The National Commission for Minorities (NCM) is currently functioning without a regular Chairperson and Secretary, creating a leadership vacuum at a crucial juncture. Former Chairperson Iqbal Singh Lalpura (Retd IPS: 1972: PB) completed his three-year term and stepped down on April 12, 2025.
In December 2025, the Centre transferred NCM Secretary Neelam Shammi Rao (IAS: 1992: MP) to the Ministry of Textiles, appointing Sanjay Sethi (IAS: 1992: MH) as her replacement. However, Sethi has not assumed the role, leaving the position vacant.
With the Waqf Amendment Act now in effect and a growing backlog of complaints and applications from minority communities, the absence of key leadership has severely impacted the Commission’s functioning. The NCM is currently being run by a Joint Secretary and a few deputy secretaries, who remain uncertain about when new appointments will be made to the top posts.
