Why NHRC's Global Downgrade Demands Urgent Reform

Grace Anu and Edgar Kaiser

India's human rights watchdog faces a credibility reckoning after its downgrade by a global accreditation body that raised questions over its independence from political interference and other concerns.

The year 2025 was a turbulent one for the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), which proclaims to stand tall in its human rights interventions and was once considered a shelter in the storm for Indians. The recent decision by the Global Alliance of National Human Rights Institutions (GANHRI) to downgrade the status of the apex human rights body of the world’s largest democracy, however, is a sobering story.

Since its inception in 1993, the NHRC has had chairpersons of four thematic commissions as its deemed members. In 2019, this was expanded to include three more thematic national commissions. To make its services more accessible to citizens, every state has a human rights commission and, in addition, thematic commissions meant for women, children, Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes, among others. In all, there are 169 such institutions, making India the country with the largest number of national and state human rights institutions.

Accreditation by GANHRI

National human rights institutions around the world are accredited by GANHRI, which ensures their compliance with the Paris Principles. These principles set out the minimum parameters for national human rights institutions, emphasising their broad mandate and functions and their pluralism, independence and effectiveness.

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A call to reform

What would change look like for the NHRC, once regarded as a beacon of hope for the country? The commission ought to focus on improving its engagement with those who are critical of its downfall but passionate about its revival. Civil society organisations such as the People’s Union for Civil Liberties, the People’s Union for Democratic Rights and many others working on the ground, echoing people’s voices, ought to be heard and collaborated with to make human rights a reality.

Criticisms of the NHRC stem from a desire for it to stand true to its founding principles – they are not an outright rejection. Although the downgrading of NHRC, India’s sole representative on GANHRI, sends a wave of hurt, it also calls for reflection and for working out strategies of action with all stakeholders.