National Commission for Protection of Child Rights

National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) is an important statutory body in Indian Polity established to ensure the protection and promotion of child rights in India. It monitors the implementation of laws, policies, and programmes related to children and safeguards their interests. The Commission plays a vital role in addressing violations of child rights and promoting a child-friendly environment.

National Commission for Protection of Child Rights Function and Right

Establishment:

• March 2007

Statutory basis:

• Commission for Protection of Child Rights Act, 2005
• The Act was passed by Parliament in December 2005.

Applicable area:

• Entire India except Jammu and Kashmir

Definition:

• A person between 0 to 18 years of age is considered a child.

Objectives and Vision

• To ensure that all laws, policies, schemes and administrative mechanisms relating to children
• Should be in accordance with the Indian Constitution and the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC).
• The Commission works by adopting a rights-based approach.
• Incorporating the specific needs of the state, district and block levels into national policies and programmes.
• Understanding the real issues of children by reaching out deeply to communities and families.
• Incorporating regional and grassroots experiences into the policy making process.
• Strong institutional framework, decentralization and strengthening the role of local bodies.
• To develop community and social awareness towards the welfare and rights of children.

Functions of the Commission

1. To examine and review the safeguards provided by or under any law for the time being in force and to recommend measures for their effective implementation.
2. To report to the Central Government on the operation of those safeguards on an annual basis or at such other time as the Commission may deem fit.
3. To investigate violations of child rights and suggest legal action, if necessary.
4. Study treaties and other international instruments and review existing policies, programmes and provide recommendations on child rights.
5. NCPCR promotes research in the field of child rights.
6. Educate the public about children’s rights and increase knowledge of safeguards that can be used to protect these rights through publications, the media, and other available channels.
7. Promote, respect and value the views of children in its work and in the work of other government departments and organisations working with children.
8. Creating and disseminating information about children’s rights.
9. Compiling and examining child data.
10. Encourage the inclusion of child rights in school curricula, teacher preparation programs, and training for other professionals working with children.
11. Examine all obstacles preventing children from exercising their rights in the light of terrorism, intergroup conflict, riots, natural disasters, domestic violence, HIV/AIDS, trafficking, abuse, torture and exploitation as well as pornography and prostitution and recommend appropriate remedial measures.
12. To investigate complaints and issue notices on its own in the following matters:
    • i. Violation and deprivation of child rights.
    • ii. Non-implementation of laws available for the protection and development of children.
    • iii. Non-compliance with policy decisions, guidelines or instructions for mitigating hardships to children and ensuring their welfare, and providing relief to such children or referring such matter to appropriate authorities.
13. Any other function which it considers necessary for promoting the rights of children and such matters as may be necessary for the purposes of the aforesaid functions.

Powers of the Commission

• While investigating a case, the Commission shall have all the powers of a court of law under the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908, in particular in respect of the following matters:
  1. To summon any person from any part of India and require his attendance and examine him on oath.
  2. Requiring the discovery and production of a document.
  3. Receiving evidence on affidavits.
  4. Requisitioning any public record or copy thereof from any court or office.
  5. To order the formation of commissions for the examination of witnesses or documents.
  6. To send the case to the magistrate who has jurisdiction to hear it.
  7. Upon completion of the investigation, the Commission will have the power to:

• To recommend action or prosecution or any other action to the concerned government if a case of violation of child rights and legal provisions is proved during the investigation.
• To approach the Supreme Court or High Court for directions, orders or writs, if that court deems fit.
• To send a recommendation to the concerned Government or authority for grant of such interim relief to the victim or his family members, if necessary.

Composition of the Commission

List of Chairmen

Order	Name	tenure
1	Shanta Sinha	2007–2013
2	Kushal Singh	2013–2014
3	V. S. Oberoi	2014 – 2015
4	Nutan Guha Biswas	2015 – 2015
5	Stuti Narayan Kakkar	2015–2018
6	Rakesh Srivastava	2018 – 2018
7	Priyank Kanungo	2018–2024
8	Trupti Gurha	2025 – 2025
9	Valeti Premchand	03.12.2025 – present

currently 

Chairman	Mrs. Vijaya K. Rahatkar	from 22.10.2024
Member	Mrs. Preeti Bhardwaj Dalal	Laws relating to children
Member-Secretary	Dr. Sanjeev Sharma	25.04.2025 – present

Major Initiatives of NCPCR

POCSO e-box:

• Online complaint box for child sexual abuse, which enables direct reporting and prompt action on crimes under the POCSO Act, 2012.

Conservation Program:

• Vulnerability mapping and coordination with existing mechanisms to combat child trafficking.

MASI App:

• Mobile app for real-time monitoring of Child Care Institutions (CCIs) across the country.

GHAR Portal (Go Door to Door):

• Portal for digital tracking and monitoring of return, rehabilitation and repatriation of children.

Major Child-Centric Acts and Schemes

By the Ministry of Women and Child Development—

• POCSO Act, 2012

(Protection of Children from Sexual Offences)

• Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection) Act, 2015
• Child Protection Services Scheme (CPS)

(Erstwhile: Integrated Child Protection Scheme)

Under CPS—

• Financial assistance to States/UTs.
• Analysis of the condition of children in difficult circumstances.
• Establishment and maintenance of child care institutions.