The Sarkaria Commission on Centre-State relations was set up in:

The Sarkaria Commission was set up by the Central Government in June 1983 to examine and review the working of the existing arrangements between the Union and the states in all spheres.

Members:

Justice R.S. Sarkaria, a retired judge of the Supreme Court, was the chairman.

• Sivaraman and S.R. Sen were the other members.

Background:

In the early 1980s, several states ruled by opposition parties demanded more autonomy and complained about the misuse of the office of Governor and Article 356.

Report:

• The Commission submitted its report in 1988.
• It made 247 recommendations.
• It did not favour any major structural changes and said that a strong Centre was necessary for the unity of the country.

Important recommendations:

• A permanent Inter-State Council should be set up under Article 263.
• Article 356 should be used very sparingly, only as a last resort.
• All-India services should be strengthened, and more such services should be created.
• Residuary powers of taxation should continue to remain with Parliament.
• The Centre should consult the states before making laws on Concurrent List subjects.
• A Governor should be an eminent person from outside the state and not a politician from the ruling party at the Centre.
• Zonal Councils should be revived.

Implementation:

• The Inter-State Council was set up in 1990 on the basis of its recommendation.
• Many other recommendations were not fully implemented.

Judicial use:

The Supreme Court relied on the Sarkaria Commission's recommendations in the S.R. Bommai case (1994).

Later commission:

The Punchhi Commission (2007) was set up to review Centre-State relations again in the changed context.

Why not the other options?

• ✗1969 is the year of the Rajamannar Committee.
• ✗1977 and 1990 do not match; 1990 is when the Inter-State Council was set up.