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Polity and governanceCommittees1983

Sarkaria Commission

Centre-State relations: sparing use of Article 356 and consultation on Governors.

Written by Pratidin; every fact checked by a separate review before publishing. How we work

Its report was submitted in 1988.

Practise this in the app: flashcards, quiz and a timed answer
Prelims

Quick recall

Who chaired the Sarkaria Commission?
Justice R.S. Sarkaria.
When was it set up?
1983.
What did it recommend on Article 356?
Use only as a last resort.
What did it recommend on Governors?
Eminent persons from outside the State, not active politicians.
Which body was created in 1990?
The Inter-State Council under Article 263.
Which later commission also reviewed Centre-State relations?
The Punchhi Commission (2007-10).

Asked before in UPSC

Recurring theme: Centre-State relations and cooperative federalism

Mains
  1. 2024 · GS2 · 15 marks

    What changes has the Union Government recently introduced in the domain of Centre-State relations? Suggest measures to be adopted to build the trust between the Centre and the States and for strengthening federalism.

    Sarkaria's recommendations on a permanent Inter-State Council and consultation on Governors are standard trust-building measures.

  2. 2023 · GS2 · 15 marks

    Account for the legal and political factors responsible for the reduced frequency of using Article 356 by the Union Governments since mid-1990s.

    Sarkaria's call for sparing use of Article 356, later backed by the S.R. Bommai judgment, is the core of this answer.

  3. 2022 · GS2 · 15 marks

    "While the national political parties in India favour centralisation, the regional parties are in favour of State autonomy." Comment.

    The Sarkaria Commission was set up in response to State autonomy demands; it rejected a weak Centre but urged cooperative practice.

  4. 2020 · GS2 · 10 marks

    How far do you think cooperation, competition and confrontation have shaped the nature of federation in India? Cite some recent examples to validate your answer.

    Cite Sarkaria as the institutional template for cooperation, and Governor and Article 356 disputes as confrontation.

  5. 2016 · Essay · 125

    Cooperative federalism: Myth or reality

    The Sarkaria and Punchhi reports supply the vocabulary and reform agenda for this essay.

Prelims
  1. 2025 · Prelims

    With reference to India, consider the following: I. The Inter-State Council II. The National Security Council III. Zonal Councils. How many of the above were established as per the provisions of the Constitution of India?

    The Inter-State Council under Article 263 was set up in 1990 following Sarkaria's recommendation.

  2. 2023 · Prelims

    Consider the following statements: 1. According to the Constitution of India, the Central Government has a duty to protect States from internal disturbances. 2. The Constitution of India exempts the States from providing legal counsel to a person being held for preventive detention. 3. According to the Prevention of Terrorism Act, 2002, confession of the accused before the police cannot be used as evidence. How many of the above statements are correct?

    Article 355, the Union's duty to protect States, is the provision Sarkaria examined alongside Article 356.

  3. 2018 · Prelims

    If the President of India exercises his power as provided under Article 356 of the Constitution in respect of a particular State, then (a) the Assembly of the State is automatically dissolved (b) the powers of the Legislature of that State shall be exercisable by or under the authority of the Parliament (c) Article 19 is suspended in that State (d) the President can make laws relating to that State

    Article 356 misuse was the central concern of the Sarkaria Commission.

The basics

Why it matters

The Sarkaria Commission (1983-88) reviewed Centre-State relations and recommended ways to strengthen cooperative federalism, including sparing use of Article 356 and an Inter-State Council.

247
Recommendations of the Sarkaria Commission
Report submitted in 1988.

Key recommendations

Many recommendations concern Governors and Article 356.

Sarkaria recommendations
  1. 1Article 356Use only as a last resort
  2. 2GovernorsEminent persons, not active politicians
  3. 3Inter-State CouncilPermanent body under Article 263
  4. 4ConsultationConsult States on concurrent laws

You now know

  • Set up in 1983; chaired by Justice R.S. Sarkaria; reported in 1988.
  • Article 356 to be used sparingly.
  • Governors should be eminent persons from outside the State.
  • Led to the Inter-State Council in 1990.

Go deeper

In one line: Sarkaria gave the blueprint for cooperative federalism.

Why it matters for UPSC

It is cited in questions on Governors, Article 356 and Centre-State relations.

The core idea

Federalism works through consultation. Sarkaria's advice on the Governor and the Inter-State Council remains relevant.

Where to go next

In one line: Many Sarkaria recommendations remain unimplemented.

Implemented

Inter-State Council (1990), and courts adopted its Article 356 view.

Pending

Apolitical Governor appointments and regular consultation.

Where to go next

Governor

The State's constitutional head

In one line: The Governor is the constitutional head of a State, appointed by the President.

Tenure

Holds office during the President's pleasure.

Debates

Delays in assent to Bills and discretion in government formation.

Where to go next

Governor: every story that connects to it (2)

Inter-State Council

A forum for Centre-State coordination

In one line: The Inter-State Council, set up in 1990 under Article 263, discusses matters of common interest between the Centre and States.

Chair

The Prime Minister.

Criticism

It meets rarely.

Where to go next

  • Governor: The State's constitutional head

Prelims-style quiz

  1. The Inter-State Council was set up under:

    1. Article 280
    2. Article 262
    3. Article 263
    4. Article 356
    Show answer

    Answer: (c) Article 263. Article 263.

  2. Consider the following:
    1. Sarkaria recommended sparing use of Article 356.
    2. It recommended Governors be active politicians from the State.
    Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

    1. 1 only
    2. 2 only
    3. Both 1 and 2
    4. Neither 1 nor 2
    Show answer

    Answer: (a) 1 only. It recommended eminent persons from outside the State.

  3. The Sarkaria Commission was set up in:

    1. 2007
    2. 1969
    3. 1983
    4. 1990
    Show answer

    Answer: (c) 1983. 1983.

  4. Which case later endorsed Sarkaria's views on Article 356?

    1. Minerva Mills
    2. S.R. Bommai
    3. Golak Nath
    4. Kesavananda
    Show answer

    Answer: (b) S.R. Bommai. S.R. Bommai (1994).

Syllabus

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