Minority Issues – SC, ST, Dalits, OBC, Reservations, etc.

[pib] National Commission for Minorities (NCM)

PIBPrelims Only | Polity | Mains Paper 2: Statutory, Regulatory & Various Quasi-Judicial Bodies
Note4Students

From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :

Prelims level: National Commission for Minorities

Why in the News?

The National Commission for Minorities (NCM) has advised State Governments/UTs to conduct “Sarv Dharma Meetings”.

Advisory on “Sarv Dharma Meetings”

  • NCM advised State Governments/UTs to conduct “Sarv Dharma Meetings”:
  1. At Sub-divisional level of States monthly.
  2. At District level half-yearly.
  • It is aimed at curbing attacks and hate crimes against minority communities to prevent communal disharmony.
  • NCM emphasized that hate crimes stem from mental weakness and anger, highlighting citizens’ rights to practice and preach their religion freely.

Responsibilities and Recommendations

  • Citizens and society urged to disown and condemn hate crimes.
  • Advocated for punitive actions by authorities against anti-social elements.
  • Proposed mechanisms involving civic society to deter anti-social and anti-national forces and prevent societal violence.

 

About National Commission for Minorities (NCM)

  • It is a statutory body formed on the basis of National Commission for Minorities Act, 1992 and replaced an earlier body called Minorities Commission.
  • The Commission consists of a total of 7 persons to be nominated by the Central Government from amongst persons of eminence, ability and integrity.
  • It consists of a Chairperson, a Vice- Chairperson and 5 Members.
  • Each Member holds office for a period of 3 years from the date of assumption of office.

Functions of NCM:

  1. Evaluate minority development progress.
  2. Monitor constitutional and legal safeguards.
  3. Recommend effective safeguard implementation.
  4. Address complaints regarding deprivation of rights.
  5. Conduct studies on discrimination and recommend measures.
  6. Research socio-economic and educational development.
  7. Suggest measures to Central or State Governments.
  8. Make periodical or special reports to the Central Government.
  9. Address any matter referred by the Central Government.

Powers of NCM:

  1. Summon and enforce attendance of any person from India.
  2. Require discovery and production of documents.
  3. Receive evidence on affidavit.
  4. Requisition public records from courts or offices.
  5. Issue commissions for examining witnesses and documents.

Who are Minorities?

  • The Central has notified minority communities at the national level in consultation with various stakeholders under Section 2 (c) of the National Commission for Minorities (NCM), Act, 1992.
  • The six communities notified as minority communities under Section 2(c) of the NCM Act are Christians, Sikhs, Muslims, Buddhists, Parsis, and Jains.
    • Jains were notified as minority community in January 2014.
  • Notification of any community-specific to a State as a minority community within a State comes under the purview of the respective State.

Total Minority Population in India as per 2011 Census: 

19.3% of the total population (Muslims: 14.2%; Christians: 2.3%; Sikhs: 1.7%; Buddhists: 0.7%; Jains: 0.4%; Parsis: 0.006%)

Rights & Safeguards for Minorities:

Under Fundamental Rights (Part III of the Indian Constitution):

  1. Article 29(1): Right to conserve distinct language, script, or culture.
  2. Article 30(1): Right to establish and administer educational institutions.
  3. Article 30(2): Freedom from discrimination in receiving state aid.

Under Official Language (Part XVII of the Indian Constitution):

  1. Article 347: Rights for language spoken by any section of the population.
  2. Article 350A: Instruction in mother tongue.
  3. Article 350B: Special officer for linguistic minorities.

Sachar Committee Report (2006):

Constitution Date: 9 March 2005

Key Recommendations:

  • Create a National Data Bank (NDB) for socio-religious data.
  • Establish an Equal Opportunity Commission.
  • Provide incentives for a ‘diversity index.’
  • Ensure high-quality education for children aged 0-14.
  • Set up government schools in Muslim-concentrated areas.
  • Increase Muslim employment share in public-facing jobs.
  • Enact state laws for minority representation.
  • Support initiatives in Muslim-concentrated occupations.
  • Improve minority participation in commercial banks.
  • Focus on inclusive development while respecting diversity.

 

PYQ:

[2011] In India, if a religious sect/community is given the status of a national minority, what special advantages it is entitled to?

  1. It can establish and administer exclusive educational institutions.
  2. The President of India automatically nominates a representative of the community to Lok Sabha.
  3. It can derive benefits from the Prime Minister’s 15-Point Programme.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a) 1 only
(b) 2 and 3 only
(c) 1 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3

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