NATIONAL COMMISSION FOR MINORITIES (NCM)

Feb. 12, 2019

The Supreme Court has directed the National Commission for Minorities (NCM) to decide within three months on a representation seeking guidelines for redefining the term 'minority' based on state-wise population.

Recent Plea: 

  • The lawyer, in his plea, said, the term minority needed to be redefined and reconsidered in the context of population of a community in a state, instead of nationwide population data. 

  • Arguments sighted in petition: 
    • Hindus, who are a majority community as per national data, are a minority in several north-eastern states and in Jammu and Kashmir. 

    • Hindu community is deprived of benefits which are available to the minority communities in these states, hence NCM should reconsider the definition of minority. 



National Commission for Minorities: 

  • Background: 
    • In 1978, Government of India, vide an executive order, set up a "Minorities Commission" to safeguard the interests of minorities. 

    • With the enactment of the National Commission for Minorities Act, 1992, the Minorities Commission became a statutory body and was renamed as the "National Commission for Minorities". 



  • Functions: 
    • To evaluate the progress of the developmental programs and legal & constitutional safeguards for the welfare of minorities. 

    • To Look into specific complaints regarding deprivation of the rights of minorities. 

    • To undertake studies/research on the issues relating to socio economic development of minorities. 



  • Composition: It consists of a Chairperson, a Vice Chairperson and five Members to be nominated by the Central Government from amongst persons of eminence, ability and integrity. 

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