Why in news
- The National Commission for Safai Karamcharis (NCSK) celebrated its 33rd Foundation Day with a focus on sanitation mechanization and worker welfare.
What is the NCSK?
- Established in 1994 under the National Commission for Safai Karamcharis Act, 1993, to evaluate welfare programs and investigate grievances.
- Currently functions as a non-statutory body under the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, extended periodically through executive notifications.
Mandate and Functions
- Recommends specific programs to eliminate inequalities in status, facilities, and opportunities for sanitation workers.
- Monitors implementation of the Prohibition of Employment as Manual Scavengers and their Rehabilitation Act, 2013.
- Inquires into complaints regarding non-implementation of protective gear and compensation provisions.
Why it Matters
- Acts as the primary federal body overseeing the transition from hazardous manual sewer cleaning to 100% mechanized sanitation.
Key terms
Manual Scavenging
The practice of manually cleaning, carrying, disposing, or handling human excreta from dry latrines and sewers.
Prelims facts
- NCSK is currently a non-statutory body functioning under the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment.
Mains discussion
- Evaluate the institutional effectiveness of NCSK in achieving total mechanization of sewer cleaning across urban local bodies.
Source: PIB
Same topic · past papers
UPSC has asked this before
These previous-year questions sit on the same topic. Open one to practise the earlier ask.
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2025 · Q18 · GS II · 15 marks
The National Commission for Protection of Child Rights has to address the challenges faced by children in the digital era. Examine the existing policies and suggest measures the Commission can initiate to tackle the issue. -
2025 · Q66 · General Studies · 2 marks
Which of the following statements with regard to recommendations of the 15th Finance Commission of India are correct? I. It has recommended grants of ₹ 4,800 crores from the year 2022-23 to the year 2025-26 for incentivizing States to enhance educational outcomes. II. 45% of the net proceeds of Union taxes are to be shared with States. III. ₹ 45,000 crores are to be kept as performance- based incentive for all States for carrying out agricultural reforms. IV. It reintroduced tax effort criteria to reward fiscal performance. Select the correct answer using the code given below -
2025 · Q91 · General Studies · 2 marks
Consider the following statements: I. Panchayats at the intermediate level exist in all States. II. To be eligible to be a Member of a Panchayat at the intermediate level, a person should attain the age of thirty years. III. The Chief Minister of a State constitutes a commission to review the financial position of Panchayats at the intermediate levels and to make recommendations regarding the distribution of net proceeds of taxes and duties, leviable by the State, between the State and Panchayats at the intermediate level. Which of the statements given above are not correct? -
2023 · Q7 · GS II · 10 marks
Discuss the role of the Competition Commission of India in containing the abuse of dominant position by the Multi-National Corporations in India. Refer to the recent decisions. -
2023 · Q29 · General Studies · 2 marks
Consider the following: 1. Demographic performance 2. Forest and ecology 3. Governance reforms 4. Stable government 5. Tax and fiscal efforts For the horizontal tax devolution, the Fifteenth Finance Commission used how many of the above as criteria other than population area and income distance?