Press release

National Human Rights Commission

New Delhi: 3rd August 2026

NHRC, India’s two-week Online Short -Term Internship Programme begins

100 university-level students from diverse academic backgrounds shortlisted out of 2,036 applicants

Chairperson, Justice V. Ramasubramanian highlights rising global conflicts, calls for greater empathy among youth

Member, Justice (Dr.) Bidyut Ranjan Sarangi holds right to life with dignity a fundamental right and urges interns to promote human rights in society

Secretary General, Shri Piyush Goyal urges interns to become conscientious citizens committed to human rights

The two-week Online Short-Term Internship Programme (OSTI) organised by the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), India for university-level students began at Manav Adhikar Bhawan, New Delhi today. NHRC Chairperson, Justice V. Ramasubramanian inaugurated the programme in the presence of Member, Justice (Dr.) Bidyut Ranjan Sarangi; Secretary General, Shri Piyush Goyal; Joint Secretaries, Shri Samir Kumar, Smt. Saidingpuii Chhakchhuak and Director, Ms. Satovisha Samajdar. 100 students from diverse academic backgrounds, selected from 2,036 applicants, are participating in the programme.

Addressing them, Justice Ramasubramanian said that the youth in the country are fortunate to live away from conflict happening in different parts of the world. They have access to basic human rights such as food, education and shelter unlike several people facing armed conflicts and displacement. Citing the Global Peace Index 2025, released by the Institute for Economics and Peace, he said that the world is currently facing an estimated 130-armedconflicts, the highest since World War II. 98 countries are facing external conflicts and over 122 million people have been forcibly displaced. The global economic damage has reached nearly USD 20 trillion, highlighting the serious humanitarian situation across the world.

Justice Ramasubramanian described the internship programme as an effective way to engage and sensitise young people about the importance of human rights. They evolve as brand ambassadors of the Commission. He emphasised that the purpose of the NHRC internship programme is to foster empathy and compassion towards fellow human beings. He said that the programme would be successful if it could strengthen these values among the participants, even by one per cent. He urged them to make the best use of the opportunity.

NHRC Member, Justice (Dr.) Bidyut Ranjan Sarangi said that the internship programme has been structured to provide valuable learning on various aspects of human rights through lectures by eminent subject experts. Referring to Article 21 of the Constitution of India, he said that the right to life with dignity is a fundamental right and encouraged the interns to use the knowledge gained through the programme for their benefit and that of society.

Earlier, Secretary General, Shri Piyush Goyal said that the online format makes the internship programme more inclusive and accessible by removing geographical and financial barriers, enabling students from across the country to participate. He said that over the next two weeks, the interns would interact with eminent speakers, gaining a deeper understanding of the mandate and functioning of the NHRC. He added that the internship aims to inspire them to become conscientious citizens who uphold the dignity of fellow human beings and work to protect the rights of people around them. He expressed the hope that the internship will enrich their understanding of human rights and inspire them to carry forward the values of justice, equality and human dignity in their academic, professional and personal lives.

Joint Secretary, Smt. Saidingpuii Chhakchhuak presented an overview of the two-week internship programme. The programme will feature around 30 lectures on important human rights topics and involve 20 eminent guest speakers, including senior government officials, academicians, civil society representatives, human rights defenders, NHRC officers, representatives from international institutions working for the protection of human rights and subject experts. The interns will be given virtual tours of a Police Station, Tihar Prison and Asha Kiran Shelter Home to understand their functioning and challenges, besides participating in a book review competition, group research project presentation and declamation contest.

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