UN raises alarm over systemic discrimination and violence in India
In communications sent to the Indian government on 19 January, the UN body warned that security, citizenship and conservation policies may be operating in racially discriminatory ways, raising concerns of systemic violations under international law
The United Nations Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD) has invoked its early warning and urgent action mechanism in response to reports of systemic discrimination and violence in India, the committee said in a series of communications sent in January 2026.
The UN body, which uses the procedure in situations that could escalate into serious human rights violations, warned that India's security, citizenship, and conservation policies may be violating the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (ICERD), says The Wire.
The committee highlighted three primary areas of concern.
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Escalation of violence in Bastar
CERD's most serious allegations concern the Bastar region of Chhattisgarh, where Adivasi communities comprise roughly 70% of the population.
The committee said that since January 2024, counter-insurgency operations aimed at eliminating non-state armed groups by March 2026 have led to "unprecedented violence," with at least 500 Adivasi individuals, including civilians, reportedly killed between January 2024 and October 2025.
It also flagged five incidents of aerial bombing by security forces targeting villages and forests between 2021 and 2025, and the establishment of more than 300 security bases on ancestral lands since 2019, allegedly without legally required consent.
CERD noted that security personnel reportedly receive promotions and financial rewards for operations involving extrajudicial killings, creating a "climate of impunity," while Adivasi civilians face arbitrary arrests under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act. Human rights defenders documenting abuses, such as the Moolwasi Bachao Manch (MBM), reportedly face harassment and arrest.
The committee also raised concerns about "surrender centers," where Adivasis, including women and children, are allegedly detained without due process and forced to perform menial labor.
Discrimination against Bengali-speaking Muslims in Assam
CERD revisited concerns regarding the National Register of Citizens (NRC) in Assam. The committee said Bengali-speaking Muslims face disproportionate exclusion from the NRC due to procedural hurdles and their classification as "non-original inhabitants," which it described as lacking a clear definition.
The communications also highlighted systematic forced evictions without alternative housing or compensation, as well as reports of increased hate speech and incitement to violence during the 2024 national elections.
Conservation policies and tribal displacement
The committee expressed alarm over the impact of the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) on forest-dwelling communities.
While the Indian government describes relocations from tiger habitats as voluntary, CERD said there is a lack of evidence for "free, prior and informed consent" from the approximately 6,400 families living in these areas. It also noted the risk that communities may be displaced without adequate compensation or legal remedies.
Current status
CERD noted that India had not taken meaningful action on issues raised in a May 2025 communication. The committee has requested that the government provide detailed information on investigations into killings, safeguards against racial profiling, and legal processes for obtaining community consent for land use.
The findings are expected to increase international scrutiny of India's human rights record in minority-dominated and conflict-affected regions.
