The General Counsels’ Association of India (GCAI) has launched YUKTI (Youth Unchained Through Knowledge and Transformative Internships), a nationwide program aimed at nurturing India’s future legal talent. Announced on September 19 during GCAI’s conclave Nyaya Nirmaan: Reimagining India’s Legal Foundations for Viksit Bharat @ 2047 in New Delhi, YUKTI offers structured mentorship and practical exposure to law students across the country.

Vision and Objectives of YUKTI

Dr. Akhil Prasad — Co-Founder of GCAI — described YUKTI as “an investment in the future of India’s legal fraternity.” The initiative aims to develop lawyers who are not only legally competent but also innovative, ethical, and globally minded.

The program focuses on:

• Mentorship by experienced legal professionals

• Hands-on internships across corporate, litigation, and regulatory domains

• Fostering integrity, innovation, and practical legal skills

Launch Ceremony Highlights

The YUKTI launch included a lamp-lighting session attended by:

• Harsh Malhotra, Minister of State for Corporate Affairs

• Justice Dinesh Maheshwari, Chairperson, Law Commission of India

• Sasmit Patra, Rajya Sabha MP

• Prof. (Dr.) Sudhir Krishnaswamy, Vice-Chancellor, National Law School of India University (NLSIU)

Key discussions during the event emphasized the need for:

• Legal reform aligned with India’s vision of Viksit Bharat 2047

• Reducing judicial and tribunal pendency

• Expanding legal education to include corporate, in-house, and technology-driven careers

Expert Panel Discussions

Transformation of the Legal Profession

The panel included:

• Justice Arjan Kumar Sikri, Singapore International Commercial Court

• Dr. Rajiv Mani, Mahaveer Singhvi, advocate Mahesh Agarwal, Dr. Anshul Vikram Pandey

• Moderated by Mini Menon VandePol (Baker McKenzie) with inputs from Hemant Kumar (Larsen & Toubro)

The discussion focused on career diversification, emerging roles, and opportunities for legal professionals in India.

Legal Education and Youth

Academics from Delhi University, Dhirubhai Ambani University, RGNUL, and NLU Delhi shared insights.

Moderated by Prof. Ashish Bhardwaj (BITS Law School), the panel explored preparing law students for globalized, interdisciplinary legal careers.

Commercial Law Damages Panel

Chaired by Senior Advocate Gourab Banerji, the panel featured:

• Pinky Anand

• Sudhanshu Swaroop

• Sudha Rani Relangi

The session focused on damages, dispute resolution, and commercial law trends.

YUKTI’s Impact on India’s Legal Landscape

YUKTI represents a strategic effort to bridge the gap between legal education and professional practice, empowering the next generation of lawyers with mentorship, skill-building, and exposure to real-world legal challenges.