Strengthening the National Commission for Minorities | 11 Dec 2025

Source: TH 

Why in News? 

The Ministry of Minority Affairs has not committed to any timeline for filling the long-pending vacancies in the National Commission for Minorities (NCM), even after the Delhi High Court sought a response from the government over the delay.  

• The NCM has been headless since April 2025, with all posts of Chairperson, Vice-Chairperson, and Members remaining vacant. 

What is the National Commission for Minorities (NCM)? 

• About: The NCM is a statutory body set up under the National Commission for Minorities (NCM) Act, 1992 to safeguard the rights and interests of minorities and ensure their protection and development.  
  • The first Commission was constituted on 17th May 1993. 
• Origin: The Minorities Commission (MC) was set up in 1978 by a Ministry of Home Affairs Resolution and moved to the Ministry of Welfare in 1984. In 1988, linguistic minorities were excluded from its jurisdiction. 
• Composition: The NCM consists of a Chairperson, Vice-Chairperson, and 5 Members, all nominated by the Central Government from persons of eminence, ability, and integrity.  
  • At least five members, including the Chairperson, must belong to notified minority communities (Muslim, Christian, Sikh, Buddhist, Parsi, and Jain). 
• Mandate and Duration: It has quasi-judicial powers, and each member serves a 3-year term from the date of joining. 
• Removal: 

Who are Considered Minorities in India, and What Constitutional Safeguards are Provided to Them? 

• About Minorities: The term 'Minority' is not explicitly defined in the Constitution of India; however, it recognizes the existence of religious and linguistic minorities.  
  • The NCM Act, 1992 provides a statutory definition, specifying a minority as a community officially notified as such by the Central Government 
• Minority Communities: Under the NCM Act, 1992, the Ministry of Welfare, through a 1993 notification, officially designated five religious communities—Muslims, Christians, Sikhs, Buddhists, and Zoroastrians (Parsis)—as minority communities.  
  • This list was later expanded in 2014 to include Jains as the sixth notified minority community. 
• Minorities Population:

• Constitutional Safeguards for Minorities:  

What are the Major Challenges Faced by the National Commission for Minorities (NCM)? 

• Chronic Vacancies: The NCM has been largely non-functional because all key positions—Chairperson, Vice-Chairperson, and Members—are vacant, despite Delhi High Court reminders to fill them. 
• Limited Autonomy: Appointments are made at the Central Government’s discretion, raising concerns about the NCM’s independence and political neutrality, and undermining its role as an impartial watchdog. 
• Ambiguity in "Minority" Definition: Minority status is based only on religion, excluding linguistic or ethnic minorities, raising debates on uniform recognition and state-level minorities. 
• Advisory Nature and Lack of Enforcement Power: As a statutory body, the Commission can only recommend actions to the Government, but its decisions are not binding, and it cannot enforce or penalize, limiting its effectiveness. 
• Erosion of Institutional Credibility: A defunct Commission increases judicial burden, as people bypass it for court intervention, and may draw international scrutiny over India’s minority protection commitments. 

What Measures can Strengthen Functioning of the National Commission for Minorities? 

• Legislative and Institutional Reforms: Upgrade NCM to a Constitutional body (like NCSC/NCST) or amend the NCM Act, 1992 to make its recommendations binding, and establish transparent appointment criteria to ensure independence. 
• Functional Empowerment: Empower NCM to take suo motu action, impose penalties for non-compliance, and strengthen its investigation wing with a dedicated, trained team for independent probes. 
• Judicial Oversight and Review: Enable courts to oversee NCM orders and use its reports in PILs, while promoting public engagement through hearings, consultations, and awareness campaigns. 
• Integration with Broader Governance: Integrate NCM with monitoring of minority welfare schemes (e.g., scholarships, skill development) to assess ground-level implementation.  
  • Create a standing inter-ministerial committee with Home, Education, Social Justice, and Minority Affairs ministries for coordinated policy action. 
• Learning from Global Best Practices: Adopt international models like South Africa’s Commission for Cultural, Religious, and Linguistic Communities or the UK Equality and Human Rights Commission for stronger enforcement mechanisms. 

Conclusion 

The chronic vacancies and structural weaknesses plaguing the NCM have crippled its constitutional mandate to protect minority rights. Urgent reforms, including timely appointments, legislative empowerment, and enhanced autonomy, are essential to restore its credibility as an effective watchdog and safeguard India's pluralistic fabric.