New Delhi, March 13: During Financial Year 2025-26 (up to January 2026), 16,60,249 persons have been provided free legal aid and advice, the Union Law Ministry informed the Lok Sabha on Friday.
Under the component Tele-Law, citizens are connected with panel lawyers to obtain pre-litigation legal advice through video or tele-conferencing using a network of about 2.50 lakh Common Service Centres (CSCs) operating at the Gram Panchayat level across 777 districts, including 112 Aspirational Districts and 500 Aspirational Blocks, in 36 States/UTs. As on 28.02.2026, more than 1.12 crore pre-litigation advices have been provided under the programme.
Through the component of Nyaya Bandhu, a pro bono culture is being promoted among advocates, law students. Under this programme, pro bono Advocates provides free legal assistance and representation in the courts to the eligible beneficiaries under Section 12 of the LSA Act, 1987. As on 28.02.2026, 10,263 advocates have been registered under the programme.
The Legal Literacy and Legal Awareness Programme promotes partnerships with Ministries, Departments, institutions and schools for capacity building of grassroots legal workers and dissemination of legal awareness/literacy. As on 28.02.2026, the programme has reached 1,21,48,172 beneficiaries. Further, the Government is also implementing the Legal Aid Defense Counsel System (LADCS), a Central Sector Scheme through NALSA since FY 2023–24 to provide legal representation in criminal cases to beneficiaries eligible under Section 12 of the LSA Act, 1987.
As on 31.12.2025, LADC offices are functional in 680 districts across the country. Under the scheme, 8,71,581 cases have been disposed of against 12,62,857 assigned cases, and 2,76,476 Under-Trial Prisoners (UTPs) have been provided legal representation, resulting in the release of 59,630 UTPs during FY 2025–26 ( upto December 2025).
In addition to these Scheme, National Legal Services Authority (NALSA) under the Legal Services Authorities Act, 1987 provides free and competent legal services to weaker sections of society. Legal Services Institutions have been established from the Taluk level to the Supreme Court, including the Supreme Court Legal Services Committee (SCLSC), 38 High Court Legal Services Committees, 37 State Legal Services Authorities, 715 District Legal Services Authorities and 2,475 Taluk Legal Services Committees. Their activities include legal aid and advice, legal awareness programmes, legal services clinics, legal literacy clubs, Lok Adalats and implementation of the Victim Compensation Scheme.
The information was provided by Minister MoS for Law and Justice and Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Arjun Ram Meghwal in a written reply to a question in the Lok Sabha.
