Explanation:

?? Recently, the standing committee of Parliament has criticised the functioning of the development
programme for de-notified, nomadic and semi-nomadic tribes.
?? The National Commission for Denotified, Nomadic and Semi-Nomadic Tribes (NCDNSNT) is a
national commission set under the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, Government of
India, to study various developmental aspects of denotified and nomadic or semi-nomadic tribes in
India. Hence, option (a) is the correct answer.
?? The Commission was first set up on 22 November 2003 and reconstituted on 16 March 2005 as the earlier
commission could not make much headway for several reasons. Mr Balkrishna Sidram Renke, Laxmanbhai
Kalidas Patni and Laxmi Chand were appointed as the Chairperson, Member and Member Secretary of the
commission, respectively. The commission assumed its functioning with effect from 6 February 2006.
?? The commission had the following terms of reference:
o To specify the economic interventions required for raising the living standards of Denotified, Nomadic
and Semi Nomadic Tribes by asset creation and self-employment opportunities;
o To recommend measures to utilise the existing channelling agencies set up for the economic
development of SC/STs and OBCs for extending an economic development package to these groups,
keeping in view their specific requirements; and
o To identify programmes required for their education, development and health;
o To make any other connected or incidental recommendation, that the Commission deems necessary.