13 February 2026·PIB

‘TELE-LAW: REACHING THE UNREACHED’ SCHEME

In this note

1. At a Glance

Tele-Law is a pre-litigation legal advice programme connecting citizens with panel lawyers via video/tele-conferencing at Common Service Centres (CSCs), a mobile app, and toll-free 14454 [1][2].
Implemented by the Department of Justice, Ministry of Law and Justice as a component of the Central Sector DISHA Scheme (Designing Innovative Solutions for Holistic Access to Justice) [2][3].
A flagship instrument for operationalising Article 39A (equal justice and free legal aid) at the Gram Panchayat level via Village Level Entrepreneurs (VLEs) [1].

PIB release dated 13 February 2026 detailed the deployment of Nyaya Sahayaks in ~500 Aspirational Blocks since 2024 for door-to-door legal aid delivery under Tele-Law [1].
Cumulative beneficiaries crossed 1.03 crore as of 30 November 2024, spanning 2.5 lakh Gram Panchayats in 785 districts across 36 States/UTs [2].

2017: Tele-Law launched by Department of Justice in partnership with CSC e-Governance Services India Ltd (MeitY) [4].
2021–2026: Subsumed under the DISHA umbrella scheme (outlay ₹250 crore for 5 years) along with Nyaya Bandhu (pro bono) and Legal Literacy components [2].
25 August 2023: Tele-Law 2.0 unveiled at Siri Fort, integrating Tele-Law with Nyaya Bandhu pro bono services; 50 lakh beneficiaries milestone reached [5].
2024 onwards: Nyaya Sahayaks engaged in ~500 Aspirational Blocks as community facilitators [1].

Parent scheme: DISHA (Central Sector); Outlay: ₹250 crore (2021–26) [2].
Nodal ministry: Ministry of Law and Justice → Department of Justice [2].
Delivery channels: CSCs (run by VLEs at GP level), Tele-Law Mobile App, Toll-Free 14454 [1].
Coverage: 2.5 lakh Gram Panchayats, 785 districts, 36 States/UTs (as of 30 Nov 2024) [2].
Beneficiaries: 1,03,06,149 pre-litigation advices rendered (as of 30 Nov 2024) [2].
Nyaya Sahayaks: ~500 Aspirational Blocks since 2024 — door-to-door facilitators linking beneficiaries to panel lawyers [1].
Components of DISHA: Tele-Law, Nyaya Bandhu (pro bono), Legal Literacy & Legal Awareness Programmes [2].
Constitutional anchor: Article 39A (DPSP — equal justice and free legal aid).

Social / Equity

Targets rural, marginalised, SC/ST/OBC, women, PwD populations through GP-level CSCs [2].
Aspirational Blocks focus aligns with backwardness-criteria targeting [1].

Legal / Constitutional

Operationalises Article 39A and complements the Legal Services Authorities Act, 1987 (NALSA framework).
Focus is pre-litigation, reducing avoidable docket pressure on subordinate courts.

Technological

Leverages CSC digital infrastructure under MeitY; integrates video conferencing, mobile app, and toll-free telephony [1].
Tele-Law 2.0 integrated databases of Tele-Law and Nyaya Bandhu pro bono lawyers [5].

Administrative / Federalism

Central Sector scheme — fully Centre-funded; delivery via VLEs (private entrepreneurs) + panel lawyers empanelled with State Legal Services Authorities.
Nyaya Sahayaks as community-based last-mile workers — analogous to ASHA/Anganwadi model [1].

Governance

Convergence model: Department of Justice + MeitY (CSC SPV) + State Legal Services Authorities [2].

13 Feb 2026: PIB clarified deployment of Nyaya Sahayaks in ~500 Aspirational Blocks under DISHA [1].
30 Nov 2024: Crossed 1.03 crore cumulative beneficiaries [2].
2024: Nyaya Sahayak cadre operationalised in Aspirational Blocks [1].
25 Aug 2023: Launch of Tele-Law 2.0 + 50 lakh beneficiary milestone [5].

Tele-Law toll-free number: 14454 [1].
Tele-Law is a component of DISHA Central Sector Scheme (not a standalone scheme) [2].
DISHA outlay: ₹250 crore for 2021–2026 [2].
Other DISHA components: Nyaya Bandhu and Legal Literacy/Awareness [2].
Implementing ministry: Ministry of Law and Justice — Dept. of Justice (not Home Affairs, not NALSA) [2].
Nyaya Sahayaks deployed in ~500 Aspirational Blocks since 2024 [1].
Field-level delivery agents at CSCs: Village Level Entrepreneurs (VLEs) [1].
Tele-Law 2.0 launched on 25 August 2023 integrating with Nyaya Bandhu [5].
Coverage as on 30 Nov 2024: 2.5 lakh GPs, 785 districts, 36 States/UTs [2].
Constitutional basis: Article 39A (DPSP).
Tele-Law provides pre-litigation advice only (not litigation representation) [1].
Beneficiaries crossed 1 crore by Nov 2024 [2].

GS-II: Governance / Welfare schemes for vulnerable sections / Issues relating to development and management of social sector — Health, Education, Human Resources; Mechanisms for protection of vulnerable sections.
GS-II: Functioning of judiciary — access to justice.
Likely question stems: 1. “Access to justice is a precondition for substantive equality. Examine the role of the Tele-Law programme under DISHA in operationalising Article 39A.” 2. “Discuss how community-based facilitators such as Nyaya Sahayaks can transform last-mile delivery of legal aid in Aspirational Blocks.” 3. “Evaluate the convergence of digital infrastructure (CSCs) with welfare delivery, using Tele-Law as a case study.”

Legal Services Authorities Act, 1987 & NALSA — statutory legal aid architecture.
Article 39A & DPSPs on justice — constitutional backbone.
Nyaya Bandhu (Pro Bono) programme — DISHA sibling.
Aspirational Blocks Programme (NITI Aayog, 2023) — geographic targeting overlap.
Common Service Centres (CSC 2.0) — MeitY delivery rail.
Lok Adalats & Gram Nyayalayas Act, 2008 — alternative dispute resolution mechanisms.
e-Courts Mission Mode Project (Phase III) — judicial digitisation.
Hamara Samvidhan, Hamara Samman campaign — DoJ legal awareness drive.

Tele-Law is NOT a NALSA scheme — it is run by Department of Justice (MoLJ), distinct from NALSA’s statutory legal aid.
Tele-Law provides only pre-litigation advice, not court representation.
DISHA is the umbrella scheme; Tele-Law, Nyaya Bandhu and Legal Literacy are components — do not equate Tele-Law with DISHA.
Toll-free number 14454 (not 1800-series); commonly confused with NALSA helpline 15100.
VLEs run CSCs; Nyaya Sahayaks are a separate cadre of door-to-door facilitators introduced in 2024 in Aspirational Blocks.
Launch year of Tele-Law is 2017; Tele-Law 2.0 is 2023 — don’t conflate.