The National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) is a statutory body established in March 2007 under Section 3 of the Commissions for Protection of Child Rights (CPCR) Act, 2005. The Act was passed by Parliament in December 2005. The NCPCR's origin lies in India's commitment to the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) and the National Charter for Children, 2003. Its core mandate is to ensure that all laws, policies, programs, and administrative mechanisms in India are aligned with the child rights perspective, defining a child as a person in the 0 to 18 years age group.
The Commission functions under the aegis of the Ministry of Women and Child Development. Its mechanism involves examining and reviewing the safeguards for child rights, inquiring into violations, and recommending measures for their effective implementation. While conducting inquiries, the NCPCR is vested with the powers of a civil court under the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908, including the power to summon persons and requisition public records. The CPCR Act, 2005, also provides for the establishment of State Commissions for Protection of Child Rights (SCPCRs) and Children's Courts for the speedy trial of offenses against children.
The NCPCR is intrinsically connected to and monitors the implementation of key legislation, including the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015, the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, 2012, and the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education (RTE) Act, 2009. A recent change occurred in September 2021 with the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (Amendment) Rules, 2021, which prescribed an additional term for the Chairperson and Members under Rule 6. The Commission also operates the GHAR (Go Home and Reunite) portal for the repatriation of children.