The Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment has extended by one year the mandate of a committee set up to examine whether Scheduled Caste (SC) status can be granted to people who have converted to religions other than the Sikhism and Buddhism.

This decision, formalized by a notification dated November 1, comes as the Commission, initially scheduled to conclude its work on October 10, was seeking additional time to finalize its report.

The commission of inquiry was constituted on October 6, 2022 under the Commissions of Inquiry Act, 1952.

The survey also covers related concerns regarding social justice, rights and the possible expansion of status reserved for converts from religions not traditionally included in SC classifications, such as Christianity and Islam.

Led by former Chief Justice of India KG Balakrishnan, the Commission collaborated with stakeholders, including sociologists, historians and representatives of affected communities, to better understand the nuances of caste identity in the context of religious conversion, officials said.

According to the latest notification, the Commission is now required to submit its report by October 10, 2025.