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National Integration Council is a statutory body constituted by the Government of India under Article 371-J of the Constitution. It is responsible for advising the government on issues relating to national integration and making recommendations on various measures to promote communal harmony, linguistic minorities, etc.
National Integration Council
The National Integration Council is a statutory body constituted by the Government of India in 1992 under the provisions of Article 355 of the Constitution. The council has been entrusted with the task of monitoring all issues relating to national integration and recommending appropriate action thereon. The council also advises the government on matters related to internal security and promotes communal harmony across religious lines. The council is chaired by the Prime Minister of India and has ministers from both Houses of Parliament as its members. Other eminent persons, including chief ministers of states/UTs, parliamentarians, jurists, representatives of various political parties, social organizations, etc., are also its members.
Formation of National Integration Council
The formation of the National Integration Council (NIC) was announced by the government on 15 August 1985. The National Integration Council is a constitutional body that has been entrusted with the task of monitoring and reviewing the progress made in the field of national integration and advising the government on ways and means to promote national integration.
The objectives of the National Integration Council are as follows:
• To assess periodically the progress made in various fields relating to national integration;
• To identify problems hindering national integration and suggest remedial measures;
• To evolve a consensus among different sections of society on issues pertaining to national integration ;
• To review Central and State Government policies and programs affecting national integration and make recommendations thereon;
• To recommend schemes for promoting national integration; and
• To perform such other functions as may be assigned to it by the Central Government.
History of National Integration Council
The National Integration Council (NIC) was set up by the Government of India in August 1961 as a non-partisan, non-political forum to promote national integration and communal harmony across the length and breadth of the country. The NIC is chaired by the Prime Minister of India, and its members include representatives from all major political parties, social organizations, and religious groups.
The National Integration Council has played a key role in promoting national integration in India. It has held regular meetings to discuss issues related to communal harmony and national integration and has taken several important decisions in this regard. In December 1992, for instance, the NIC decided to set up a National Foundation for Communal Harmony (NFCH) to promote communal harmony and national integration at the grassroots level. The NFCH has since been actively involved in various activities to promote communal harmony and national integration in India.
The NIC has also taken several important decisions with regard to the protection of minority rights in India. In September 1993, it decided to set up a National Commission for Minorities (NCM) to look into the problems faced by minorities in India and suggest measures for their effective protection. The NCM has since been working tirelessly to protect the rights of minorities in India.
The NIC is thus an important forum for promoting national integration and communal harmony in India. It has taken several important decisions over the years that have gone a long in promoting these objectives. However, its work is far from done and it will continue to play a key role in promoting national integration and communal harmony in India.
Conclusion
The National Integration Council (NIC) is a statutory body established by an Act of Parliament in 1992 to promote national integration in India. The NIC is chaired by the Prime Minister and has as its members the Home Minister, Finance Minister, Defense Minister, External Affairs Minister, and other ministers of cabinet rank; chief ministers of all states and union territories; leaders of political parties represented in either house of Parliament; chairpersons of both houses of the state legislatures; and three persons nominated by the president from among persons who have made outstanding contributions to efforts at national integration. The council’s Secretariat is located in New Delhi.
