This document summarizes the Indian Ministry of Minority Affairs' response to Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 4591, answered on August 20, 2025, regarding a proposal to empower the National Commission for Minorities (NCM). The Minister of Minority Affairs, Shri Kiren Rijiju, stated that the government is not considering granting constitutional powers to the NCM. The NCM was established as a statutory body under the NCM Act of 1992 and is already sufficiently empowered to fulfill its mandate.
The NCM's existing powers, as defined by Section 9 of the NCM Act, 1992, include: evaluating the progress of minority development; monitoring constitutional and legal safeguards; recommending measures for effective implementation of safeguards; addressing complaints regarding rights deprivation; commissioning studies on discrimination; conducting research on socio-economic and educational development; suggesting appropriate measures for the central and state governments; and submitting reports to the central government.
Furthermore, Section 9(4) of the Act grants the Commission the powers of a civil court when performing specific functions (i, ii, iv), including: summoning and examining individuals; requiring document production; receiving affidavit evidence; requisitioning public records; and issuing commissions for witness and document examination.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Minority Affairs: A ministry within the Government of India responsible for matters related to minority communities.
SHRI SACHITHANANTHAM R: A member of Lok Sabha who raised a question about empowering the Minority Affairs Commission.
SHRI KIREN RIJIJU: The Minister of Minority Affairs who provided the answer to the question.
National Commission for Minorities (NCM): A statutory body established through the NCM Act, 1992 to safeguard the interests of minority communities.
NCM Act, 1992: The act of parliament that established the National Commission for Minorities as a statutory body.
Parliament: The legislative body of India.
Constitution: The supreme law of India, which provides safeguards for minorities.
Lok Sabha: The lower house of the Parliament of India.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF MINORITY AFFAIRS
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.4591
ANSWERED ON 20.08.2025
PROPOSAL TO EMPOWER MINORITY AFFAIRS COMMISSION
4591. SHRI SACHITHANANTHAM R:
Will the Minister of MINORITY AFFAIRS be pleased to state:
(a) whether the Government has considered or has any proposal to empower Minority Affairs
Commission with constitutional powers; and
(b) if so, the details thereof?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF MINORITY AFFAIRS
(SHRI KIREN RIJIJU)
(a) & (b): The National Commission for Minorities (NCM) was set up as a statutory body through
the NCM Act, 1992 and is sufficiently empowered to carry out its mandate. As per Section 9(1) of
the NCM Act, 1992, the Commission is empowered to act as below:-
(i) evaluate the progress of the development of Minorities under the Union and States;
(ii) monitor the working of the safeguards provided in the Constitution and in laws enacted by
Parliament and the State Legislatures;
(iii) make recommendations for the effective implementation of safeguards for the protection of the
interests of Minorities by the Central Government or the State Governments;
(iv) look into specific complaints regarding deprivation of rights and safeguards of Minorities and
take up such matters with the appropriate authorities;
(v) cause studies to be undertaken into the problems arising out of any discrimination against
Minorities and recommend measures for their removal;
(vi) conduct studies, research and analysis on the issues relating to socio-economic and educational
development of Minorities;
(vii) suggest appropriate measures in respect of any Minority to be undertaken by the Central
Government or the State Governments;
(viii) make periodical or special reports to the Central Government on any matter pertaining to
Minorities and in particular difficulties confronted by them; and
(ix) any other matter, which may be referred to it by the Central Government.
Further, as per Section 9 (4) of the NCM Act, the Commission while performing any of
the functions listed in (i), (ii) & (iv) above, has all the powers of a civil court trying a suit and, in
particular, in respect of the following matters, namely:-
(i) summoning and enforcing the attendance of any person from any part of India and examining
him on oath;
(ii) requiring the discovery and production of any document;
(iii) receiving evidence on affidavits;
(iv) requisitioning any public record or copy thereof from any court or office;
(v) issuing commissions for the examination of witnesses and documents; and
(vi) any other matter which may be prescribed.
There is no proposal to make it a constitutional body.
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