RAS Pre 2023, held on 1 October 2023. Question text as printed in RPSC's booklet; answer as per RPSC's final answer key.

Which one of the following Commission did recommend the establishment of an Inter-Government Council in place of Inter-State Council ?

Q: What is the answer to RAS Pre 2023 Q22?

(4). Correct — option (4), Sarkaria Commission. The Commission on Centre-State Relations chaired by Justice R.S. Sarkaria was constituted by a Ministry of Home Affairs notification dated 9 June 1983. Its other members were B. Sivaraman and Dr. S.R. Sen, and it reported in January 1988. The Inter-State Council Secretariat quotes its recommendation: "A permanent Inter-State Council called the Inter-Governmental Council (IGC) should be set up under Article 263." The IGC was to carry the duties in clauses (b) and (c) of Article 263, other than socio-economic planning and development. The Commission also said the Council should not be given the power of inquiring into and advising upon disputes between States. The Government of India accepted the recommendation to set up an Inter-State Council, which a Presidential Order dated 28 May 1990 established. "Inter-Governmental Council" is the Sarkaria Commission's name for a permanent council under Article 263.

(1)Rajmannar Commission
(2)Punchhi Commission
(3)Administrative Reforms Commission, 1969
(4)Sarkaria Commission

Answer

(4)

Why

Correct — option (4), Sarkaria Commission.

The Commission on Centre-State Relations chaired by Justice R.S. Sarkaria was constituted by a Ministry of Home Affairs notification dated 9 June 1983. Its other members were B. Sivaraman and Dr. S.R. Sen, and it reported in January 1988.

The Inter-State Council Secretariat quotes its recommendation: "A permanent Inter-State Council called the Inter-Governmental Council (IGC) should be set up under Article 263."

The IGC was to carry the duties in clauses (b) and (c) of Article 263, other than socio-economic planning and development. The Commission also said the Council should not be given the power of inquiring into and advising upon disputes between States.

The Government of India accepted the recommendation to set up an Inter-State Council, which a Presidential Order dated 28 May 1990 established.

"Inter-Governmental Council" is the Sarkaria Commission's name for a permanent council under Article 263.

Why the others are wrong

(1)
Rajmannar Commission — The Rajamannar Committee (printed here as Rajmannar) was a Tamil Nadu government committee, not a Union commission. It was appointed in 1969 under Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi, with P.V. Rajamannar as chairman, to study State autonomy and Centre-State relations.
The Inter-State Council Secretariat's account of how the Council came about credits the Inter-Governmental Council proposal to the Sarkaria Commission.
(2)
Punchhi Commission — The Punchhi Commission, chaired by former Chief Justice of India Madan Mohan Punchhi, was constituted on 27 April 2007 and presented its report on 30 March 2010 — two decades after the Inter-State Council was set up.
It recommended strengthening the existing Inter-State Council: meeting at least thrice a year on an agenda evolved after consultation with the States, with power to follow up its decisions.
(3)
Administrative Reforms Commission, 1969 — The first Administrative Reforms Commission was constituted on 5 January 1966, chaired first by Morarji Desai and later by K. Hanumanthaiah. Its 13th report covered Centre-State relations.
It recommended an Inter-State Council under Article 263(b) and (c) to replace bodies such as the National Development Council and the Chief Ministers' Conference. That proposal used the name Inter-State Council, not Inter-Governmental Council.

Concept

Article 263 lets the President, by order, establish a Council when public interest would be served. The Council can be charged with (a) inquiring into and advising upon disputes between States, (b) investigating and discussing subjects of common interest, or (c) making recommendations for better co-ordination of policy and action.

The Constitution does not create the Council; a presidential order does. The Sarkaria Commission proposed a permanent Council, which it called the Inter-Governmental Council, with duties under clauses (b) and (c) only.

