The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), India is organizing its 33rd Foundation Day celebration at Vigyan Bhawan on October 12, 2026, with Chief Justice of India Justice Surya Kant serving as the Chief Guest. The event will be attended by NHRC Chairperson Justice V. Ramasubramanian, Members Justice (Dr.) Bidyut Ranjan Sarangi, Smt. Vijaya Bharathi Sayani and Shri Priyank Kanoongo, Secretary General Shri Piyush Goyal, and other senior officers and dignitaries.
Following the Foundation Day function, a National Conference will be held on the theme 'Water as the Elixir of Life: Advancing Human Dignity through the Right to Water.' The conference features two technical sessions: 'Protection and Restoration of Water Bodies: Safeguarding the Foundation of the Right to Water' and 'Protecting Drinking Water Sources: Ensuring Safe and Sustainable Access to Water for All.' The event will bring together experts, stakeholders, academicians, researchers, civil society members, and human rights defenders to discuss human rights dimensions of water access.
Since its inception on October 12, 1993, the NHRC has handled 24,33,716 cases including 3,100 suo motu cases. The Commission has recommended monetary relief of more than ₹274 crore in 9,085 cases to victims of human rights violations. In the most recent year (October 1, 2025 to September 30, 2026), the Commission registered 54,673 complaints and 119 suo motu cases, conducted 80 spot enquiries, disposed of 53,733 cases, and recommended over ₹9.7 crore as monetary relief in 157 cases.
The Commission has issued 35 Advisories on various human rights issues including welfare of transgender persons, child sexual abuse material, rights of widows, right to food, right to health and mental health, rights of informal workers, and environmental pollution. It has recommended amendments to 97 laws that discriminate against persons with Hansen's disease.
Operational activities included two 'Open Hearings and Camp Sittings' in Gujarat and Bihar, and the Commission utilizes 18 Special Rapporteurs and 15 Special Monitors to assess human rights conditions across India. The NHRC organized a Statutory Full Commission Meeting with seven deemed members and a Conference of State Human Rights Commissions along with Special Rapporteurs and Special Monitors.
In the past year, the Commission organized two National Conferences, four core group meetings, and four 'Open House Discussions' on various human rights topics. Research efforts included completion of six studies on forest rights, old age homes, adoption process, human trafficking, education for persons with disabilities, and commercialization of non-timber forest products, with six new studies commissioned.
Capacity building initiatives included partnerships with national academies of All India Services, 66 collaborative conferences/workshops/training programmes, 10 moot court competitions with financial support of over ₹136 lakh, and internship programs that trained 687 students. The Commission also organized exposure visits for 55 institutions with 2,263 participants and special training sessions for officers including international participants from Sri Lanka.
Internationally, the NHRC has organized five Capacity Building Programmes with participation of 149 senior functionaries from NHRIs of 46 countries across Africa, East Asia, Central Asia, South America and the Pacific. Public engagement initiatives included human rights photography, quiz and short film competitions that received 526 entries last year.
The Commission has expanded its digital outreach through HRCNet Portal integration with state authorities and majority of State Human Rights Commissions, and a mobile app for complaint filing and tracking. The event will be live-streamed on YouTube and webcast platforms.