National Human Rights Commission

"To deny people their human rights is to challenge their very humanity." Nelson Mandela

The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) of India is an autonomous statutory body set up on 12 October 1993 under the Protection of Human Rights Act, 1993, which was later amended in 2006. In plain terms, it is the country's official watchdog for human rights. These are quick, exam-ready study notes: use them alongside our wider study notes at One Young India, and read them next to the other Indian Polity notes on institutions and the Constitution.

• It is the country's watchdog for human rights.
• It was founded in line with the Paris Principles, a set of United Nations standards for national human rights bodies that were adopted in Paris in October 1991 and endorsed by the United Nations General Assembly on 20 December 1993.

Human rights are rights we have simply because we exist as human beings. They are not granted by any state. These universal rights are inherent to us all, regardless of nationality, sex, national or ethnic origin, colour, religion, language or any other status. They range from the most fundamental, the right to life, to those that make life worth living, such as the rights to food, education, work, health and liberty. United Nations

Composition of the NHRC

The Protection of Human Rights Act sets out who sits on the Commission.

• The chairperson is a person who has been the Chief Justice of India or a Judge of the Supreme Court.
• Three members are appointed for their knowledge of human rights, of whom at least one must be a woman.
• The chairpersons of several other national bodies serve as members too. These include the National Commission for Scheduled Castes, the National Commission for Scheduled Tribes, the National Commission for Women, the National Commission for Backward Classes, the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights, and the Chief Commissioner for Persons with Disabilities.

Functions of the NHRC

The Commission may carry out all or any of the following functions.

• Inquire, on its own initiative or on a petition brought by a victim or by any person on their behalf, into a complaint of a violation of human rights, or of abetment of such a violation, or of negligence in preventing it by a public servant.
• Intervene in any court proceeding that involves an allegation of a human rights violation, with the approval of that court.
• Visit, after informing the State Government, any jail or other institution under the control of the State Government where people are detained, to study the living conditions of the inmates and make recommendations.
• Review the safeguards provided by the Constitution or any law for the protection of human rights, and recommend measures to make them work better.
• Review the factors, including acts of terrorism, that hold back the enjoyment of human rights, and recommend remedies.
• Study treaties and other international instruments on human rights and recommend how to put them into practice.
• Undertake and promote research in the field of human rights.
• Spread human rights awareness among all sections of society through publications, the media, seminars and other means.
• Encourage the work of non-governmental organisations and institutions active in the field of human rights.
• Take on any other function it considers necessary to promote human rights.

Limitations of the NHRC

The NHRC has real weaknesses built into its design. The committee that selects its chairperson and members is dominated by the ruling party of the day. It is made up of the Prime Minister, the Home Minister, the Leaders of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha, the Speaker of the Lok Sabha and the Deputy Chairman of the Rajya Sabha. There is a clear need to make this selection committee more balanced.

Shortage of resources is another problem. A large share of the Commission's budget goes on office costs and on maintaining its members, which leaves disproportionately little for crucial work such as research and rights awareness programmes.

Under the Act, the Commission cannot investigate an incident if the complaint is made more than one year after it happened. As a result, many genuine grievances are never looked into.

Way forward

Independent staff: the Commission needs its own trained cadre of staff with relevant experience, who can work with more independence and commitment.

Voices from civil society: human rights activists should be brought onto the Commission. Their close understanding of current issues and their on the ground experience would make its work far more effective.

Separate police oversight: a large part of the Commission's time goes on complaints against police abuse and misconduct. It may be time to create a separate agency devoted to the civilian oversight of the police, so that investigations are seen as impartial.

Why it still matters

These notes are not just exam points. In 2025 the very weaknesses listed above put the NHRC in the global spotlight. Human rights bodies around the world are graded by an international network called the Global Alliance of National Human Rights Institutions (GANHRI), which checks how closely each body follows the same Paris Principles the NHRC was founded on. An 'A' grade means full compliance and comes with the right to speak and vote at the United Nations Human Rights Council. A 'B' grade means only partial compliance, so the body may attend but cannot speak or vote there.

