The National Commission for Scheduled Castes (NCSC) is a multi-member constitutional body established under Article 338 of the Constitution of India. Its primary purpose is to investigate, monitor, and safeguard the constitutional and legal protections afforded to the Scheduled Castes (SCs).
The institution's history traces back to the original Article 338 of the Constitution, which provided for a single Special Officer (the Commissioner for SCs and STs) to monitor safeguards for both Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes. This structure was deemed inadequate, leading to the 65th Constitutional Amendment Act, 1990, which replaced the Special Officer with a multi-member National Commission for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes. The current, separate NCSC was created by the 89th Constitutional Amendment Act, 2003, which bifurcated the combined body into two distinct commissions: the NCSC under the amended Article 338 and the National Commission for Scheduled Tribes (NCST) under the newly inserted Article 338A. This change came into effect on February 19, 2004, to allow for a more focused approach to the distinct issues faced by the two communities.
The NCSC's mechanism is defined in Article 338(5), which mandates it to investigate and monitor all matters relating to the safeguards for SCs, inquire into specific complaints of rights deprivation, and advise on the socio-economic development planning process. Under Article 338(8), the Commission is vested with the powers of a civil court trying a suit, which includes summoning and examining witnesses, requiring the discovery and production of documents, and receiving evidence on affidavits. Furthermore, Article 338(9) requires the Union and every State Government to consult the Commission on all major policy matters affecting Scheduled Castes. The Commission submits annual reports to the President, who then places them before Parliament. The NCSC is connected to the implementation of key legislation like the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989.