NHRC Concludes May 2026 Internship Programme with Participation from 98 Students Across India
JNHRC Chairperson Justice V. Ramasubramanian urges youth to contribute meaningfully to society alongside demanding change
NHRC Chairperson Justice V. Ramasubramanian addresses the valedictory session through VC on Friday.
New Delhi: The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) on Thursday concluded its two-week Online Short Term Internship (OSTI) Programme for May 2026, with 98 university-level students successfully completing the initiative after being selected from 1,417 applicants across 29 states and union territories.
The internship programme, which commenced on May 18, provided participants with exposure to various dimensions of human rights through interactions with senior NHRC officials, policymakers, academicians, civil society representatives and subject experts.
Addressing the valedictory session, NHRC Chairperson Justice V. Ramasubramanian congratulated the interns and encouraged them to go beyond academic achievements to become compassionate and socially responsible citizens.
He said that while young people often seek reforms and social change, it is equally important for them to contribute constructively towards building a better society.
Highlighting India’s rich intellectual heritage, Justice Ramasubramanian referred to the contributions of ancient scholars such as Aryabhata and Bodhayana, as well as historic centres of learning like Takshila and Nalanda. He urged students to uphold values of compassion, generosity and forgiveness in their personal and professional lives.
The Chairperson also traced the evolution of human rights discourse, noting that societies historically relied on duties and moral obligations before the emergence of modern rights-based frameworks, including the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and India’s Protection of Human Rights Act, 1993.
He emphasised the need to maintain a balance between rights and duties while striving to become better human beings.
NHRC Secretary General Bharat Lal said the protection of human rights is a shared responsibility and urged the interns to reflect the values learned during the programme through their conduct, behaviour and interactions with society.
Encouraging the participants to support vulnerable sections of society, including persons with disabilities, victims of trafficking and those living in difficult circumstances, he said compassion and empathy are essential expressions of constitutional values such as justice, equality and fraternity.
Earlier, NHRC Joint Secretary Saidingpuii Chhakchhuak presented the internship report and highlighted the programme’s focus on providing both theoretical and practical understanding of human rights issues.
The interns participated in interactive sessions with NHRC leadership, senior government officials, academicians, human rights experts, civil society representatives and members of the commission’s core groups.
The valedictory programme also featured the announcement of winners in various competitions conducted during the internship, including book reviews, group research project presentations and declamation contests.
The NHRC said the internship programme is aimed at promoting human rights awareness among young students and encouraging greater engagement with issues related to social justice, constitutional values and human dignity.
