After 15-Month Vacancy, Sikh Leader Harjit Singh Grewal Takes Charge of Minorities Commission

New Delhi: The National Commission for Minorities (NCM) has a new chairperson, Harjit Singh Grewal, who assumed office on Tuesday, ending a 15-month vacancy. The post had been vacant since April 2025, when the three-year term of his predecessor, Iqbal Singh Lalpura, concluded.

Grewal is the second Sikh to lead the commission under the current government, following Lalpura. Historically, since its establishment in 1993, the NCM has been chaired primarily by members of the Muslim community, with the exceptions of Tarlochan Singh (2003–2006) and now Lalpura and Grewal.

The appointment comes ahead of the 2027 Punjab assembly elections. Grewal is a senior Bharatiya Janata Party functionary and a national executive committee member from Punjab, known as a vocal Sikh voice in the state. The Ministry of Minority Affairs issued a notification for his appointment on July 16. He will serve a three-year term from the date of assumption of office, or until further orders, whichever is earlier.

The ministry stated that the appointment marks "the beginning of a renewed commitment towards promoting the welfare, inclusion, empowerment and socio-economic development of minority communities."

Alongside Grewal, S. Munawari Begum took charge as the vice-chairperson, representing Muslims, and Glenn Souza Ticlo joined as the Christian representative. Parsi representative Berjis Desai had joined the commission in March. The NCM now has a chairperson and three members, with three positions still vacant.