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Centre–State Relations

Polity notes for UPSC CSE Prelims 2027 · Free

Last reviewed · Written and checked by the Prelims Lab faculty · About 35 min to read

Legislative, administrative and financial relations, the Seventh Schedule, and the Sarkaria and Punchhi commissions. Free notes for UPSC CSE Prelims 2027, written around the traps UPSC sets, with the exact text of the Constitution and every past question on the topic.

Centre–State Relations in short
Legislative relations
India has two levels of government: the Centre (Union) and the States.
Administrative relations
The Centre and States also have to work together in running the country (administration).
Financial relations
Money is the trickiest part. The Centre collects the biggest taxes, but States spend a lot on schools, hospitals and police.

How to read: each section has The idea in brief (start here if the topic is new), Exam notes (the facts UPSC tests) and Ranker’s edge (the fine points). Each section opens with the bare text of the Constitution. Open In depth for the story behind it and past questions.

1. Legislative relations

The bare text
Bare text · Article 245Constitution of India, as on 1 May 2024

245. Extent of laws made by Parliament and by the Legislatures of States.—(1) Subject to the provisions of this Constitution, Parliament may make laws for the whole or any part of the territory of India, and the Legislature of a State may make laws for the whole or any part of the State.

(2) No law made by Parliament shall be deemed to be invalid on the ground that it would have extra-territorial operation.

Bare text · Article 249Constitution of India, as on 1 May 2024

249. Power of Parliament to legislate with respect to a matter in the State List in the national interest.—(1) Notwithstanding anything in the foregoing provisions of this Chapter, if the Council of States has declared by resolution supported by not less than two-thirds of the members present and voting that it is necessary or expedient in the national interest that Parliament should make laws with respect to [goods and services tax provided under article 246A or] any matter enumerated in the State List specified in the resolution, it shall be lawful for Parliament to make laws for the whole or any part of the territory of India with respect to that matter while the resolution remains in force.

(2) A resolution passed under clause (1) shall remain in force for such period not exceeding one year as may be specified therein:

Clauses not relevant here are left out.
Bare text · Article 252Constitution of India, as on 1 May 2024

252. Power of Parliament to legislate for two or more States by consent and adoption of such legislation by any other State.—(1) If it appears to the Legislatures of two or more States to be desirable that any of the matters with respect to which Parliament has no power to make laws for the States except as provided in articles 249 and 250 should be regulated in such States by Parliament by law, and if resolutions to that effect are passed by all the Houses of the Legislatures of those States, it shall be lawful for Parliament to pass an act for regulating that matter accordingly, and any Act so passed shall apply to such States and to any other State by which it is adopted afterwards by resolution passed in that behalf by the House or, where there are two Houses, by each of the Houses of the Legislature of that State.

Clauses not relevant here are left out.
Bare text · Article 253Constitution of India, as on 1 May 2024

253. Legislation for giving effect to international agreements.— Notwithstanding anything in the foregoing provisions of this Chapter, Parliament has power to make any law for the whole or any part of the territory of India for implementing any treaty, agreement or convention with any other country or countries or any decision made at any international conference, association or other body.

Bare text · Article 254Constitution of India, as on 1 May 2024

254. Inconsistency between laws made by Parliament and laws made by the Legislatures of States.—(1) If any provision of a law made by the Legislature of a State is repugnant to any provision of a law made by Parliament which Parliament is competent to enact, or to any provision of an existing law with respect to one of the matters enumerated in the Concurrent List, then, subject to the provisions of clause (2), the law made by Parliament, whether passed before or after the law made by the Legislature of such State, or, as the case may be, the existing law, shall prevail and the law made by the Legislature of the State shall, to the extent of the repugnancy, be void.

(2) Where a law made by the Legislature of a State *** with respect to one of the matters enumerated in the Concurrent List contains any provision repugnant to the provisions of an earlier law made by Parliament or an existing law with respect to that matter, then, the law so made by the Legislature of such State shall, if it has been reserved for the consideration of the President and has received his assent, prevail in that State:

Provided that nothing in this clause shall prevent Parliament from enacting at any time any law with respect to the same matter including a law adding to, amending, varying or repealing the law so made by the Legislature of the State.

