The Centre appointed Harjit Singh Grewal as the Chairperson of the National Commission for Minorities (NCM) on July 16, 2026, filling the top post that had been vacant since April 2025. He succeeds Iqbal Singh Lalpura, whose three-year term ended last year. The appointment is for a period of three years from the date of assuming office or until further orders, whichever is earlier.
About the National Commission for Minorities
The National Commission for Minorities (NCM) is a statutory body established under the National Commission for Minorities Act, 1992. It operates under the Ministry of Minority Affairs and is headquartered in New Delhi. The Commission was originally set up as the Minorities Commission in January 1978 through a Ministry of Home Affairs resolution. It was granted statutory status in 1993 after the enactment of the NCM Act.
The Commission is responsible for safeguarding the interests of six notified religious minority communities in India: Muslims, Christians, Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains, and Zoroastrians (Parsis). Initially, five communities were notified in 1993, and Jains were added through a notification in 2014. Together, these communities account for about 20% of India’s population, according to the 2011 Census.
Although the Constitution does not directly mention the NCM, it derives its mandate from several constitutional provisions that protect minority rights. These include Article 29 (cultural and educational rights), Article 30 (right to establish and administer educational institutions), Articles 25 to 28 (religious freedom), and the Directive Principles of State Policy under Articles 38 and 46, which require the State to promote the welfare and educational interests of weaker sections.
Composition and Tenure
The NCM consists of a Chairperson, a Vice Chairperson, and five Members, all nominated by the Central Government. The law mandates that five out of the seven members, including the Chairperson, must belong to minority communities. Each member, including the Chairperson, holds office for a term of three years from the date of assuming office.
The Commission’s sanctioned strength is seven members. With the latest appointments, the NCM now has four members against its full strength. Earlier, the Commission had been functioning without a Chairperson since April 2025, when the tenure of Iqbal Singh Lalpura ended. The Delhi High Court had also taken note of the prolonged delay in filling vacancies.
Functions of the NCM
The NCM performs a wide range of functions aimed at protecting and promoting the interests of minority communities. It monitors the working of constitutional and legal safeguards provided for minorities and evaluates the progress of their development under the Union and state governments.
The Commission examines complaints from minority communities alleging deprivation of their rights and takes up such matters with the appropriate authorities. It can also investigate specific incidents of communal conflict, such as the 2011 Bharatpur communal riots and the 2012 Bodo Muslim clashes in Assam, and submit findings to the government. The NCM advises the Central and state governments on policy matters concerning minorities and submits annual reports to the Central Government, which are placed before Parliament.
The Commission possesses quasi judicial powers equivalent to a civil court under the Code of Civil Procedure. It can summon individuals, require the production of documents, and receive evidence on affidavits. However, its recommendations are not binding and the NCM has often been criticised for lacking enforcement authority.
Harjit Singh Grewal: A Profile
Harjit Singh Grewal is a senior BJP leader from Punjab. He hails from Dhanaula in Barnala district and has been associated with the BJP and the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) for more than three decades. He previously served as the Chairman of the Punjab Khadi and Village Industries Board from 2013 to 2017 and as the Vice President of the BJP Punjab unit.
Grewal also served as the Vice Chairman of the National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation of India (NAFED). He contested the 2017 Punjab Assembly elections from the Rajpura constituency and is currently a member of the BJP’s National Executive. He is only the second Sikh leader to head the NCM under the Modi government, succeeding Iqbal Singh Lalpura who also belongs to the Sikh community.
During his political career, Grewal played a prominent role in defending the government’s farm laws during the farmers’ protest and frequently appeared on television debates to present the government’s perspective. He was also part of the committee constituted to discuss issues related to the farmers’ agitation.
Other Appointments to the Commission
Alongside Grewal, the government appointed S Munawari Begum as the Vice Chairperson of the NCM. She assumed office on July 20, 2026 and represents the Muslim community. She brings extensive experience in public service and was already serving as a Member of the Commission before being elevated to the Vice Chairperson position.
Glenn E Souza Ticlo was nominated as a Member of the Commission, representing the Christian community. Ticlo previously served two consecutive terms as a Member of the Goa Legislative Assembly from the Aldona constituency between 2012 and 2022. Berjis Desai had joined the Commission earlier on March 10, 2026 as the Member representing the Parsi community. Desai is a senior advocate in the High Court and a noted writer.
Key Takeaways
- Harjit Singh Grewal was appointed as the Chairperson of the National Commission for Minorities on July 16, 2026 for a three-year term, filling the vacancy left since April 2025.
- The National Commission for Minorities is a statutory body established under the National Commission for Minorities Act, 1992, operating under the Ministry of Minority Affairs with headquarters in New Delhi.
- The Commission has six notified minority communities: Muslims, Christians, Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains, and Zoroastrians (Parsis).
- The NCM consists of a Chairperson, Vice Chairperson, and five Members with a sanctioned strength of seven, out of which five must belong to minority communities.
- S Munawari Begum was appointed as Vice Chairperson and Glenn E Souza Ticlo as Member alongside Grewal. Berjis Desai had joined earlier as Member representing the Parsi community.
- Grewal is a senior BJP leader from Punjab and the second Sikh to head the NCM under the Modi government.
