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· collected 2026-08-26 · by The Hindu Bureau
The Government of India has rejected comments made by the United Nations Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (UNCERD) as "politically motivated" and "highly malicious". The UNCERD had raised concerns about large-scale violations perpetrated against ethnic and ethno-religious groups in India. According to the Ministry of External Affairs, India's commitment to combating racial discrimination remains firm, but it will respond to the Committee's observations through established procedure. The Government of India has submitted 12 periodic reports to CERD, with the most recent review held on August 11-12.
Written by the local model on 2026-08-26,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
India's government has been criticized by a UN watchdog for not doing enough to protect tribal peoples and disadvantaged castes from violence and discrimination. The UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD) expressed concern about extrajudicial killings, torture, and violence against these groups, as well as hate crimes against Bengali-speaking Muslims. The committee called on India to investigate these allegations and hold those responsible accountable.
However, India's government has rejected the criticism, calling it "politically motivated" and "highly malicious". The Ministry of External Affairs said that the Indian delegation had already rejected the UN Committee's observations during a review meeting in Geneva earlier this month. This was led by Solicitor General Tushar Mehta.
The CERD's concerns were based on reports of widespread human rights abuses, including racial motivated violence, excessive use of force, and arbitrary detention without due process. The committee noted that caste remains a significant determinant of social status in India, shaping access to resources, education, and opportunity.
Written for “UN Caste Discrimination Criticism” on 2026-08-31,
grounded in this article and the 1 other(s) covering the same event.
Why this leaning score
The model judged this article politically coded and scored it +0.85, but none of the 1 quote(s) it offered could be found in the article text, so the score is not published.
Written under an earlier scoring contract, which gave a paragraph
rather than checkable quotes. Re-analysing this article replaces it.
Leaning score withheld for article 2518: no verified evidence · logged 2026-08-27
India on Wednesday (August 26, 2026) rejected observations made by the United Nations Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (UNCERD), calling them “politically motivated” and “highly malicious”.
asserted
India → reject → them
The response, from the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal, comes after the UN Committee raised concerns about “reports of large-scale violations perpetrated by law enforcement officials against ethnic and ethno-religious groups, Indigenous and Tribal Peoples, including Scheduled Tribes, Scheduled Castes, particularly Dalits, and non-citizens.”
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Committee → come → Tribes
In a press note that called for addressing “hate speech” and “hate crimes” in India, the Committee had said that there has been an increase in incidents against the Bengali-speaking Muslims and called on the Government of India to “ensure accountability” for these violations.
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Committee → call → violations
In an official statement, the MEA noted that it has taken note of the remarks released by the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination following India’s 11th periodic review under ICERD, conducted in Geneva on August 11-12.
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it → note → August
The Government of India had sent Solicitor General Tushar Mehta as the Head of the Indian Delegation for the review.
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Government → send → review
The MEA clarified that the exercise constituted a routine treaty-body review, in which India participated in a spirit of constructive engagement.
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India → clarify → engagement
It stressed that India’s commitment to combating racial discrimination remains firm and unwavering.
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commitment → stress → discrimination
Throughout the review process, India underscored its constitutional safeguards, comprehensive legal framework, pluralistic ethos, and continuous efforts directed at safeguarding disadvantaged communities.
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India → underscore → communities
“While we will respond to the Committee’s observations through the established procedure, the inter-Ministerial delegation, which was led by the Solicitor General of India, Shri Tushar Mehta, had already rejected the sweeping generalisations, unsubstantiated allegations, or tendency to exceed the Convention’s mandate during the review meeting,” the MEA stated.
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MEA → respond → meeting
“India rejects any politically motivated highly malicious references in the report with all the contempt that it deserves,” the Ministry added.
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Ministry → reject → that
India’s 12th and 21st combined periodic reports submitted to CERD
The Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD) functions as an independent expert panel tasked with monitoring the implementation of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination across its States parties.
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Committee → combine → parties
The recent review, conducted on August 11-12, encompassed India’s 12th and 21st combined periodic reports submitted to CERD in 2023.
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review → conduct → 2023
Deliberations addressed various matters, including the administrative framework for implementing ICERD, progress achieved by marginalised groups, and policy interventions to counter prejudice and intolerance, according to a statement by the Permanent Mission of India in Geneva.
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Deliberations → address → Geneva
“The Indian delegation highlighted our pluralism; diversity; scale and complexity; constitutional and legal framework and safeguards; affirmative actions, democratic accountability; judicial remedies; targeted public policy; and sustained socio-economic development, as we continue our journey towards ensuring equality, dignity and opportunity for all Indians,” the official statement noted.
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statement → highlight → Indians