Reading the text

  • Article 249 is triggered only by the Rajya Sabha, the House of the States, by a two-thirds vote “in the national interest”. The Lok Sabha has no role. The resolution lasts up to one year at a time, and the law lapses six months after it ends.
  • Article 252 starts with the States: two or more State legislatures ask Parliament to legislate on a State subject. Other States can adopt the law later. The Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974 came this way.
  • Article 253 lets Parliament legislate on any subject, even a State one, to implement a treaty. UPSC’s 2013 question tests this: no State consent is needed.
  • Article 254(2) is the exception States use: a State law on a Concurrent subject that conflicts with a central law can still prevail in that State if it was reserved for, and received, the President’s assent. Parliament can override it later.
The idea in brief

India has two levels of government: the Centre (Union) and the States. To avoid confusion, the Constitution divides subjects into three lists in the Seventh Schedule:

Exam notes
Territorial extent (Art 245)Parliament legislates for the whole or any part of India, and its laws can have extra-territorial effect. State laws apply within the State
Seventh Schedule (Art 246)Union List (originally 97 subjects), State List (66), Concurrent List (47); numbers have changed through amendments. On the Concurrent List, a Central law prevails over a State law in conflict (Art 254), unless the State law got the President’s assent
Residuary powers (Art 248)With Parliament (Canadian model; in the USA they lie with the states). Courts decide whether a matter is residuary
GST (Art 246A)Both Parliament and State legislatures can make GST laws (101st Amendment, 2016)
In detail, list check: Union List: defence, foreign affairs, railways, banking, stock exchanges, Post Office Savings Bank, inter-State trade, inter-State migration and quarantine, regulation of labour and safety in mines and oilfields, corporation tax (PYQ 2004, 2006, 2024). State List: police, public order, public health and sanitation, agriculture, fisheries, local government, betting. Concurrent List: criminal law, education, forests, marriage and divorce, electricity, trade unions, economic and social planning.
ArticleWhen Parliament can make laws on a State List subject
249Rajya Sabha resolution (two-thirds present and voting) in the national interest; valid one year, renewable (PYQ 2016)
250During a National Emergency; law lapses six months after the Emergency ends
252When two or more States pass resolutions asking for it; applies only to those States and others that adopt it (e.g., Wild Life Act 1972, Water Act 1974)
253To implement international treaties and agreements, without any State’s consent (PYQ 2000, 2013)
356During President’s Rule in a State
Prelims trap: Article 249 is a Rajya Sabha power; Article 253 needs no State consent at all; Article 252 binds only the consenting States.
Doctrine / ruleMeaning
Pith and substanceA law’s true character decides which list it falls in; incidental overlap is fine
Colourable legislationWhat cannot be done directly cannot be done indirectly
Territorial nexusA State law can affect persons outside if there is a sufficient connection
Article 249 / 250 / 252 / 253Rajya Sabha resolution (1 year, renewable) / National Emergency / two or more States’ request / treaties
Moved to Concurrent List in 1976Education, forests, weights and measures, protection of wild animals and birds, administration of justice
ProvisionDetails
Article 254(2) provisoParliament can later amend or repeal a State law that got the President’s assent
Article 200 / 201Governor may reserve a State bill for the President; the President may assent, withhold, or (if not a Money Bill) ask the State to reconsider
Article 304(b)State bills imposing reasonable restrictions on trade need the President’s previous sanction
Article 252 lawsPrize Competitions Act (1955), Wild Life (Protection) Act (1972), Water Act (1974), Urban Land Ceiling Act (1976), Transplantation of Human Organs Act (1994)
Article 253 lawsGeneva Conventions Act (1960), Environment (Protection) Act (1986)
Prelims trap: A law under Article 252 for consenting States can be amended or repealed only by Parliament, not by those States.
How Parliament can legislate on a State List subject
  1. National interest (Art 249)Rajya Sabha resolution, two-thirds present and voting; one year at a time
  2. National Emergency (Art 250)Laws lapse six months after the emergency ends
  3. States ask (Art 252)Two or more State legislatures pass resolutions; law applies to them and States that adopt it later
  4. Treaties (Art 253)To implement international agreements; no State consent needed
  5. President’s Rule (Art 356)Parliament legislates for the State or delegates to the President
Remember itFive doors into the State List: 249 Rajya Sabha says so, 250 Emergency, 252 States ask, 253 treaty, 356 President’s Rule. Residuary power sits with Parliament (Canada model). On a Concurrent clash, the Centre wins unless the State law had the President’s assent (254(2)).
Beyond the basics · ranker’s edge
PointDepth
Article 254(2)A State law on a Concurrent subject that got the President’s assent prevails in that State, but Parliament can later override it by a fresh law
Doctrine casesPith and substance: Prafulla Kumar Mukherjee (Privy Council, 1947), F.N. Balsara (1951). Colourable legislation: K.C. Gajapati Narayan Deo (1953). Territorial nexus: RMDC (1957)
Article 246(4)Parliament can legislate on any subject, State List included, for a Union Territory
In depth: the story behind it and how UPSC asks it

