ClearIAS

National Commission for

Women (NCW)

National Commission for Women (NCW) was

established under the National Commission for
Women Act, of 1990. It was established to ensure a
fair and equal standard of living for women in India
via judicial and constitutional changes. Read here to
learn more about the NCW.

The role of women in the development of the country has

been well-established over the centuries.

Historically, women have been integral parts of the freedom

struggle (https://www.clearias.com/women-freedom-
fighters/), building independent nations
(https://www.clearias.com/women-organizations-india/),
agriculture, textile, dairy, entrepreneurship, and so on.

The need to ensure the welfare of women aroused due to the

inequality, and atrocities faced by women over the years. The
National Commission for women is an apex body with the
mandate to ensure the same in the country.

Table of Contents
1. National Commission for Women (NCW)
1.1. A brief history of National Commission Women
 1.2. Mission
1.3. Vision
2. Constitution of the National Commission for Women
3. Mandate/functions of the National Commission for
Women
4. Government efforts for the protection and welfare of
women
4.1. Constitutional provisions
4.2. Acts and schemes
5. News about NCW
6. Way forward

National Commission for Women

(NCW)
The National Commission for Women was set up as a
statutory body in January 1992 under the National
Commission for Women Act to:

review the Constitutional and Legal safeguards for

women
recommend remedial legislative measures
facilitate redressal of grievances and
advise the Government on all policy matters affecting
women.

In keeping with its mandate, the Commission initiated

various steps to improve the status of women and worked for
their economic empowerment during the year under report.

The Commission completed its visits to all the

States/UTs except Lakshadweep and prepared Gender
Profiles to assess the status of women and their
empowerment
 empowerment.
It took up the issue of child marriage, sponsored legal
awareness programs, Parivarik Mahila Lok Adalats, and
reviewed laws such as Dowry Prohibition Act 1961,
PNDT Act 1994, Indian Penal Code 1860, and the
National Commission for Women Act, 1990 to make
them more stringent and effective.
It organized workshops/consultations, constituted
expert committees on the economic empowerment of
women, conducted workshops/seminars for gender
awareness, and took up publicity campaigns against
female foeticide, violence against women
(https://www.clearias.com/violence-against-women/),
etc. to generate awareness in society against these
social evils.

A brief history of National Commission

Women
The Committee on the Status of Women in India (CSWI),
1971 recommended the setting up of a National Commission
for women to fulfill the surveillance functions to facilitate
the redressal of grievances and to accelerate the socio-
economic development of women.

The Ministry of Education and Social Welfare,

Government of India also appointed the Committee on
the Status of Women in India (CSWI) to study the
status of women in India.
The Ministry was acting on a UN request for a status of
women’s report for International Women’s Year in

1975.

Successive Committees/Commissions/Plans including the

National Perspective Plan for Women (1988-2000)
National Perspective Plan for Women (1988-2000)
National Perspective Plan for Women (1988 2000)
recommended the constitution of an apex body for women.

In 1990, the central government held consultations with

NGOs, social workers, and experts, regarding the structure,
functions, powers, etc. of the Commission proposed to be set
up.

In May 1990, the Bill was introduced in the Lok Sabha.

In July 1990, the HRD Ministry organized a National
Level Conference to elicit suggestions regarding the
Bill.
In August 1990 the government moved several
amendments and introduced new provisions to vest the
commission with the power of a civil court.
The Bill was passed and received the assent of the
President on 30th August 1990.

The First Commission was constituted on 31st January 1992

with Mrs. Jayanti Patnaik as the Chairperson.

Mission
To strive towards enabling women to achieve equality.
To facilitate equal participation in all spheres of life by
securing her due rights and entitlements through
suitable policy formulation, legislative measures,
effective enforcement of laws, and implementation of
schemes/policies.
Devising strategies for solutions to specific
problems/situations arising out of discrimination and

atrocities against women.

Vision
The Indian Woman, secure in her home and outside, is fully
empowered to access all her rights and entitlements, with
the opportunity to contribute equally in all walks of life.

Constitution of the National

Commission for Women
The Central Government shall constitute a body to be known
as the National Commission for Women to exercise the
powers conferred on and to perform the functions assigned
to, it under this Act.

