When was the National Commission for Minorities established?

The NCM was established on May 17, 1993, through the enactment of the National Commission for Minorities Act, 1992.

What communities are officially acknowledged as minority groups by the National Commission for Minorities?

The National Commission for Minorities (NCM) in India officially acknowledges six distinct communities as minority groups: Muslims, Christians, Sikhs, Buddhists, Zoroastrians (commonly known as Parsis), and Jains

Is the National Commission for Minorities involved in policy-making for minorities?

Yes, one of the roles of the NCM is to advise the government on policy and program matters related to the welfare of minorities. It plays an important role in shaping policies that benefit minority communities.

Does the National Commission for Minorities only address religious minorities?

No, the NCM addresses both religious and linguistic minorities, ensuring protection and promotion of the rights and interests of all minority communities.

Does the Indian constitution provide a specific definition for the term 'Minorities'?

The Indian Constitution makes reference to 'Minorities' without providing a specific definition.

National Commission For Minorities Composition, Tenure & Removal

Table of Contents

National Commission for Minorities (NCM)

In diverse societies, the recognition and protection of minority rights are essential for upholding the principles of democracy, human rights, and social harmony. Minority groups often face unique challenges that require specific attention to ensure their full integration, participation, and equal opportunities. In many countries, including India, the establishment of a National Commission for Minorities (NCM) serves as a critical mechanism to safeguard the interests and well-being of these marginalized communities.

Evolution of the National Commission for Minorities in India

In 1978, the idea of establishing the Minorities Commission (MC) was initially conceived within a Ministry of Home Affairs Resolution. In 1984, the MC underwent a significant change when it was separated from the Ministry of Home Affairs and instead placed under the newly formed Ministry of Welfare. However, it’s worth noting that in 1988, linguistic minorities were excluded from the Commission’s jurisdiction.

A pivotal moment occurred in 1992 with the passage of the NCM Act, which transformed the MC into a statutory body. This change also led to the renaming of the organization, now known as the National Commission for Minorities (NCM). The year 1993 marked a historic milestone as the first Statutory National Commission was established. This move recognized and officially designated five religious communities – Muslims, Christians, Sikhs, Buddhists, and Zoroastrians (Parsis) – as minority communities. Further expansion occurred in 2014 when Jains were also officially recognized and designated as a minority community.

National Commission For Minorities
Particulars	Details
National Commission For Minorities(NCM)	Statutory Body
Established on	17th May 1993
Statutory Provision	National Commission For Minorities Act, of 1992
Jurisdiction	Whole of India including J&K & Ladakh
Related Ministry	Under the Ministry of Minority Affairs, Government of India
Composition	A Chairperson A Vice-chairperson Members- 5 At least five Members including the Chairperson should be from amongst the minority communities.
First chairperson	Justice Mohd. Sardar Ali Khan (05.07.1993- 04.07.1996) after becoming a Statutory body
Tenure	Three years (Both Chairperson and Members)
Number of Notified Religious Minorities	6 It includes Muslims, Christians, Sikhs, Buddhists, Parsis, and Jain.
Minorities Rights Day	18th December (annually)

Necessity of National Commission for Minorities

The necessity for such commissions arises from the clear principles outlined in the Constitution, which safeguard the rights of individuals as well as various groups and minorities. The strength of a diverse democracy hinges upon these logical and resilient institutions that not only protect these rights but also translate abstract ideals into practical reality.

The effectiveness of organizations like NCM, NCSC, NCST, or NCBC plays a pivotal role in gauging the vitality of a democracy. These structures enable a constructive assessment of the country’s status, providing a platform to express grievances. This process ultimately fortifies the democratic system while empowering individuals to exercise their rights to the fullest extent.

Constitutional provisions for minorities in India

Indian Constitution in detail discusses about the Constitutional Provision for the Minorities in India. All the Articles that strengthened the minorities sections in India are mentioned below:

Constitutional provisions for minorities in India
Articles	Feature
Article 29	Protection of interests of minorities. Right of ‘any section of the citizens’ to ‘conserve’ its ‘distinct language, script or culture’. Non-denial admission to any citizen to any educational institution maintained or aided by the State on grounds only of religion, race, caste, language, or any of them.
Article 30	Right of minorities to establish and administer educational institutions. Right of all religious and linguistic minorities to establish and administer educational institutions of their choice. State laws providing for the compulsory acquisition of property of minority educational institutions shall ensure that the compensation amount to be paid does not restrict or abrogate the right guaranteed above. Freedom of minority-managed educational institutions from discrimination in the matter of receiving aid from the State.
Article 347	Special provision relating to the language spoken by a section of the population of any State.
Article 350	Provision for a Special Officer for Linguistic Minorities and his duties.
Article 350 A	Provision for facilities for instruction in mother-tongue at the primary stage.

