The UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD) has issued wide-ranging recommendations to India on segregation, caste-based violence, access to justice, bonded labour, manual scavenging, education and health. The Committee also reaffirmed that caste-based discrimination is fully covered by the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination.
CERD considered India’s combined twentieth and twenty-first periodic reports on 11 and 12 August 2026. The review saw extensive questioning of the Indian delegation on caste discrimination, hate speech, implementation of protections for Scheduled Castes (Dalits), manual scavenging, bonded labour and other human rights concerns also reflected in the Concluding Observations.
During the dialogue, the Indian delegation maintained that the Convention did not cover caste based discrimination. CERD firmly rejected this position in its Concluding Observations, reaffirming its long-standing interpretation that discrimination based on “descent” includes caste and analogous systems of inherited status. The Committee stated that “discrimination based on the ground of caste is fully covered by article 1 of the Convention” and urged India to strengthen its efforts to combat caste-based discrimination and segregation faced by Dalits.
The significance CERD attaches to the issue is also reflected at the end of the Concluding Observations. The Committee identifies paragraph 29 on the “Situation of Dalits” as one of the recommendations of particular importance on which India is asked to provide detailed information in its next periodic report.
Joint MRG–IDSN submission highlights caste discrimination
Ahead of the review, IDSN and Minority Rights Group International (MRG) submitted a joint alternative reportfocused specifically on caste-based discrimination in India. The submission examined India’s implementation of CERD’s previous recommendations and documented continuing discrimination affecting Dalits across a wide range of rights.
The report concluded that CERD’s previous 2007 recommendations had remained substantially unimplemented and that there had been regression in several areas. It raised concerns including caste-based segregation and untouchability, caste-based violence, discrimination against Dalit women, access to justice, restrictions affecting Christian and Muslim Dalits, manual scavenging, bonded and forced labour, education and weak implementation of legislation intended to protect Scheduled Castes.
A separate alternative report submitted by a coalition of civil-society organisations also addressed the situation of Dalits.
Extensive recommendations on the situation of Dalits
In a dedicated section on the Situation of Dalits, CERD expressed concern about persistent segregation and exclusion from shared public resources and spaces, widespread caste-based spatial segregation and inadequate access to basic services in predominantly Dalit neighbourhoods. The Committee also highlighted violence against inter-caste couples and killings in the name of caste “honour”, gender-based violence including femicide against Dalit women and girls, caste-linked sewer and septic-tank cleaning, bonded labour and discrimination against Dalit students.
CERD called on India to take effective measures to eliminate spatial segregation and ensure Dalits’ access to public spaces and essential services. It recommended a specific model protocol for responding to gender-based violence against Dalit women, with caste- and gender-sensitive procedures at the stages of first contact, investigation, prosecution and victim support. It also called for effective measures against violence targeting inter-caste couples and killings in the name of caste “honour”, stronger access to inclusive education and improved data on the economic, social and cultural situation of Dalits.
Access to justice was another major concern. CERD cited reports of widespread discrimination and hate speech targeting Scheduled Castes, particularly Dalits, as well as systemic failures in implementation of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. It pointed to inadequate investigations, a high number of pending cases, low prosecution rates and very low reporting and registration of complaints concerning untouchability.
The Committee urged India to ensure effective implementation of the Prevention of Atrocities Act, establish Exclusive Special Courts and appoint Special Public Prosecutors across all states and union territories, improve access to remedies and safe reporting channels and collect data on racial discrimination and hate crimes disaggregated by descent, including caste.
The Committee called for independent monitoring, prompt and impartial investigations, prosecution of perpetrators and adequate reparation for victims and their families.
Bonded labour and caste-based occupational discrimination
Labour exploitation features prominently in CERD’s section on Dalits. The Committee expressed concern that Dalits remain associated with the cleaning of sewers and septic tanks despite legislation prohibiting manual scavenging and that Dalits continue to be victims of bonded labour, including facing barriers to rehabilitation.
CERD recommended that India assess implementation of legislation combating bonded labour, strengthen labour inspection and report on the overrepresentation of Dalits.
The joint MRG–IDSN submission went further in documenting the links between caste and forced labour. It states that bonded labour is heavily concentrated among Dalits and calls for stronger enforcement of prohibitions on forced labour as well as a new national bonded labour survey.
Civil society, religious discrimination and other concerns
CERD also raised concerns about restrictions on civic space. It referred to reports that laws including the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act and the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act have been used to restrict organisations and human rights defenders working for the rights of Scheduled Castes. The Committee recommended that India review its legal framework to ensure an enabling and safe environment for civil society and human rights defenders.
The Committee further addressed discrimination affecting Christian and Muslim Dalits. It expressed concern about their exclusion from safeguards and special measures available to members of Scheduled Castes and called for a review of the relevant legal framework. CERD also urged India to support the Commission of Inquiry examining the socioeconomic situation of Christian and Muslim Dalits and to publish its report.
Other recommendations concern barriers faced by Dalits in accessing health care, gaps in protection for domestic workers that disproportionately affect Dalits and the underrepresentation of Scheduled Castes in senior public and judicial positions.
The review provides a substantial new set of UN recommendations for action on caste discrimination in India and, importantly, reaffirms unequivocally that caste discrimination falls within the scope of the Convention as descent-based discrimination.
Further information:
CERD Concluding Observations on India
Extracts from CERD’s Concluding Observations relevant to caste and Dalits
Joint MRG–IDSN Alternative Report on Caste-Based Discrimination
Civil Society Coalition Alternative Report