NCW Urges Centre to Set Up National Commission for Prisons, Calls for Gender-Responsive Reforms for Women Inmates

June 10, 2026 : The National Commission for Women (NCW) has recommended that the Central Government establish a National Commission for Prisons to strengthen oversight of prison administration and ensure greater accountability in custodial institutions across India, with a particular focus on the rights and welfare of women prisoners.

In its recommendatory report for Law Review 2025-26 on laws relating to women in prisons, the Commission has proposed a series of comprehensive reforms aimed at creating a gender-responsive, humane, and rights-based correctional system. The report has been submitted to the Ministry of Home Affairs and the Ministry of Women and Child Development for consideration and further action.

Among the key recommendations are the appointment of permanently posted medical officers in prisons, the creation of dedicated healthcare facilities for women inmates, the establishment of trauma-informed care mechanisms, and mandatory institutional deliveries in external hospitals to ensure the safety and well-being of pregnant prisoners.

The Commission emphasized that prison reforms must address the unique physical, psychological, and social needs of women inmates while ensuring dignity, healthcare access, and protection of their fundamental rights. The proposed measures are intended to strengthen correctional administration and improve custodial conditions for women across the country.