Sarkaria Commission
The clash of interests between the centre and states had caused many disturbances in the
functioning of democratic machinery.
Sarkaria Commission- UPSC Notes
• With time, India faced emerging issues and tensions along with developments in social,
economic and political areas.
• Cooperation is the key for the smooth running of the states and centres.
• As a result, The Ministry of Home Affairs established a commission to review the
relationship between Union and States.
• This commission is known as the Sarkaria Commission, as it was under the
chairmanship of R.S. Sarkaria, who was a retired Supreme Court judge.
• The other members of the Sarkaria Commission were Dr S.R. Sen and Shri B.
Sivaraman
Purpose of Sarkaria Commission
The Sarkaria Commission was established by the Central Government to make
recommendations regarding the Centre-State relationship in response to the movement for
State autonomy. In 1988, the Commission turned in its final report.
The nation's unity and integrity were of utmost importance to the founders of the Indian
Constitution. They were aware of the elements causing chaos and instability in the nation. Only
a powerful central authority at the time of independence could counter these threats.
• The Government of India established the Administrative Reforms Commission and other
Commissions to oversee ties between the Centre and States.
• The Sarkaria Commission was established by the Union Government to make
recommendations for methods to enhance Centre-State relations.
• The Sarkaria Commission was established in 1983 in response to calls for greater
autonomy. Its purpose was to review all current agreements between the Centres and
the States and recommend adjustments and actions as necessary.
Sarkaria Commission Report
The Sarkaria Commission report has two parts. The first part of the report includes the main
report, and the second part is about the memoranda provided by the political parties and the
state governments.
The report covers inter-governmental relations in the sphere of administration and legislation.
The report also highlights the need to establish an inter-state council and how it would
smoothen inter-governmental coordination. The report has 247 recommendations that are
discussed in 19 chapters.
Sarkaria Commission Recommendations
The Sarkaria Commission issued its first report in 1987, and it included 247 recommendations.
• The commission strictly rejected the idea of reducing the centre’s powers. It stated that a
strong centre is essential for maintaining integrity and national unity.
• The commission recommended appointing individuals with vast experience in public
service.
• The states must have enough financial resources to reduce their dependency on the
central government.
• Sarkaria Commission recommended setting up a permanent inter-state council for
resolving any issues among the states.
• The high court judges shouldn’t be transferred without their will.
Sarkaria Commission Recommendations on Governor
The Sarkaria Commission offered the following significant recommendations regarding the
appointment of the Governors.
• Should be a respected individual.
• Must be an outsider to the country.
• Not have been actively involved in politics, at least for a while prior to his appointment.
• After leaving office, the person designated as Governor should not be eligible for any
further appointments or prestigious positions in the Union or a State Government, with
the exception of a second term as Governor or election as Vice-President or President of
India, as the case may be.
• At the end of his tenure, reasonable benefits after retirement should be offered.
• He should be impartial and not overly involved in the State's regional politics.
• He must be chosen after consulting with the Speaker of the Lok Sabha, the Vice-
President of India, and the State's Chief Minister.
Features of Sarkaria Commission
Sarkaria Commission submitted its report to the Prime Minister of India in 1987, Rajiv Gandhi.
This commission explained the relationship between the states and the centre in detail. The
commission also described the utilization of Article 356 in brief. Sarkaria Commission explained
the advantages of Article 252 and the prohibition of the power of the government of India.
Another crucial recommendation by the Sarkaria Commission was the organization of a stable
council in all the states under Article 263.
