The Government of India has appointed veteran BJP (Bharatiya Janata Party) leader Harjeet Singh Grewal as the new Chairperson of National Commission for Minorities (NCM). An organizational leader with decades of experience with the BJP, Grewal is famous for doing grassroots work than winning elections. As the new Chairperson of the statutory body responsible for protecting the interests of the minorities in India, Grewal’s leadership will focus primarily on the welfare of minorities and their policy implementations.
What Does the National Commission for Minorities Do?
The National Commission for Minorities (NCM) is a statutory body that was formed as per the National Commission for Minorities Act, 1992.
It works to protect the rights and interests of the notified minority communities in India and provide advice to the Central Government on matters pertaining to the welfare of minorities.
This Commission also monitors the constitutional protections provided to minorities and examines complaints of violation of minority rights and suggests policies and programs aimed at improving the social and educational status of minority communities.
As the Chairman of this Commission Harjeet Grewal will enjoy the status of a Union Cabinet Minister while overseeing the functioning of this Commission.
The Appointment of Harjeet Grewal as Chairman of NCM
Harjeet Singh Grewal was appointed as the Chairman of the National Commission for Minorities in July 2026 as the position was vacant after the former chairman Iqbal Singh Lalpura completed his term in April 2025.
With this appointment,
- He becomes the third Sikh to hold the position of Chairman of the National Commission for Minorities.
- He is the second person from Punjab to occupy the position.
- He takes over from Iqbal Singh Lalpura, who completed his three years term in 2025.
After being appointed, Grewal said that he would try to help the minorities of the country while carrying out the constitutional duties of the Commission.
Harjeet Grewal’s Political Journey
Harjeet Grewal became part of the BJP in 1986 and started his career as a volunteer in the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS).
His political journey mainly revolves around the organizational development of the BJP, rather than fighting elections.
During this time, he has worked in different states like,
- Punjab
- Haryana
- Andaman and Nicobar Islands
His key organizational posts are listed below,
- Founder of BJP Kisan Morcha
- Former National President of BJP Kisan Morcha
- Former National General Secretary of BJP Kisan Morcha
- BJP’s first Sikh National Secretary
- Member of the BJP national executive
His long journey with the party organization has helped him make a name for himself as one of the senior Sikh leaders of the BJP.
Leader of an Organization Instead Win Elections
In contrast to a large number of senior politicians, Harjeet Grewal’s advancement in politics has resulted mainly from leading the party’s organizational efforts and not from winning an election.
He contested the following elections,
- 1996 Lok Sabha election from Sangrur.
- 2017 Punjab Assembly election from Rajpura.
However, he did not win in both elections.
In spite of these losses, he retained several important organizational roles within the BJP, which shows the party’s belief in his leadership and organizational capabilities.
Other Important Positions Held by Harjeet Grewal
Besides his usual work in the BJP, Grewal has had other important titles, namely,
- The Vice-Chairperson position in National Cooperative Federation of India, which he has occupied for almost 15 years.
- A senior strategist for organizational matters in various BJP state bodies.
- A national leader who has played a role in the party’s outreach program for farmers.
He is highly knowledgeable in labor organizations, the development of rural areas, and matters dealing with agriculture.
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