The story behind it

The three Lists came almost unchanged from the Government of India Act, 1935. The biggest change since 1950 came in the 42nd Amendment (1976), which moved five subjects from the State List to the Concurrent List: education, forests, weights and measures, protection of wild animals and birds, and administration of justice (other than the Supreme Court and High Courts). That is why education today is a shared subject.

How UPSC asks it

  1. UPSC 2024 Which one of the following statements is correct as per the Constitution of India?
    1. Inter-State trade and commerce is a State subject under the State List.
    2. Inter-State migration is a State subject under the State List.
    3. Inter-State quarantine is a Union subject under the Union List.
    4. Corporation tax is a State subject under the State List.
    Show answer(c) Inter-State quarantine is a Union subject under the Union List. Inter-State migration and quarantine (Entry 81), inter-State trade (Entry 42) and corporation tax (Entry 85) are all in the Union List.
  2. UPSC 2016 The Parliament of India acquires the power to legislate on any item in the State List in the national interest if a resolution to that effect is passed by the:
    1. Lok Sabha by a simple majority of its total membership
    2. Lok Sabha by a majority of not less than two-thirds of its total membership
    3. Rajya Sabha by a simple majority of its total membership
    4. Rajya Sabha by a majority of not less than two-thirds of its members present and voting
    Show answer(d) Rajya Sabha by a majority of not less than two-thirds of its members present and voting. Article 249.
  3. UPSC 2013 The Parliament can make any law for whole or any part of India for implementing International treaties:
    1. with the consent of all the States
    2. with the consent of the majority of States
    3. with the consent of the States concerned
    4. without the consent of any State
    Show answer(d) without the consent of any State. Article 253. (The same question was also asked in 2000.)
  4. UPSC 2006 Which one of the following subjects is under the Union List in the Seventh Schedule of the Constitution of India?
    1. Regulation of labour and safety in mines and oilfields
    2. Agriculture
    3. Fisheries
    4. Public Health
    Show answer(a) Regulation of labour and safety in mines and oilfields. Union List Entry 55. Agriculture, fisheries and public health are State subjects.
  5. UPSC 2004 With reference to the Constitution of India, which one of the following pairs is not correctly matched?
    1. Forests : Concurrent List
    2. Stock Exchange : Concurrent List
    3. Post Office Savings Bank : Union List
    4. Public Health : State List
    Show answer(b) Stock Exchange : Concurrent List. Stock exchanges and futures markets are in the Union List (Entry 90).

2. Administrative relations

The bare text
Bare text · Article 256Constitution of India, as on 1 May 2024

256. Obligation of States and the Union.—The executive power of every State shall be so exercised as to ensure compliance with the laws made by Parliament and any existing laws which apply in that State, and the executive power of the Union shall extend to the giving of such directions to a State as may appear to the Government of India to be necessary for that purpose:

Bare text · Article 257Constitution of India, as on 1 May 2024

257. Control of the Union over States in certain cases.—(1) The executive power of every State shall be so exercised as not to impede or prejudice the exercise of the executive power of the Union, and the executive power of the Union shall extend to the giving of such directions to a State as may appear to the Government of India to be necessary for that purpose.

Clauses not relevant here are left out.
Bare text · Article 263Constitution of India, as on 1 May 2024

263. Provisions with respect to an inter-State Council.—If at any time it appears to the President that the public interests would be served by the establishment of a Council charged with the duty of—

(a) inquiring into and advising upon disputes which may have arisen between States;

(b) investigating and discussing subjects in which some or all of the States, or the Union and one or more of the States, have a common interest; or

(c) making recommendations upon any such subject and, in particular, recommendations for the better co-ordination of policy and action with respect to that subject, it shall be lawful for the President by order to establish such a Council, and to define the nature of the duties to be performed by it and its organisation and procedure.