The Inter-State Council was established by the Presidential Order of 28 May 1990. The Prime Minister is Chairman; the members include the Chief Ministers of all States, Chief Ministers of Union territories with a Legislative Assembly, Administrators of those without one, and six Union Cabinet Ministers nominated by the Prime Minister.

RPSC's syllabus lists "Federalism, Democratic Politics in India, Coalition Governments, National Integration." under the Indian Political System. Institutions for Centre-State consultation belong under federalism.

The four bodies named here looked at Centre-State relations from different places: a State government's committee (Rajamannar, 1969), a Union commission on administration (the first ARC, constituted 1966), and two Union commissions on Centre-State relations (Sarkaria, 1983–88; Punchhi, 2007–10).

The first ARC, Sarkaria and Punchhi each wrote about an inter-State council, in different terms. The name Inter-Governmental Council belongs to the Sarkaria report.

As a State, Rajasthan takes part through its Chief Minister, who is a member of the Inter-State Council.

Key facts

The Sarkaria Commission was constituted by a Ministry of Home Affairs notification dated 9 June 1983 and reported in January 1988.
Sarkaria Commission, as quoted by the Inter-State Council Secretariat: a permanent Inter-State Council called the Inter-Governmental Council should be set up under Article 263.
The Inter-State Council was established by a Presidential Order dated 28 May 1990; the Prime Minister is its Chairman.
The Punchhi Commission was constituted on 27 April 2007 and presented its report on 30 March 2010.
The first Administrative Reforms Commission, constituted on 5 January 1966, covered Centre-State relations in its 13th report.

Proposals for an inter-State body under Article 263

1966→First Administrative Reforms Commission constituted; its 13th report, on Centre-State relations, later proposed an Inter-State Council

1969→Tamil Nadu appoints the Rajamannar Committee on State autonomy

1983–1988→Sarkaria Commission; recommends a permanent Inter-Governmental Council

28 May 1990→Presidential Order establishes the Inter-State Council

2007–2010→Punchhi Commission; recommends strengthening the Inter-State Council

Dates from the Inter-State Council Secretariat (interstatecouncil.gov.in); Rajamannar Committee year from its chairman's biography.

Study next

Article 263 and the Inter-State CouncilZonal Councils under the States Reorganisation Act, 1956Sarkaria Commission recommendations on Article 356 and GovernorsPunchhi Commission on Centre-State relationsNITI Aayog and its Governing Council

Common traps

Picking the first Administrative Reforms Commission because it also proposed an Inter-State Council. The name Inter-Governmental Council comes from the Sarkaria report.
Picking the Punchhi Commission because it wrote about the Inter-State Council. It reported in 2010, when the Council already existed, and asked for it to be strengthened.
Treating the Rajamannar Committee as a Union body. It was appointed by the Tamil Nadu government.

A question can name a recommendation and ask which commission made it, as here.

A question can also ask when the Inter-State Council was set up, who chairs it, or which clauses of Article 263 its duties draw on.

Related PYQs

UnlockIAS will link similar questions from RAS Pre 2013 here once that paper is published on this site.

Practice

practice — not a real PYQ
The Inter-State Council was established under Article 263 of the Constitution by a Presidential Order issued in
- (a)1983
- (b)1988
- (c)1990
- (d)2010
Answer(3) — the Presidential Order is dated 28 May 1990. 1983 (1) is when the Sarkaria Commission was constituted, 1988 (2) is when it reported, and 2010 (4) is when the Punchhi Commission presented its report.
practice — not a real PYQ
Who is the Chairman of the Inter-State Council?
- (a)The President of India
- (b)The Prime Minister
- (c)The Union Home Minister
- (d)The Vice-President of India
Answer(2) — the Prime Minister chairs the Council under the 1990 Presidential Order. The President (1) establishes such a Council by order under Article 263 but does not chair it. The Union Home Minister (3) and the Vice-President (4) are not its Chairman.

The booklet also prints a fifth choice under this question: “(5) Question not attempted”. Options (1)–(4) above are the four answer options.