In its 2025 accreditation review, GANHRI's Sub-Committee on Accreditation recommended downgrading the NHRC from 'A' to 'B', the first time in the Commission's history that it faced such a step. The reasons read almost exactly like the limitations above: an opaque appointment process, police officers being used to investigate human rights complaints, and too few women and members from minority communities. The NHRC challenged the recommendation, so the final call rested with the wider GANHRI body. Whatever the outcome, the episode showed how seriously these design flaws are taken.

Leadership gaps made the point sharper. After Justice Arun Mishra finished his term as chairperson on 1 June 2024, the top post sat empty for more than six months. It was only on 21 December 2024 that Justice V. Ramasubramanian, a former Supreme Court judge, was appointed to lead the Commission. A watchdog without a head cannot do much barking, which is why the long vacancy drew criticism.

So the NHRC is a live story, not a settled one. If you want to see how human rights connect to law, courts, policing and the Constitution, carry these ideas into the wider Learnacy Hub and keep asking the harder question the notes hint at: an institution is only as strong as its independence.

Sources

1. https://www.thenewsminute.com/news/explained-why-indias-nhrc-faces-a-downgrade-from-a-to-b-status
2. https://www.hrw.org/news/2025/12/01/statement-ganhri-bureau-must-uphold-scas-downgrade-recommendation-for-the-nhrci-to
3. https://ganhri.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/Accreditation-Status-Chart_Dec2025.pdf
4. https://www.business-standard.com/india-news/former-sc-judge-v-ramasubramanian-appointed-new-chairperson-of-nhrc-124122300958_1.html

Key takeaways

• The NHRC is an autonomous statutory body established on 12 October 1993 under the Protection of Human Rights Act, 1993, serving as India's official human rights watchdog.
• The Commission follows the Paris Principles (UN standards adopted in 1991), with a chairperson who is a former CJI or Supreme Court Judge, three expert members, and chairpersons of other national bodies as ex-officio members.
• The NHRC's functions include inquiring into human rights violations, intervening in court cases, visiting detention centers, reviewing constitutional safeguards, promoting research, and spreading human rights awareness.
• Major limitations include a selection committee dominated by the ruling party, severe budget constraints, and a one-year filing deadline for complaints that prevents many genuine grievances from being investigated.
• In 2025, GANHRI recommended downgrading the NHRC from 'A' to 'B' grade due to opaque appointments, police investigating human rights complaints, and insufficient representation of women and minorities.

Test yourself

Under what legislation was the NHRC established and on what date?

Under the Protection of Human Rights Act, 1993, on 12 October 1993.

Who sits on the committee that selects the NHRC chairperson and members?

The Prime Minister, Home Minister, Leaders of the Opposition in both Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha, Speaker of Lok Sabha, and Deputy Chairman of Rajya Sabha.

What recommendation did GANHRI make about the NHRC in its 2025 accreditation review?

GANHRI's Sub-Committee on Accreditation recommended downgrading the NHRC from 'A' to 'B' grade.

Frequently asked questions

What are human rights according to the note?

Human rights are inherent rights individuals possess simply by being human, not granted by any state, and apply universally regardless of nationality, sex, religion, or other status.

Who can become the chairperson of the NHRC?

The chairperson must be a former Chief Justice of India or a Judge of the Supreme Court, as specified by the Protection of Human Rights Act.

What kinds of members are appointed to the NHRC besides the chairperson?

Three members are appointed for their knowledge of human rights, with at least one being a woman, and chairpersons of national bodies like the National Commission for Women also serve as members.

What are some key functions of the NHRC?

The NHRC can inquire into human rights violations, intervene in court proceedings, visit detention institutions, review constitutional safeguards, study international human rights instruments, and promote awareness and research.