Important Committees and Commissions Compendium
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Non-Constitutional, Non-Statutory Advisory/Inquiry Bodies Whose Recommendations Shaped the Constitution and Governance Framework
Overview
Beyond the constitutional and statutory bodies covered in Chapters 9–10, Indian governance has been shaped by numerous ad-hoc Committees and Commissions appointed from time to time to examine specific issues and recommend reforms. UPSC frequently tests which committee recommended what, so this consolidated list (many already introduced in earlier chapters) is worth memorizing as a standalone unit.
Committees/Commissions on Centre-State Relations
| Committee/Commission | Year | Key Recommendations |
|---|---|---|
| Rajamannar Committee | 1969 (Tamil Nadu) | Recommended maximum autonomy to states, review of Union List/Concurrent List entries, and inter-state council formation |
| Anandpur Sahib Resolution | 1973 (Akali Dal) | Demanded greater state autonomy, particularly for Punjab |
| West Bengal Memorandum | 1977 | Demanded a redefinition of Centre-state relations |
| Sarkaria Commission | 1983–88 | Comprehensive review of Centre-state relations; recommended restraint in the use of Article 356; suggested Governors be appointed in consultation with the state CM and not be closely tied to the ruling party at the Centre; recommended strengthening the Inter-State Council |
| Punchhi Commission | 2007–2010 | Further examination of Centre-state relations; recommended a fixed tenure for Governors, a time-bound process for Presidential assent to state bills, and localized/limited use of Article 355/356 |
Committees/Commissions on Local Governance
| Committee | Year | Key Recommendations |
|---|---|---|
| Balwant Rai Mehta Committee | 1957 | Recommended a three-tier Panchayati Raj system; democratic decentralization; "democratic decentralization" concept originated here |
| Ashok Mehta Committee | 1977 | Recommended a two-tier system; gave impetus toward constitutional recognition for Panchayats |
| G.V.K. Rao Committee | 1985 | Recommended Panchayati Raj institutions be given greater importance ("grass without roots" critique of existing rural development administration) |
| L.M. Singhvi Committee | 1986 | Recommended constitutional recognition for Panchayati Raj Institutions, directly influencing the 73rd Amendment |
Committees on Electoral and Political Reforms
| Committee | Year | Key Recommendations |
|---|---|---|
| Dinesh Goswami Committee on Electoral Reforms | 1990 | Chaired by then Law Minister Dinesh Goswami; recommended a multi-member Election Commission, voter photo identity cards, restricting candidates to contesting from a maximum of two constituencies, limited state funding of elections (in kind, not cash), and stronger measures against booth capturing |
| Indrajit Gupta Committee | 1998 | Recommended (fuller) state funding of elections, though subject to available economic resources |
| Vohra Committee | 1993 | Examined the nexus between criminals, politicians, and bureaucrats; recommended institutional mechanisms to combat organized crime's influence on politics |
| Law Commission's 170th Report | 1999 | Recommended reforms to political party regulation and anti-defection provisions |
| National Commission to Review the Working of the Constitution (NCRWC) | 2000–02 (headed by Justice M.N. Venkatachaliah) | Comprehensive review of the Constitution's working over 50 years; recommended various changes, though it explicitly did NOT recommend a wholesale rewrite |
Committees on Administrative and Civil Services Reform
| Committee | Year | Key Recommendations |
|---|---|---|
| First Administrative Reforms Commission (ARC) | 1966–70 (headed by Morarji Desai, later K. Hanumanthaiya) | Wide-ranging administrative reforms across Union/state machinery |
| Second Administrative Reforms Commission | 2005–09 (headed by Veerappa Moily) | Comprehensive reports on public administration, including on the Right to Information, ethics in governance, and local governance |
| Kothari Commission | 1964–66 | Primarily an education reform commission, but influenced Article 45/DPSP-related education policy discourse |
| Santhanam Committee | 1962–64 | Recommended measures against corruption; led to the creation of the CVC (1964) and the concept of a Central Bureau of Investigation's expanded anti-corruption mandate |
Committees on Reservation and Backward Classes
| Committee | Year | Key Recommendations |
|---|---|---|
| Kaka Kalelkar Commission (First Backward Classes Commission) | 1953 | First national-level attempt to identify backward classes; report was not fully implemented due to internal disagreements within the Commission itself |
| Mandal Commission (Second Backward Classes Commission, B.P. Mandal) | 1979 (report 1980) | Recommended 27% reservation for OBCs in public employment; implemented in 1990, upheld with modifications in Indra Sawhney (1992) |
Committees on Judicial Reforms
| Committee | Year | Key Recommendations |
|---|---|---|
| Law Commission of India (various reports, since 1955) | Ongoing | A statutory-executive advisory body (not permanent — reconstituted periodically) that has recommended reforms on numerous legal/constitutional subjects, e.g., death penalty, uniform civil code, electoral reforms |
| Malimath Committee | 2000–03 | Recommended reforms to the criminal justice system |
Common Traps
- Committees are advisory — their recommendations have no automatic legal force; implementation requires separate legislative/executive/constitutional action, which is often partial, delayed, or entirely absent.
