In a major step toward making justice more accessible to citizens, the Government of India has launched the Nyaya Setu AI Chatbot, along with its digital mascot Dishika. The initiative was unveiled by Vice President C. P. Radhakrishnan and Minister of State for Law and Justice Arjun Ram Meghwal during the DISHA (Digital India State of Affairs) programme held at Vigyan Bhavan.
What is Nyaya Setu AI Chatbot?
The Nyaya Setu AI Chatbot is an advanced digital legal assistant designed to help citizens understand legal information in a simple and user-friendly manner. The platform supports both voice and text-based interaction and is available in multiple Indian languages, ensuring wider reach and usability.
Its primary objective is to empower people with easy access to:
- Legal rights and entitlements
- Step-by-step legal procedures
- Guidance on next actions in legal matters
This initiative is expected to significantly reduce barriers to justice, especially for individuals unfamiliar with legal systems.
Powered by BHASHINI under Digital India
The platform has been developed under the BHASHINI initiative, a key component of the Digital India mission aimed at breaking language barriers through technology.
Speaking at the event, BHASHINI CEO Amitabh Nag highlighted that the initiative will make the justice delivery system more inclusive and accessible by eliminating linguistic challenges.
Real-Time Translation with ‘Shrutlekha’
During the programme, BHASHINI’s Shrutlekha system showcased its capabilities by providing real-time transcription and translation of the Vice President’s speech. This enabled attendees from diverse linguistic backgrounds to understand the address seamlessly.
Role of ‘Dishika’ Mascot
The newly introduced mascot Dishika will act as a digital legal guide, assisting users in:
- Navigating the platform
- Understanding legal queries
- Accessing relevant information easily
Dishika is expected to make the platform more interactive and user-friendly, particularly for first-time users.
Bridging the Justice Gap
According to the government, the Nyaya Setu initiative will be especially beneficial for people who face challenges in accessing justice due to:
- Language barriers
- Lack of legal awareness
- Limited access to legal resources
By leveraging AI and multilingual capabilities, the platform aims to democratize legal knowledge and bring justice closer to every citizen.
