Functions and Powers — Amendments

Amendment	Year	Description	Impact
National Commission for Minorities (Amendment) Act, 2004	2004	This amendment expanded the definition of minorities to include Jains as the sixth notified minority community in India, alongside Muslims, Christians, Sikhs, Buddhists, and Parsis. The amendment was based on the recommendation of the National Commission for Minorities and recognition of Jains as a distinct religious minority requiring constitutional protection.	The inclusion of Jains expanded the Commission's mandate and brought additional communities under the protective umbrella of minority rights. This amendment demonstrated the adaptive nature of minority protection mechanisms and the Commission's role in identifying and recommending recognition of minority communities.