Reading the text

  • Article 256 is the article UPSC asked about in 2004: a State’s executive power must be used to ensure compliance with Union laws, and the Union can give directions for this.
  • Article 257(1) adds a second duty: a State must not impede the Union’s executive power.
  • Article 263 begins “If at any time it appears to the President”: the Inter-State Council is not a permanent body created by the Constitution. The President may set one up. It was set up only in 1990, on the Sarkaria Commission’s advice.
The idea in brief

The Centre and States also have to work together in running the country (administration).

ExampleWhen Karnataka and Tamil Nadu disagreed over Cauvery water, a tribunal was set up to decide the shares.
Exam notes
ArticleProvision
256State executive power must ensure compliance with Union laws; Centre may give directions
257State executive power must not impede or prejudice the Union’s executive power; Centre may direct on communications, railways (PYQ 2004)
258 / 258APresident may entrust Union functions to a State with its consent; a Governor may entrust State functions to the Centre
261Full faith and credit to public acts, records and judicial proceedings across India
262Parliament can provide for adjudication of inter-State river water disputes and bar courts (Inter-State River Water Disputes Act, 1956)
263Inter-State Council by the President; set up in 1990 on Sarkaria’s advice; chaired by the PM (PYQ 2025)
312All-India Services (IAS, IPS, IFoS) common to Centre and States
355Union’s duty to protect every State against external aggression and internal disturbance
365If a State fails to follow Union directions, the President may hold that its constitutional machinery has failed
In detail: Zonal Councils (five) are statutory bodies under the States Reorganisation Act, 1956; the North Eastern Council is statutory (1971); the National Security Council (1998) is executive. Only the Inter-State Council comes from the Constitution (PYQ 2013, 2025).
ArticleDetails
258(2) / 258AParliament may confer powers on State authorities; a Governor may entrust State functions to the Centre with its consent (7th Amendment, 1956)
260Centre may take up jurisdiction over areas outside India by agreement
Water tribunalsInter-State River Water Disputes Act, 1956. Tribunals for Krishna, Godavari, Narmada, Ravi-Beas, Cauvery, Vansadhara, Mahadayi, Mahanadi
All-India ServicesIAS, IPS, IFoS; All India Services Act, 1951. Officers serve the State cadre and can be deputed to the Centre
Prelims trap: The Indian Forest Service (1966) is an All-India Service; the Indian Foreign Service is not.
Remember it256 comply, 257 don’t obstruct, 262 rivers, 263 Inter-State Council, 312 All-India Services, 355 protect, 365 failure to comply. Only the Inter-State Council comes from the Constitution; Zonal Councils and NEC are statutory.
Beyond the basics · ranker’s edge
PointDepth
Inter-State CouncilSet up May 1990 by Presidential order; Standing Committee chaired by the Home Minister; meets rarely (last full meeting 2016)
Zonal CouncilsFive, statutory (SRA 1956), chaired by the Union Home Minister. North Eastern Council (1971, statutory); Home Minister is its chairman since 2018
Water disputesArticle 262(2) lets Parliament bar courts, yet the Supreme Court decided Cauvery appeals (2018) under Article 136 against tribunal awards made into decrees
AIS deputation2022 proposal to amend IAS cadre rules to allow deputation without State consent drew opposition from several States
Prelims trap: Zonal Councils and NEC are statutory; NSC and NITI Aayog are executive. (PYQ 2013, 2025)
In depth: the story behind it and how UPSC asks it

The story behind it

The forums for Centre–State co-ordination have different legal bases, a favourite matching question (UPSC 2025). The Inter-State Council comes from the Constitution (Article 263), but by Presidential order. Zonal Councils are statutory, created by the States Reorganisation Act, 1956. NITI Aayog and the National Security Council were set up by executive resolution. The GST Council is constitutional (Article 279A).

