Like the National Commission for Schedules Castes (NCSC), the National Commission for Scheduled Tribes (NCST) is also a constitutional body in the sense that it is directly established by Article 338-A of the Constitution.
The National Commission for Scheduled Tribes was first formed by the Government of India in 1978 as a Non-statutory Multi-Member Commission. Initially, the Commission was set up through a resolution for both the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes.
The National Commission for Scheduled Tribes (NCST) was established by amending Article 338 and inserting a new Article 338A in the Constitution through the Constitution (89thAmendment) Act, 2003.
By this amendment, the erstwhile National Commission for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes was replaced by two separate Commissions namely-
the National Commission for Scheduled Castes (NCSC), and
the National Commission for Scheduled Tribes (NCST) in 2004.
NCST is the body to investigate and monitor all matters relating to the constitutional and other legal safeguards for the STs and to evaluate their working.
The Central government and the state governments are required to consult the Commission on all major policy matters affecting the STs.
