Constitutional Bodies: Social Justice and Linguistic Commissions

National Commission for Scheduled Castes

The Basics

The National Commission for Scheduled Castes is a constitutional body. It is directly established by Article 338 of the Constitution.

National Commission for Scheduled Tribes

Note coming soon.

National Commission for Backward Classes

The Basics

The National Commission for Backward Classes is a constitutional body. It investigates and safeguards the interests of socially and educationally backward classes, mainly the Other Backward Classes (OBCs).

Special Officer for Linguistic Minorities

Note coming soon.

Official Language of the Union and States: Provisions, Eighth Schedule and Reforms

The Basics

Part Seventeen of the Constitution, Articles 343 to 351, settles what language the Union and the states use for official work, courts and laws. This was necessary because India has many languages, and the framers needed one working language for the Centre without alienating non-Hindi speakers.

Children's Courts under the Commissions for Protection of Child Rights Act

The Basics

A Children's Court tries offences against children. It also handles violations of child rights. Its trials are meant to be speedy.

State Commission for Protection of Child Rights

The Basics

The State Commission for Protection of Child Rights is the state-level counterpart of the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights. It is not compulsory for every state. The Commissions for Protection of Child Rights Act, 2005 allows a state government to set one up through an Official Gazette notification.