The prestigious four-week Summer Internship Programme (SIP) 2026 of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), India began at its premises in New Delhi today. The programme aims to foster human rights awareness among postgraduate-level students. 100 students out of 1,668 applicants from diverse academic disciplines have been shortlisted for this programme across 40 institutions of 21 states/ union territories. They include the students of Law, Social Sciences, Social Work, Psychology, Journalism, Gender Studies, Digital Humanities and International Relations, among others.

Inaugurating the programme, NHRC, India Chairperson, Justice V. Ramasubramanian said that while agricultural, industrial and digital revolutions have transformed human life, the enduring nature of liberty, equality and fraternity remains unchanged all over the world, signifying the importance attached to human rights and values. He said that while many students initially seek internships to strengthen their academic profiles, the true value lies in acquiring knowledge, broadening perspectives and developing a deeper understanding of society.

Justice Ramasubramanian said that the selection of interns represents a ‘Mini India’ in an effort to bring together students from diverse backgrounds and sow in them the seeds of human rights consciousness to contribute to a more evolved society in the future through their character and conduct. He encouraged the interns to make the best use of the internship, which has been curated specifically to provide them with learning beyond classrooms and digital sources. He said that if even a few students emerge from the internship with greater empathy, awareness and commitment towards human rights, the programme would achieve its purpose.

In his address, NHRC Member, Justice (Dr.) Bidyut Ranjan Sarangi said that the internship brings together students from diverse regions, providing them an opportunity for an exchange of cultures, feelings and understanding to rediscover themselves. He said that knowledge complements youth power in strengthening the unity of the country. He expressed hope that the interns would gain valuable knowledge and insights through interactions with experts during the programme and encouraged them to become voices for the voiceless.

NHRC Member, Smt. Vijaya Bharathi Sayani said that human rights and human values are not separate concepts in India. Quoting the ancient concepts of ‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam’ and ‘Sarve Bhavantu Sukhinah', she traced the embodiment of human rights in the Indian culture and ethos long before the modern legal framework evolved. She urged that the internship should be viewed not merely as an academic exercise but as an opportunity for value-based learning and personal growth. She stressed that human rights are not limited to legal frameworks but are reflected in everyday conduct and empathy towards others. In today's rapidly changing world, technological advancement and economic progress are essential and development without values can never create a truly just society. She also encouraged the interns to use the programme as an opportunity to enrich themselves as responsible citizens.

Earlier, in his address, the NHRC, India Secretary General, Shri Bharat Lal emphasised that the NHRC is investing significantly in nurturing young minds both through its in-person and online internship programmes, which have been expanded to reach students across the country, including those in remote areas. He highlighted the objective of the internship to create a new generation of leadership committed to human rights, human values and social responsibility. He said that youth now carry a profound responsibility to protect and advance human rights, democratic freedoms of equality, justice, liberty and fraternity for which our predecessors sacrificed their lives. He noted how life is more about thinking about 'others' especially poor and most vulnerable and not just the individual self. He encouraged the interns to achieve this purpose of life by imparting knowledge and understanding and by promoting and practising human rights, values, empathy and compassion.

Before this, giving an overview of the internship programme, the NHRC, India Joint Secretary, Shri Samir Kumar said that the wide academic and institutional diversity has greatly enriched the learning environment of this programme and reflects its pan-India character. He highlighted how the programme’s interactive sessions, group research projects, book reviews and declamation contests and field visits to Police Stations, Tihar Jail, SHEOWS' home for the elderly and other National Commissions are designed to deepen interns’ understanding of various facets of human rights issues.

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NSK