Key Terms & Concepts — UPSC Mains
Tele-Law
"A government programme providing free pre-litigation legal advice to rural citizens via video-conferencing at Common Service Centres"
Tele-Law is a flagship legal aid programme under the Department of Justice, Ministry of Law and Justice, that connects citizens in rural and semi-urban areas with panel lawyers through video or tele-conferencing facilities available at gram panchayat-level Common Service Centres (CSCs). Launched on June 6, 2017, the programme provides free pre-litigation legal advice — guidance on legal rights, options, and remedies — without any income ceiling or eligibility restriction. By November 2024, Tele-Law had delivered over 1.03 crore consultations across 2.5 lakh gram panchayats in 785 districts. Tele-Law 2.0, launched in 2022-23, added a dedicated mobile app and a toll-free helpline (14454).
Important for UPSC GS-2 (Governance, Social Justice) and Prelims. UPSC tests access to justice programmes, the constitutional basis of free legal aid (Article 39A read with Article 21), NALSA's role, and technology-driven governance initiatives. Tele-Law is a component of the DISHA umbrella scheme.
- 1 Launched June 6, 2017 by Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad
- 2 Free pre-litigation legal advice via CSC video-conferencing — no income ceiling
- 3 Coverage expanded from 1,800 CSCs in 11 states to 2.5 lakh CSCs in 785 districts
- 4 Over 1.03 crore consultations delivered by November 2024
- 5 Tele-Law 2.0 added mobile app, toll-free number 14454, and UMANG integration
A rural citizen in Bihar visits the nearest Common Service Centre, registers a legal query with the Para-Legal Volunteer, and receives free video consultation with a panel lawyer — all through the Tele-Law programme under the DISHA scheme.