- Several committees share similar-sounding names or overlapping subject matter (e.g., multiple "Backward Classes Commissions," multiple electoral reform committees under different "Goswami" names) — a frequent source of Prelims-level confusion; always double-check the specific committee name against the specific recommendation before citing it confidently.
- Balwant Rai Mehta (three-tier) vs Ashok Mehta (two-tier): their recommendations on Panchayati Raj structure directly contradict each other, and only Balwant Rai Mehta's three-tier structure was ultimately adopted in the 73rd Amendment.
Solved Example (UPSC Prelims-Format MCQ)
Q1. Which Committee/Commission recommended the three-tier structure of Panchayati Raj Institutions that was eventually adopted in the 73rd Constitutional Amendment? (a) Ashok Mehta Committee (b) Balwant Rai Mehta Committee (c) L.M. Singhvi Committee (d) G.V.K. Rao Committee Answer: (b)
Practice Set (Exam-Format MCQs)
Q1. The Sarkaria Commission was primarily concerned with: (a) Electoral reforms (b) Centre-state relations (c) Judicial reforms (d) Panchayati Raj reforms Answer: (b)
Q2. Which Commission's recommendations directly led to the establishment of the Central Vigilance Commission in 1964? (a) Santhanam Committee (b) Sarkaria Commission (c) Kothari Commission (d) Malimath Committee Answer: (a)
Q3. The Mandal Commission's recommendations primarily concerned: (a) Judicial appointments (b) Reservation for Other Backward Classes (c) Panchayati Raj reforms (d) Centre-state financial relations Answer: (b)
Q4. Which Commission examined the comprehensive working of the Constitution over its first 50 years? (a) Sarkaria Commission (b) Punchhi Commission (c) National Commission to Review the Working of the Constitution (d) Second Administrative Reforms Commission Answer: (c)
Q5. The L.M. Singhvi Committee's recommendation directly influenced which Constitutional Amendment? (a) 42nd Amendment (b) 73rd Amendment (c) 91st Amendment (d) 97th Amendment Answer: (b)
Q6. Which committee is associated with the phrase "grass without roots" in critiquing the state of rural development administration? (a) Balwant Rai Mehta Committee (b) Ashok Mehta Committee (c) G.V.K. Rao Committee (d) L.M. Singhvi Committee Answer: (c)
Q7. Who headed the Second Administrative Reforms Commission? (a) Morarji Desai (b) K. Hanumanthaiya (c) Veerappa Moily (d) M.N. Venkatachaliah Answer: (c)
Q8. Which committee recommended a fixed tenure for Governors and a time-bound process for Presidential assent to state bills? (a) Sarkaria Commission (b) Punchhi Commission (c) Rajamannar Committee (d) Ashok Mehta Committee Answer: (b)
Chapter 15 Quick Revision Sheet
- Centre-State: Sarkaria (1983-88) → Punchhi (2007-10) — both recommend restraint on Article 356 and reforms to Governor appointments.
- Local Governance: Balwant Rai Mehta (1957, three-tier — adopted) → Ashok Mehta (1977, two-tier — not adopted) → G.V.K. Rao (1985) → L.M. Singhvi (1986, constitutional status — basis for 73rd Amendment).
- Reservation: Kaka Kalelkar (1953, first BC Commission) → Mandal/B.P. Mandal (1979/80, second BC Commission, 27% OBC reservation).
- Anti-Corruption: Santhanam Committee (1962-64) → CVC established (1964).
- Administrative Reform: First ARC (1966-70) → Second ARC (2005-09, Veerappa Moily).