DWBDNC Governing Body: Two New Members Sworn In
MoSJE Secretary Sudhansh Pant administered the oath of office to Narayan Dewasi and Swaroop Singh Banjara as Members of the DWBDNC Governing Body.

Why in News
On 7 October 2026 the Secretary of the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, Shri Sudhansh Pant, who also chairs the DWBDNC, administered the oath of office to the two newly appointed Members of the Board's Governing Body at the Ministry's office.
The board that looks after India's de-notified and nomadic communities has two new members on its highest body. On 7 October 2026, at the office of the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, Shri Sudhansh Pant — Secretary of the Ministry and Chairman of the Development and Welfare Board for De-notified, Nomadic and Semi-Nomadic Communities (DWBDNC) — administered the oath of office to Shri Narayan Dewasi and Shri Swaroop Singh Banjara.
The oath they took
Both members swore true faith and allegiance to the Constitution of India and undertook to uphold the country's sovereignty and integrity. They further pledged to carry out the duties of a Member faithfully and conscientiously, and to do right by every person belonging to the De-notified, Nomadic and Semi-Nomadic (DNT) communities in keeping with the Board's Terms of Reference, without fear or favour and without affection or ill-will.
Appointment and tenure
| Appointing authority | Department of Social Justice and Empowerment, Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment |
| Tenure | Three years from the date of joining, or until further orders, whichever comes first |
| Shri Swaroop Singh Banjara | Assumed charge on 17 September |
| Shri Narayan Dewasi | Assumed charge on 25 September 2026 |
| Oath administered by | Shri Sudhansh Pant, Secretary MoSJE and Chairman, DWBDNC |
What the Board does
The DWBDNC exists to take up the welfare and development questions facing de-notified, nomadic and semi-nomadic groups, and to back measures that raise their social and economic standing. Its programmes are aimed at welfare, socio-economic development and empowerment for these communities, who have historically been among the most mobile and least settled populations in the country and therefore the hardest for ordinary government schemes to reach.
Why the appointments matter
Speaking after the ceremony, the Secretary said he hoped the arrival of the two members would strengthen the Governing Body as it carries its mandate forward and advances work for the welfare, socio-economic progress and empowerment of these communities. For candidates, the point to note is the chain of institutions: the Board sits under the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, its Chairman is the Secretary of that Ministry, and its Governing Body members are appointed by the Department of Social Justice and Empowerment for a term of three years.
Important Facts
| Board | Development and Welfare Board for De-notified, Nomadic and Semi-Nomadic Communities (DWBDNC) |
|---|---|
| Parent ministry | Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment |
| Chairman of the Board | Shri Sudhansh Pant, Secretary, MoSJE |
| New Members | Shri Narayan Dewasi and Shri Swaroop Singh Banjara |
| Appointed by | Department of Social Justice and Empowerment |
| Tenure | Three years from the date of joining, or until further orders |
| Charge assumed | Swaroop Singh Banjara on 17 September; Narayan Dewasi on 25 September 2026 |
| Communities covered | De-notified, Nomadic and Semi-Nomadic (DNT) communities |
Exam Point of View
Note the Board's full name behind the abbreviation DWBDNC, that its Chairman is the Secretary of the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, the names of the two new Members, the appointing department and the three-year tenure from the date of joining.
Practice Questions
Who administered the oath of office to the newly appointed Members of the Governing Body of the DWBDNC?
- A.The Union Minister for Social Justice and Empowerment
- B.Shri Sudhansh Pant, Secretary, Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment
- C.The Chairperson of the National Commission for Backward Classes
- D.The Cabinet Secretary
Show answer
Correct answer: B. Shri Sudhansh Pant, Secretary, Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment
Explanation
The correct answer is Shri Sudhansh Pant, Secretary of the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, who holds the post of Chairman of the Board as well and therefore swore in the two new Members at the Ministry's office. Option A is wrong because the oath was administered by the Secretary in his capacity as Chairman of the Board rather than by the Union Minister heading the Ministry. Option C is wrong because the National Commission for Backward Classes is a separate constitutional body with its own mandate and has no role in constituting this Board's Governing Body. Option D is wrong because the Cabinet Secretary, as the senior-most civil servant of the Union Government, does not administer oaths to members of a welfare board of this kind. Candidates should remember the dual role: the Secretary of the Ministry is also the Chairman of the Board.
DWBDNC, which swore in two new Governing Body Members, works for which group of communities?
- A.Scheduled Tribes living in forest areas
- B.De-notified, nomadic and semi-nomadic communities
- C.Transgender persons and beggars
- D.Safai karamcharis and manual scavengers
Show answer
Correct answer: B. De-notified, nomadic and semi-nomadic communities
Explanation
The correct answer is de-notified, nomadic and semi-nomadic communities. The Board's very name is the Development and Welfare Board for De-notified, Nomadic and Semi-Nomadic Communities, and the oath taken by its Members includes a pledge to do right by every person belonging to these groups in line with the Board's Terms of Reference. Option A is wrong because the welfare of Scheduled Tribes, including forest dwellers, is handled by a separate ministry and separate institutions. Option C is wrong because welfare measures for transgender persons, though also under the social justice ministry, are not the mandate of this particular board. Option D is wrong because the concerns of safai karamcharis are addressed through a different national commission. These communities are among the most mobile groups in the country, which is precisely why a dedicated board exists to carry welfare schemes to them.
For how long have the newly appointed Members of the DWBDNC Governing Body been appointed?
- A.Two years from the date of joining
- B.Three years from the date of joining, or until further orders
- C.Five years from the date of joining
- D.Until they attain the age of 65 years
Show answer
Correct answer: B. Three years from the date of joining, or until further orders
Explanation
The correct answer is three years from the date of joining, or until further orders, whichever is earlier. That is the term on which the Department of Social Justice and Empowerment appointed the two Members to the Governing Body of the Board. Option A understates the term and option C overstates it; neither matches the order of appointment. Option D introduces an age-based condition, which applies to several judicial and commission posts in India but is not the basis on which these Members hold office. Candidates should also note the dates on which the two took charge, with one assuming office on the seventeenth and the other on the twenty-fifth of September, while the oath itself was administered later, in the following month, at the Ministry's office in the presence of the Secretary who chairs the Board.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does DWBDNC stand for?
The Development and Welfare Board for De-notified, Nomadic and Semi-Nomadic Communities. It works under the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment on the welfare, socio-economic development and empowerment of these communities.
Who administered the oath to the new Members?
Shri Sudhansh Pant, Secretary of the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, who is also the Chairman of the DWBDNC, at the Ministry's office.
What is the tenure of a Member of the Governing Body?
Three years from the date of joining, or until further orders, whichever is earlier. The appointment is made by the Department of Social Justice and Empowerment.
Sources
- https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2320110 (opens in a new tab) — Press Information Bureau
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