The National Human Rights Commission, India has been set up by an Act of Parliament under the Protection of Human Rights Act, 1993 for the protection and promotion of human rights. The Commission's functions are stated in Section 12 of the Act; in addition to investigating complaints of human rights violations or negligence in preventing such violations by a public servant, the Commission studies treaties and international instruments on human rights and makes recommendations to the government for their effective implementation.

The Commission is responsible for spreading human rights awareness amongst the masses and encouraging the efforts of all stakeholders in the field of human rights literacy, not only at the national but also international level. The NHRC is a unique institution because it is one of the few National Human Rights Institutes (NHRIs) in the world whose Chairperson is the former Chief Justice of the country. The world looks at NHRC India as a role model in promoting and monitoring effective implementation of promotion and protection of human rights.

Section 2(1) (d) of the PHR Act, 1993 defines Human Rights as the rights relating to life, liberty, equality and dignity of the individual guaranteed by the Constitution or embodied in the International Covenants and enforceable by courts in India.

The NHRC, India plays an active role in coordinating with other NHRIs of the world to enhance awareness from the perspective of human rights. It has also hosted delegations from UN Bodies and other National Human Rights Commissions as well as members of civil society, lawyers and political and social activists from many countries.