**Executive Summary**
This notification, issued by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment on April 9, 2026, announces a further extension of the tenure for the Commission of Inquiry. The Commission is tasked with examining the granting of Scheduled Caste status to individuals who have converted to religions other than those specified in Presidential Orders. The current tenure is extended by two months, with a final report submission deadline set for June 10, 2026.
**Key Points / Main Content**
**Mandate of the Commission**
* The Commission was constituted on October 6, 2022, under the Commissions of Inquiry Act, 1952.
* Its primary purpose is to examine the matter of according Scheduled Caste status to persons who claim to historically belong to Scheduled Castes but have converted to religions other than those mentioned in Presidential Orders under Article 341 of the Constitution.
**Chronology of Extensions**
* **Original Deadline:** The Commission was initially required to submit its report by October 10, 2024.
* **First Extension:** The tenure was extended for one year, from October 11, 2024, to October 10, 2025.
* **Second Extension:** The tenure was further extended for six months, from October 11, 2025, to April 10, 2026.
* **Current Extension:** Following a request from the Commission for more time to finalize recommendations, the Central Government has extended the tenure by an additional two months.
**New Timeline and Legal Provision**
* The extension is granted from April 11, 2026, to June 10, 2026.
* The extension is enacted in exercise of powers conferred by Section 3 of the Commissions of Inquiry Act, 1952.
* The Commission is now mandated to submit its final report by June 10, 2026.
**Impact Analysis**
**The Commission of Inquiry**
**Impact**
The Commission is granted an additional two-month window beyond its previous deadline to conclude its proceedings.
**Action Required**
The Commission must finalize its findings and submit the official report and recommendations to the government by the June 10, 2026, deadline.
**Central Government (Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment)**
**Impact**
The Ministry is responsible for the legal oversight and formalization of the Commission's extension through the Gazette of India.
**Action Required**
The Ministry must receive and review the Commission's report following the new submission date.
**Individuals Claiming Scheduled Caste Status**
**Impact**
Individuals seeking Scheduled Caste status despite religious conversion are affected by the continued delay in the finalization of the inquiry.
**Action Required**
No direct action is required from these stakeholders as per this notification; they must await the Commission's final report.
Key Entities Referenced
Commission of Inquiry (to examine Scheduled Caste status for converts): The body constituted to examine the matter of according Scheduled Caste status to individuals who claim a historical link to Scheduled Castes but have converted to religions other than those specified in Presidential Orders.
Commissions of Inquiry Act, 1952: The primary legislation (specifically Section 3) under which the Central Government exercises its authority to constitute and extend the tenure of the commission.
Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment: The primary central ministry responsible for the notification and administrative oversight of the commission's investigation into Scheduled Caste eligibility.
Article 341 of the Constitution: The constitutional provision governing the identification of Scheduled Castes, which provides the legal scope for the commission's inquiry.
रजिस्ट्री स.ं डी.एल.- 33004/99 REGD. No. D. L.-33004/99
सी.जी.-डी.एल.-अ.-10042026-271693
CG-DxLx-xEG-I1D0H0x4x2x0 26-271693
xxxGIDExxx
