Over 36,000 Digital Certificates Issued to Newly Appointed Notaries, Says Arjun Ram Meghwal
Synopsis
Union Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal announces the issuance of over 36,000 digitally signed Certificates of Practice to new Notaries nationwide. Discover how the newly launched Notary Portal is transforming legal services in India.
Key Takeaways
36,269 digitally signed Certificates of Practice issued to Notaries.
Launch of the Notary Portal enhances service delivery.
DISHA Scheme improves access to justice for citizens.
Tele-Law connects citizens with lawyers for legal advice.
10,263 advocates registered under Nyaya Bandhu for pro bono services.
New Delhi, March 13 (NationPress) In a significant update, Union Minister of State (MoS) for Law and Justice, Arjun Ram Meghwal, revealed to the Lok Sabha on Friday that as of March 6, 2026, a total of 36,269 digitally signed Certificates of Practice have been granted to newly appointed Notaries throughout the nation.
In response to an inquiry, Meghwal elaborated that the government has introduced the Notary Portal, a specialized platform designed to facilitate online services associated with the Notaries Act of 1952 and the Notaries Rules of 1956.
This portal aims to create an online connection between Notaries and the Government for various services. These include application submissions for Notary appointments, eligibility verification, issuance of digitally signed Certificates of Practice, Certificate renewals, changes in practice areas, and annual return submissions, among others.
The Notary Portal offers a system that is faceless, paperless, transparent, and efficient. Currently, the live module focuses on document verification, eligibility checks, and the issuance of digitally signed Certificates of Practice to new Notaries. Previously, these Certificates were issued in physical form.
In another response, the MoS mentioned that the government is also implementing a distinct initiative to provide affordable and accessible justice to its citizens.
The DISHA (Designing Innovative Solutions for Holistic Access to Justice) Scheme is designed to enhance justice access for all citizens, aligning with the provisions set forth in the Legal Services Authorities (LSA) Act, 1987.
Under the Tele-Law component, citizens can connect with panel lawyers for pre-litigation legal advice via video or tele-conferencing through a network of approximately 2.50 lakh Common Service Centres (CSCs), which are operational at the Gram Panchayat level across 777 districts, including 112 Aspirational Districts and 500 Aspirational Blocks in 36 States/UTs.
As of February 28, 2026, over 1.12 crore pre-litigation advisories have been provided under this program.
The Nyaya Bandhu component further promotes a pro bono culture among advocates and law students, as stated by the MoS. This initiative allows pro bono advocates to offer free legal assistance and representation in court to eligible beneficiaries under Section 12 of the LSA Act, 1987. As of February 28, a total of 10,263 advocates have enrolled in this program.
Point of View
Which is crucial in today's digital age.
NationPress
6 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Notary Portal?
The Notary Portal is an online platform launched by the government to provide services related to the Notaries Act, including application submissions and issuance of Certificates of Practice.
How many Certificates of Practice have been issued?
As of March 6, 2026, a total of 36,269 digitally signed Certificates of Practice have been issued to new Notaries.
What is the DISHA Scheme?
The DISHA Scheme aims to enhance access to justice for all citizens, aligning with the provisions of the Legal Services Authorities Act, 1987.
How many advocates are registered under the Nyaya Bandhu program?
As of February 28, 2026, a total of 10,263 advocates have been registered under the Nyaya Bandhu program.