National Commission For Minorities Composition, Tenure and Removal

Check the National Commission For Minorities Composition, Tenure and Removal in the table below:

National Commission For Minorities Composition, Tenure and Removal
Particulars	Details
Composition	The National Commission for Minorities (NCM) comprises a Chairperson, a Vice-Chairperson, and five members, all of whom must belong to minority communities. Additionally, the Central Government has the responsibility to nominate a total of seven individuals who demonstrate eminence, ability, and integrity.
Tenure	Each member of the NCM serves a term of three years, commencing from the date they assume office.
Removal	The Central Government holds the authority to issue an order for the removal of the Chairperson or any other Member under the following circumstances: The Chairperson or any Member is declared insolvent by a competent authority. During their term of office, the Chairperson or any Member engages in any paid employment that is not related to their official duties. The Chairperson or any Member refuses to perform their duties or becomes incapacitated to carry out their responsibilities. A competent court declares the Chairperson or any Member to be of unsound mind. The Chairperson or any Member misuses their office in a manner that is detrimental to the public interest. The Chairperson or any Member is convicted and sentenced to imprisonment for an offense that, in the judgment of the Central Government, involves moral turpitude.

National Commission For Minorities Functions

Assessment of Minority Development: Evaluating the progress of minority development at both the Union and State levels to ensure their socio-economic well-being.
Safeguard Monitoring: Keeping a close watch on the functioning of safeguards for minorities as enshrined in the Constitution and laws enacted by Parliament and State legislatures.
Implementation Oversight: Ensuring the effective implementation of the Prime Minister’s 15-Point Programme for Minority Welfare and verifying the functioning of programs designed for minority communities.
Recommendations: Making recommendations to the central and state governments on how to better implement safeguards for the protection of minority interests.
Complaint Handling: Addressing specific complaints related to the deprivation of minority rights and safeguards, and taking these matters up with the relevant authorities.
Conflict Investigation: Investigating incidents of communal conflict and riots, such as the 2011 Bharatpur communal riots and the 2012 Bodo-Muslim clashes in Assam, and submitting findings to the government.
Minorities Rights Day: Observing Minorities Rights Day every year on December 18th, commemorating the adoption of the “Declaration on the Rights of Persons Belonging to National or Ethnic, Religious, and Linguistic Minorities” by the United Nations in 1992.

National Commission For Minorities Powers

Compelling the presence of any individual, regardless of their location within India, and administering their testimony under oath.
Mandating the disclosure and submission of any pertinent document.
Accepting evidence in the form of affidavits.
Requesting any public record or its duplicates from any judicial or administrative establishment.
Authorizing commissions for the investigation of witnesses and documents.

Minorities in India

The NCM Act characterizes a minority as a “community officially designated as such by the Central government.” In accordance with this, the Government of India has identified six religions—Muslims, Christians, Sikhs, Buddhists, Parsis (Zoroastrians), and Jains—as religious minorities within the country.

Additionally, the National Commission for Minority Education Institutions (NCMEI) Act of 2004 extends minority status to educational institutions based on the same six religious communities identified by the government.

It’s noteworthy that while the Indian Constitution does not explicitly define the term “minority,” it does acknowledge the existence of religious and linguistic minorities within the country.

National Commission For Minorities Challenges and limitations

Human Resource Shortages: The NCM has experienced inconsistency in staffing and appointments of key officials over the years, leading to potential inefficiencies in its operations.
State-Level Minority Commissions: The integration and collaboration between state-level Minority Commissions and the National Minorities Commission have been insufficient. This lack of coordination hampers effective case processing and resolution.
Limited Technological Utilization: While the NCM has implemented a complaint monitoring system, it remains relatively basic and does not fully enable an end-to-end complaint-handling process.
Financial Planning and Expenditure Challenges: A significant portion of the allocated budget for the Commission is not utilized for research activities. Financial constraints and the absence of allocated funds for research on minority-related issues hinder the Commission’s ability to fulfill its mandate effectively.
Legal and Constitutional Authority: The NCM lacks substantial legal authority to execute its constitutional mandate. Decisions made by the Commission can be overturned by District and High courts, diminishing its influence and effectiveness in addressing minority concerns.