Harjit Singh Grewal Appointed Chairman of National Commission for Minorities

Shri Harjit Singh Grewal assumed charge as the Chairman of the National Commission for Minorities  on 21 July 2026. He succeeded Iqbal Singh Lalpura, whose term ended in April 2025. The appointment was notified by the Ministry of Minority Affairs. 

Harjit Singh Grewal Assumes Charge as Chairman of National Commission for Minorities

The appointment of Harjit Singh Grewal as Chairman of the National Commission for Minorities is part of a series of recent appointments to strengthen the leadership and functioning of the statutory body responsible for monitoring safeguards for notified minority communities in India.

Other Key Appointments in the National Commission for Minorities

• Smt. S. Munawari Begum assumed office as the Vice Chairperson of the National Commission for Minorities on 20 July 2026.
• Shri Glenn Souza Ticlo assumed office as a Member of the Commission representing the Christian community; he served as a Member of the Goa Legislative Assembly from the Aldona constituency for two consecutive terms between 2012 and 2022.
• Shri Berjis Desai joined the Commission on 10 March 2026 as the Member representing the Parsi community.

With these appointments, the National Commission for Minorities has a newly strengthened leadership comprising the Chairman, Vice Chairperson and Members representing different notified minority communities.

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About the National Commission for Minorities

The National Commission for Minorities is a statutory body established under the National Commission for Minorities Act, 1992. The Commission consists of a Chairperson, a Vice Chairperson and Five Members. 

Under Section 4(1) of the NCM Act, 1992, the Chairperson, Vice Chairperson, and Members hold office for a term of three years from the date they assume office.

Notified Minority Communities

The Central Government has notified the following six religious communities as minorities:

• Muslims
• Christians
• Sikhs
• Buddhists
• Parsis (Zoroastrians)
• Jains

National Commission for Minorities Functions 

The National Commission for Minorities is mandated to:

• Monitor the implementation of constitutional and legal safeguards for minorities.
• Examine complaints relating to the deprivation of minority rights and safeguards.
• Evaluate the progress of minority development.
• Study discrimination against minorities and recommend measures for its removal.
• Conduct research on the socio-economic and educational development of minorities.
• Advise the Central and State Governments on matters concerning minority welfare and development.