असाधारण
EXTRAORDINARY
भाग II—खण् ड 3—उप-खण्ड (ii)
PART II—Section 3—Sub-section (ii)
प्राजधकार स ेप्रकाजित
PUBLISHED BY AUTHORITY
स.ं 1750] नई दिल्ली, बृहस्ट्प जतिार, अप्रलै 9, 2026/चत्रै 19, 1948
No. 1750] NEW DELHI, THURSDAY, APRIL 9, 2026/CHAITRA 19, 1948
सामाजिक न्याय और अजधकाररता मत्रं ालय
(सामाजिक न्याय और अजधकाररता जिभाग)
अजधसचू ना
नई दिल्ली, 9 अप्रलै , 2026
का.आ. 1818(अ).—िबदक, िांच आयोग अजधजनयम, 1952 (1952 का 60) की धारा 3 के तहत, संजिधान के
अनुच्छेि 341 के तहत, समय-समय पर, िारी राष्ट्रपजत आििे ों म ें उजल्लजखत धमों के अलािा अन्य धम म म ें धमामन्तररत तथा
ऐजतहाजसक रूप स े अनुसूजचत िाजतयों स े संबंध होने का िािा करने िाले नए व्यजियों को अनुसूजचत िाजत का ििाम प्रिान
करन ेके मामल ेऔर तत्संबंधी मद्दु ों की िांच के जलए िांच आयोग (इसके बाि इस ेआयोग कहा िाएगा) का गठन 6 अक्टूबर,
2022 को अजधसूचना संख्या का. आ. 4742(अ) दिनााँक 6 अक्टूबर, 2022 द्वारा दकया गया था;
और िबदक, आयोग को 10 अक्टूबर, 2024 को या उससे पहल े अपनी ररपोटम और जसफाररिें प्रस्ट्तुत करन े थी;
और िबदक, आयोग के अनुरोध पर, अजधसूचना संख्या का.आ. 4780(अ). दिनााँक 30 अक्टूबर, 2024 द्वारा इसकी अिजध
को 11 अक्टूबर, 2024 स े 10 अक्टूबर, 2025 तक एक िर् म के जलए बढ़ाया गया था;
और िबदक, आयोग के अनरु ोध पर, अजधसूचना संख्या का.आ. 5000 (अ). दिनााँक 4 निम्बर, 2025 द्वारा इसकी अिजध को
दफर स े 11 अक्टूबर, 2025 से 10 अप्रलै , 2026 तक छह महीनों के जलए बढ़ाया गया था;
2559 GI/2026 (1)2 THE GAZETTE OF INDIA : EXTRAORDINARY [PART II—SEC. 3(ii)]
और िबदक, आयोग ने अपनी ररपोटम और जसफाररिों को अंजतम रूप िेन े के जलए और समय िने े के जलए अनुरोध दकया ह;ै
इसजलए, अब, िांच आयोग अजधजनयम, 1952 (1952 का 60) की धारा 3 द्वारा प्रित्त िजियों का प्रयोग करत े हुए, केंद्र
सरकार 11 अप्रैल, 2026 से 10 िून, 2026 तक 2 महीनों की अिजध के जलए आयोग का कायमकाल बढ़ाती ह।ै
2. आयोग 10 िून, 2026 तक अपनी ररपोटम प्रस्ट्ततु करेगा।
[फा. स.ं आरएल-12016/9/2021-आरएल सेल]
िैलेन्द्र कुमार, संयुि सजचि
MINISTRY OF SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT
(Department of Social Justice and Empowerment)
NOTIFICATION
New Delhi, the 9th April, 2026
S.O. 1818(E).— Whereas, the Commission of Inquiry (hereinafter referred to as the Commission) was
constituted on 6th October, 2022 vide notification number S.O. 4742(E) dated the 6th October, 2022 under section 3 of
the Commissions of Inquiry Act, 1952 (60 of 1952), to examine the matter of according Scheduled Caste status to new
persons, who claim to historically have belonged to Scheduled Castes but have converted to religion other than those
mentioned in the Presidential Orders issued from time to time under article 341 of the Constitution, and matters related
thereto;
And whereas, the Commission was required to submit its report and recommendations on or before the 10th October,
2024;
And whereas, on the request of the Commission, its tenure was extended for a period of one year with effect from the
11th October, 2024 to 10th October, 2025 vide notification number S.O. 4780 (E) dated the 30th October, 2024;
And whereas, on the request of the Commission, its tenure was further extended for a period of six months with effect
from the 11th October, 2025 to 10th April, 2026 vide notification number S.O. 5000 (E) dated the 4th November, 2025;
And whereas, the Commission has requested for further time for finalising its report and recommendations;
Now, therefore, in exercise of the powers conferred by section 3 of the Commissions of Inquiry Act, 1952 (60 of 1952),
the Central Government hereby extend the tenure of the Commission for a period of two months with effect from the
11th April, 2026 to 10th June, 2026.
2. The Commission shall submit its report by the 10th June, 2026.
[F. No. RL-12016/9/2021-RL Cell]
SHAILENDRA KUMAR, Jt. Secy.
Uploaded by Dte. of Printing at Government of India Press, Ring Road, Mayapuri, New Delhi-110064
and Published by the Controller of Publications, Delhi-110054.