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NCST Forms Panel on 2005 Additional Duties

19 Sep 2025 GS 2 Polity
NCST Forms Panel on 2005 Additional Duties Click to view full image

Background

  • The National Commission for Scheduled Tribes (NCST) was created under Article 338A of the Constitution (89th Constitutional Amendment, 2003).

  • It came into existence in 2004 after bifurcation of the National Commission for SCs & STs.

  • In August 2005, the Ministry of Tribal Affairs assigned 8 additional duties to NCST, expanding its mandate beyond constitutional safeguards.

NCST Composition

  • Chairperson.

  • Vice-Chairperson.

  • 3 full-time Members (including 1 woman).

  • Tenure: 3 years from assumption of office.

  • Present Chairperson (2025): Antar Singh Arya.

Constitutional Functions (Article 338A(5))

  1. Investigate & monitor matters relating to constitutional safeguards for STs.

  2. Inquire into complaints on deprivation of rights/safeguards.

  3. Advise in planning process for socio-economic development of STs.

  4. Report to the President annually (or as required) on working of safeguards.

  5. Recommend measures to improve implementation of safeguards.

  6. Discharge any other functions specified by the President regarding welfare, development, and advancement of STs.

2005 Additional Duties Assigned

The NCST was mandated to suggest measures for:

  1. Ownership of minor forest produce (MFP).

  2. Rights to water and mineral resources.

  3. Protecting tribals from land alienation.

  4. Full implementation of PESA, 1996.

  5. Developing viable livelihood strategies.

  6. Assessing rehabilitation measures for tribals displaced by development projects.

  7. Increasing tribal role in forest protection & conservation.

  8. Reducing and ultimately eliminating shifting cultivation (jhum).

Challenges Since 2005

  • NCST had reported lack of staff and funds to study/implement these duties.

  • Its first annual report (2005) acknowledged this inability.

  • Later reports did not mention these functions → highlighting administrative neglect.

Recent Development 

  • For the first time in 20 years, NCST has constituted:

    • One Special Internal Committee (11 members).

    • Three Sub-committees to divide responsibilities:

      • Jatothu Hussain Sub-committee: livelihood strategies; rights to MFP, mineral, and water.

      • Asha Lakra Sub-committee: land alienation; rehabilitation of displaced tribals.

      • Nirupam Chakma Sub-committee: PESA implementation; tribal role in forest conservation; elimination of shifting cultivation.

  • Aim: To prepare a report on how to discharge these additional duties effectively.

Significance

  • Policy Gap Correction: Revives long-neglected 2005 mandate.

  • Tribal Rights Focus: Strengthens NCST’s role in protecting livelihood, land, and resource rights.

  • Governance: Brings attention to PESA implementation and tribal participation in forest governance.

  • Development–Displacement Balance: Ensures rehabilitation of tribals affected by projects.

  • Agricultural Transition: Focus on shifting cultivation reduction aligns with environmental and livelihood policies.



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