The Commission shall consist of:

1. A Chairperson, committed to the cause of women, to be

nominated by the Central Government.
2. Five Members to be nominated by the Central
Government from amongst persons of ability, integrity,
and standing who have had experience in law or
legislation, trade unionism, management of an industry
potential of women, women’s voluntary organizations
(including women activists), administration, economic
development, health, education or social welfare;
3. Provided that at least one Member each shall be from
amongst persons belonging to the Scheduled Castes
and Scheduled Tribes respectively;
4. A Member-Secretary to be nominated by the Central
Government who shall be:
an expert in the field of management,
organizational structure or sociological movement,

or
an officer who is a member of a civil service of the
Union or an all-India service or holds a civil post
under the Union with appropriate experience
 under the Union with appropriate experience

Mandate/functions of the National

Commission for Women
The commission shall perform all or any of the following
functions, namely:

Investigate and examine all matters relating to the

safeguards provided for women under the Constitution
and other laws,
Review from time to time, the existing provisions of the
Constitution and other laws affecting women and
recommend amendments thereto to suggest remedial
legislative measures to meet any lacunae, inadequacies,
or shortcomings in such legislations.
Take up cases of violation of the provisions of the
Constitution and other laws relating to women with the
appropriate authorities
Look into complaints and take suo moto notice of
matters relating to:

1. deprivation of women’s rights,

2. non-implementation of laws enacted to protect women
and also to achieve the objective of equality and
development,
3. non-compliance with policy decisions, guidelines, or
instructions aimed at mitigating hardships and
ensuring the welfare and providing relief to women,

and taking up the issues arising out of such matters

with appropriate authorities,

Call for special studies or investigations into specific

 Call for special studies or investigations into specific
problems or situations arising out of discrimination and
atrocities against women and identify the constraints to
recommend strategies for their removal.
Undertake promotional and educational research to
suggest ways of ensuring due representation of women
in all spheres and identify factors responsible for
impeding their advancements, such as lack of access to
housing and basic services, inadequate support
services, and technologies for reducing drudgery and
occupational health hazards and for increasing their
productivity.
Inspect or cause to inspect a jail, remand home,
women’s institution, or other places of custody where
women are kept as prisoners or otherwise and take up
with the concerned authorities for remedial action if
found necessary.
Any other matter which may be referred to it by Central
Government.

Government efforts for the

protection and welfare of women
Constitutional provisions
Fundamental rights: It guarantees all Indians the right to
equality (Article 14)
(https://www.clearias.com/fundamental-rights/), no

no discrimination by the State based on gender (Article 15(1)),

and special provisions to be made by the State in favor of
women (Article 15(3)).
Fundamental duties: It ensures that practices derogatory
to the dignity of women are prohibited under Article 51 (A)
(https://www.clearias.com/fundamental-duties/).

Acts and schemes

Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act,
2005 (https://www.clearias.com/protection-of-
women-from-domestic-violence-act-2005/)
The Dowry Prohibition Act, 1961
(https://www.clearias.com/government-measures-for-
protection-of-women/)
The Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace
(Prevention, Prohibition, and Redressal) Act, 2013
(POSH Act) (https://www.clearias.com/posh-act/)
The Protection of Children from Sexual Offences
(POCSO), 2012 (https://www.clearias.com/pocso-act/)
Mission Shakti (https://www.clearias.com/mission-
shakti/)
Beti Bachao Beti Padhao Scheme
(https://www.ibef.org/government-schemes/beti-
bachao-beti-padhao)
One Stop Centre Scheme
UJJAWALA: Scheme for Prevention of trafficking and
Rescue, Rehabilitation and Re-integration of Victims of
Trafficking and Commercial Sexual Exploitation
SWADHAR Greh (A Scheme for Women in Difficult
Circumstances)
NARI SHAKTI PURASKAR
Mahila police Volunteers

Mahila Shakti Kendras (MSK)

NIRBHAYA fund: The Government of India had set up
a dedicated fund called the ‘Nirbhaya Fund’ for the
implementation of initiatives aimed at enhancing the
 implementation of initiatives aimed at enhancing the
safety and security of women in the country.

News about NCW

National Commission for Women (NCW) issues advisories
to ensure the safety of women in educational institutions.

Chief Secretaries of all the States and UTs are advised to

direct all coaching institutes/educational institutions to:

Ensure strict implementation of the ‘Sexual

Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention,
Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013’ (PoSH Act).
Conduct awareness programs for better reporting of
cases.
Conduct a background check on those responsible for
running coaching centers.

Way forward
The National Commission for Women’s scope needs to be
expanded in light of the nation’s changing demands for
women.

The Atmanirbhar Bharat campaign has shown the link

between the ability of women with the development of the
country.

The NCW reported in 2021 that there had been a 46%

increase in complaints of crimes against women in the first
eight months of that year compared to the same time the
year before.

Domestic abuse, dowry harassment, sexual harassment at

work, attempted rape, and cybercrimes are just a few of the
work, attempted rape, and cybercrimes are just a few of the
crimes that affect women.

All this calls for a holistic effort from each leg of the legal
and executive side to come together to achieve equality,
development, and peace as well as to the fulfillment of
women’s and girls’ human rights.

-Article written by Swathi Satish

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