Question

Who was the first Chairperson of the NHRC?

• A. Justice V. Ramasubramanian
• B. Justice Ranganath Misra
• C. Justice Vidyut Ranjan Sarangi
• D. Priyank Kanungo

Answer 1

Answer:

B. Justice Ranganath Misra

National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) and UDHR

• The NHRC was established on October 12, 1993, under the Protection of Human Rights Act (PHRA), 1993, amended in 2006 and 2019

• It serves as India’s watchdog for rights related to life, liberty, equality, and dignity, as guaranteed by the Indian Constitution and international covenants like the UDHR.

Composition

• Consists of a Chairperson (former Chief Justice of India or Supreme Court judge),

•  five full-time members (including at least one woman)

• seven ex-officio members (chairpersons of national commissions for Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, Women, Minorities, Backward Classes, Child Rights, and Persons with Disabilities).

• First Chairperson: Justice Ranganath Misra (1993–1996)

• Current Members : Chairperson: Justice

  V. Ramasubramanian (since December 23, 2024)

Full-Time Members:

• Justice Dr. Vidyut Ranjan Sarangi: Former judge, joined in 2024.

• Priyank Kanungo: Appointed for human rights expertise, joined in 2024.

• Three additional full-time members (including at least one woman)

• Ex-Officio Members:
  Chairpersons of the National Commissions for Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, Women, Minorities, Backward Classes, Child Rights, and the Chief Commissioner for Persons with Disabilities.

• Appointment Process: The President of India appoints members based on recommendations from a six-member committee (Prime Minister, Lok Sabha Speaker, Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman, Opposition Leaders of both Houses, and Union Home Minister).