Parliament Question: Delay in Key Appointments to the National Commission for Minorities

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF MINORITY AFFAIRS LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION No-4153 ANSWERED ON – 18/03/2026 DELAY IN KEY APPOINTMENTS TO THE NATIONAL COMMISSION FOR MINORITIES

4153. DR. SHASHI THAROOR:

Will the Minister of MINORITY AFFAIRS be pleased to state:

(a) the specific reasons for the prolonged delay in appointing the Chairperson and key members of the National Commission for Minorities despite vacancies and directions from the Delhi High Court;

(b) the steps being taken to expeditiously fill all existing vacancies or making arrangements for interim appointments to ensure the Commission functions with its full statutory strength; and

(c) whether the Government has a timeline for such appointments and measures in place to avoid any scope of ambiguity and future lapses in the Commission’s functioning and if so, the details thereof? ANSWER THE MINISTER OF MINORITY AFFAIRS (SHRI KIREN RIJIJU)

(a) to (c): As per Section 3 (2) of the NCM Act 1992, Chairperson, Vice-Chairperson and Members of the Commission is to be nominated by the Central Government from amongst persons of eminence, ability and integrity.

The Central Government has appointed two members in the National Commission for Minorities, vide notification dated 06.03.2026. *****