by Department of Justice [S3].
- DISHA components: Tele-Law, Nyaya Bandhu, Legal Literacy/Awareness [S3].
- Tele-Law uses ~2.50 lakh CSCs in 777 districts, 112 Aspirational Districts, 500 Aspirational Blocks [S3].
- Tele-Law 2.0 launched in 2023 [S5].
- Nyaya Bandhu = Pro Bono Legal Services app/programme [S6].
- NALSA SAMVAD Scheme — notified 2025 [S4].
- Free legal services to 39.44 lakh persons between 2022-23 and Dec 2024 [S7].
- Executive Chairperson of NALSA: second senior-most judge of the Supreme Court [S2].
8. Mains Relevance
- GS-II: Welfare schemes for vulnerable sections (PwDs); mechanisms, laws, institutions for the protection of vulnerable sections; functioning of judiciary; e-governance.
- GS-I (Society): Issues related to disability/social empowerment.
- Possible question stems: 1. “Article 39A remains aspirational unless legal aid is made disability-sensitive. Examine in light of NALSA’s 2024 Scheme for the Mentally Ill and Persons with Intellectual Disabilities.” (15 marks) 2. “The DISHA Scheme operationalises access to justice as a public service. Critically evaluate its design and outcomes.” (10 marks) 3. “Lok Adalats and Tele-Law have shifted dispute resolution outside the courtroom. Discuss the implications for the Indian justice system.” (15 marks)
9. Related Topics to Study Next
- Lok Adalats & Permanent Lok Adalats — ADR mechanism under LSA Act.
- RPwD Act, 2016 — substantive rights underlying Divyangjan legal aid.
- Mental Healthcare Act, 2017 — informs Manonyay framework.
- e-Courts Mission Mode Project (Phase III) — judicial digitisation companion to Tele-Law.
- Fast Track Special Courts (FTSCs) — speedy justice for women & children.
- Gram Nyayalayas Act, 2008 — rural access to justice.
- Mediation Act, 2023 — ADR ecosystem.
- Article 39A, 14, 21 — constitutional underpinnings.
10. Common Errors / Trap Areas
- NALSA constituted under LSA Act 1987, but functioning began only in 1998 — not 1987 [S2].
- DISHA is a DoJ scheme, not a NALSA scheme — NALSA implements its own schemes (SAMVAD 2025, Manonyay 2024) [S3][S1][S4].
- Section 12(d) (not 12(a)) covers PwDs in LSA Act [S1].
- Manonyay units cover mental illness and intellectual disabilities specifically — not all disabilities [S1].
- Article 39A is a DPSP, not a Fundamental Right; read with Art. 21 by SC (Hussainara Khatoon) [S2].
- DISHA outlay is ₹250 crore for 5 years, not annual [S3].
11. Sources
- [S1] Measures by Government to make available affordable... legal services... including Divyangjans — https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleseDetailm.aspx?PRID=2227217®=3&lang=2 — (tier 1)
- [S2] Access for Persons with Disabilities in the Justice System — https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2159189 — (tier 1)
- [S3] Tele-Law: Reaching the Unreached / DISHA — https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2227725®=3&lang=2 — (tier 1)
- [S4] NALSA SAMVAD Scheme, 2025 — https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleaseDetail.aspx?PRID=2227228®=3&lang=1 — (tier 1)
- [S5] Tele-Law 2.0 unveiled by Law Minister — https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1952225 — (tier 1)
- [S6] Nyaya Bandhu Legal Aid programme — https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2150649 — (tier 1)
- [S7] 39.44 lakh persons provided free legal services (2022-23 to Dec 2024) — https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2118238 — (tier 1)
- [S8] 12,49,496 legal awareness camps by LSAs — https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2118245 — (tier 1)