NHRC Secretary General Bharat Lal Urges Interns to Become Human Rights Ambassadors as 80 Law Students Complete Internship Programme
(By Syed Ali Taher Abedi)
Delhi, 27 November 2025 – The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) of India has successfully concluded its 4th edition of the Online Short-Term Internship Programme (OSTI) for the year 2025-2026, marking yet another significant milestone in its ongoing efforts to foster human rights awareness among youth. This flagship internship programme commenced on 10th November 2025 and brought together a diverse cohort of 80 university-level students from 16 States and Union Territories across India, culminating in an immersive and enlightening experience cantered on human rights promotion and protection.
In his valedictory address, Bharat Lal, Secretary General of the NHRC, extended his hearty congratulations to the interns who had been meticulously selected from a large pool of applicants, emphasizing the distinct privilege they held in engaging directly with renowned experts and practitioners on a wide spectrum of human rights issues. Lal exhorted the participants to rise as ambassadors of human rights, leveraging the knowledge, values, and insights acquired during the rigorous internship period to actively build awareness and articulate concerns about violations within their communities and beyond.
The programme, conducted entirely online, enabled access to remote and diverse learners, enabling a truly national outreach in the dissemination of human rights education. It featured interactive sessions, expert lectures, and collaborative projects designed to sensitise young minds to the complex realities underpinning human rights enforcement in India. Through this initiative, the NHRC continues to deepen its commitment to nurturing informed and empowered youth advocates who will contribute constructively to the nation’s democratic and constitutional ethos.
By blending academic rigor with practical engagement, the OSTI 2025-2026 has not only imparted critical legal and ethical concepts but also instilled a sense of responsibility among the interns to address and challenge human rights infringements. With such initiatives, the NHRC reaffirms its core mission of safeguarding human dignity and promoting justice through education and advocacy, harnessing the energy and idealism of young scholars to ensure the resilience of human rights in India’s socio-legal landscape.
He reminded the interns that human rights must be internalised and lived through one’s daily conduct. He emphasised that only a better human being can protect the rights of others and this begins with building a character that is conscious, respectful and sensitive to the needs of people around them. Lal said that every segment of society can lead a dignified life by safeguarding their basic human rights. He also urged the interns to read the Directive Principles of State Policy and the Fundamental Rights and to reflect on how and where they can take forward the idea of promoting and protecting human rights more effectively. Before this, Ms.Saidingpuii Chhakchhuak, Joint Secretary, NHRC presented the internship report. The internship had 46 sessions on different aspects of human rights by the NHRC Members, senior officers, experts and civil society representatives. She also announced the results of various competitions held during the internship. Mr.Samir Kumar, Joint Secretary, NHRC and Lt Col Virender Singh, Director, NHRC were present on the occasion.
