National Commission for Minorities (NCM) is a statutory body of the Government of India. It was constituted under National Commission for Minorities Act, 1992 on August 11, 1993. The commission is charged with protecting the rights of minorities in India. It advises the government on issues and concerns faced by minority communities, recommends measures for their welfare and development, and investigates complaints made by them. In this blog post, we will discuss this in detail!
What is the National Commission for Minorities?
National Commission for Minorities is a group of people who are from a minority community in India. The National Commission for Minorities was created by the Indian government to protect the rights of these minorities and advise on any welfare or development measures that may be necessary.
The National Commission for Minority Act, 1992
The National Commission for Minority Act, 1992 was passed by the Indian parliament in order to establish the National Commission for Minorities. This act provides for the constitution of a National Commission for Minorities to look into matters relating to the status of minority communities in India and also investigate complaints made by them.
The National Commission for Minority Act, 1992 defines “minority” as follows-
(a) Any community which has been notified as a minority by the Central Government;
(b) Any linguistic minority in any State or Union Territory having its own language and script; and
(c) Any group belonging to religious minorities, namely, Christians, Muslims, Sikhs, Buddhists and Zoroastrians (Parsis).
The National Commission for Minorities Act, 1992 also provides that the National Commission for Minorities shall consist of a Chairperson, two Members and a Member-Secretary. The act lays down the qualifications and conditions of service for these posts. The National Commission for Minorities Act, 1992 was amended in 2006 to extend its jurisdiction to Jammu & Kashmir and to give it the power to investigate complaints of atrocities against minorities in addition to the original mandate of advising and making recommendations on measures for their welfare and development.
What does the National Commission for Minorities do?
The National Commission for Minority Act, 1992 mandates the National Commission for Minorities to protect the rights of minority communities in India. This is done by:
- Advising the Government of India on all matters relating to the status of minority communities in India
- Investigating complaints made by members of minority communities regarding deprivation of their rights
- Planning and promoting measures for the welfare and development of minority communities
- Undertaking or promoting research into problems relating to minority communities
The National Commission for Minorities also acts as a watchdog to ensure that the rights of minority communities are not violated and that they receive equal treatment from the Government of India.
Powers of NCM
The National Commission for Minorities (NCM) is a statutory body of the Government of India. It was set up by an act of Parliament in 1992 to safeguard the interests of minority communities in the country. The commission has five members, all from different minority communities.
The NCM has several important powers that it can use to protect the rights of minorities. These powers include:
- The ability to investigate and review the working of institutions that are responsible for the welfare of minorities
- The ability to make recommendations on policies and programmes that are meant to benefit minorities
- The ability to look into complaints made by members of minority communities
- The ability to recommend measures for the protection of the rights of minorities
- The ability to promote harmony between different communities
The NCM has been successful in using its powers to protect the rights of minorities in India. It has helped to improve the situation of minority communities by ensuring that they receive fair treatment and equal opportunities.
Composition of National Commission for Minorities
The National Commission for Minorities (NCM) is a statutory body in India responsible for the protection and promotion of the interests of religious and linguistic minorities. It was established on 29 October 1993 by the National Commission for Minorities Act, 1992.
The National Commission for Minorities Act, 1992 was passed by the Parliament of India on 28 August 1992 and received the assent of the President on 29 October 1992. The National Commission for Minorities (NCM) was constituted on 29 October 1993.
The National Commission for Minorities is composed of-
- A Chairperson who is a Member of Parliament appointed by the President
- Five other Members, not being officers or employees of the Central Government or of any State Government, are appointed by the President on the recommendation of the Chairperson
- A Member-Secretary who is an officer of the Central Government
- The National Commission for Minorities Act, 1992 was amended in 2006 to extend its jurisdiction to Jammu & Kashmir
- Prior to this amendment, Jammu & Kashmir had its own State Commission for Minorities
Conclusion
The National Commission for Minorities was established in 1992 as an autonomous statutory body. It advises the government on issues and concerns pertaining to minority communities in India. The commission is also responsible for protecting the rights of these communities and ensuring their equitable representation in all spheres of life. To date, it has played a pivotal role in safeguarding the interests of minorities, both big and small. In this article, we have highlighted some of the important functions and responsibilities of the National Commission for Minorities.