Fact Box: Harjit Singh Grewal – The New National Commission for Minorities Chief

Harjit Singh Grewal was appointed Chairperson of the National Commission for Minorities (NCM) on 16 July 2026. The Ministry of Minority Affairs issued the notification for the appointment on the same date. The post had remained vacant since April 2025 after the completion of Iqbal Singh Lalpura’s tenure.

National Commission for Minorities: Legal Basis

The National Commission for Minorities is a statutory body constituted under the National Commission for Minorities Act, 1992. It functions at the Union level and deals with matters relating to minority communities in India.

Composition and Tenure

The Commission has a Chairperson, a Vice-Chairperson, and members appointed by the Central Government. Harjit Singh Grewal will serve for three years from the date he assumes office, or until further orders. Along with him, Munawari Begum was appointed as Vice-Chairperson and Glenn E. Souza Ticlo as a member.

Functions of the Commission

The National Commission for Minorities monitors the safeguards provided for notified minority communities. It examines complaints, studies issues affecting minorities, and advises the Central Government on policy matters. The Commission’s sanctioned strength is seven members, and the latest appointments have taken its working strength to four.

Important Facts for Exams

• The National Commission for Minorities was created under the National Commission for Minorities Act, 1992.
• The Commission is a statutory body and not a constitutional body.
• Notified minority communities in India include Muslims, Christians, Sikhs, Buddhists, Parsis, and Jains.
• The Chairperson of the Commission is appointed by the Central Government.

Profile of Harjit Singh Grewal

Harjit Singh Grewal is a senior Bharatiya Janata Party leader from Punjab. He is 69 years old and belongs to Dhanaula in Barnala district. He has worked with the Bharatiya Janata Party and the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh for more than 30 years.