How UPSC asks it

  1. UPSC 2025 With reference to India, consider the following:
    1. The Inter-State Council
    2. The National Security Council
    3. Zonal Councils.
    How many of the above were established as per the provisions of the Constitution of India?
    1. Only one
    2. Only two
    3. All the three
    4. None
    Show answer(a) Only one. Only the Inter-State Council (Article 263). The NSC is executive (1998); Zonal Councils are statutory (1956).
  2. UPSC 2004 Which one of the following Articles of the Constitution of India says that the executive power of every State shall be so exercised as not to impede or prejudice the exercise of the executive power of the Union?
    1. Article 257
    2. Article 258
    3. Article 355
    4. Article 358
    Show answer(a) Article 257. Article 257(1).

3. Financial relations

The bare text
Bare text · Article 270Constitution of India, as on 1 May 2024

[270. Taxes levied and distributed between the Union and the States.—(1) All taxes and duties referred to in the Union List, except the duties and taxes referred to in [articles 268, 269 and 269A], respectively, surcharge on taxes and duties referred to in article 271 and any cess levied for specific purposes under any law made by Parliament shall be levied and collected by the Government of India and shall be distributed between the Union and the States in the manner provided in clause (2).

Clauses not relevant here are left out.
Amended by: 80th (2000), 88th (2003) Amendments
Bare text · Article 280Constitution of India, as on 1 May 2024

280. Finance Commission.—(1) The President shall, within two years from the commencement of this Constitution and thereafter at the expiration of every fifth year or at such earlier time as the President considers necessary, by order constitute a Finance Commission which shall consist of a Chairman and four other members to be appointed by the President.

(3) It shall be the duty of the Commission to make recommendations to the President as to—

(a) the distribution between the Union and the States of the net proceeds of taxes which are to be, or may be, divided between them under this Chapter and the allocation between the States of the respective shares of such proceeds;

(b) the principles which should govern the grants-in-aid of the revenues of the States out of the Consolidated Fund of India;

Clauses not relevant here are left out.
Amended by: 73rd (1992), 74th (1992) Amendments

Reading the text

  • Article 270, rewritten by the 80th Amendment (2000), puts all Union taxes into one divisible pool shared with the States. Cesses and surcharges (Article 271) are left out of the pool, which is why States object to their growing share of central revenue.
  • Article 280 fixes the Finance Commission: every five years, a Chairman and four members, appointed by the President. It recommends both vertical sharing (Union versus States) and horizontal sharing (among States).
The idea in brief

Money is the trickiest part. The Centre collects the biggest taxes, but States spend a lot on schools, hospitals and police. So money must be shared.

Exam notes
ArticleWho levies, collects and keeps
268Levied by Centre, collected and kept by States: stamp duties on bills of exchange, etc. (PYQ 2004)
269Levied and collected by Centre, assigned to States: taxes on inter-State sale/consignment of goods (other than GST)
269AGST on inter-State supply (IGST): levied and collected by Centre, apportioned with States
270All Central taxes (except surcharges, cesses and the above) go into a divisible pool shared with States on Finance Commission advice (80th Amendment, 2000)
271Surcharges on Central taxes: kept fully by the Centre
275 / 282275: statutory grants charged on the Consolidated Fund, on Finance Commission advice. 282: discretionary grants by Centre or States for any public purpose
280Finance Commission every five years by the President
293States borrow within India only; need Centre’s consent if they owe it money
In detail: Before GST, the sales tax you paid on toothpaste was imposed and collected by the State (PYQ 2014). The 15th Finance Commission set States’ share at 41% of the divisible pool (PYQ 2025).
Finance CommissionChair (period) / States’ share
1stK.C. Neogy (1951)
13thVijay Kelkar (2010–15)
14thY.V. Reddy (2015–20): 42%
15thN.K. Singh (2020–26): 41%
16thArvind Panagariya (2026–31): 41% (unchanged)
GST CouncilUnion Finance Minister chairs; decisions by three-fourths weighted vote (Centre 1/3, States 2/3); its recommendations are persuasive (Mohit Minerals, 2022)
Article 276Professions tax capped at ₹2,500 a year
Article 293States borrow only within India; need Centre’s consent if they owe it money
PointDetails
GST Council (279A)Union Finance Minister (chair), Union Minister of State for Finance, and the Finance Ministers of all States and UTs with legislatures. Recommends rates, exemptions, thresholds
GST compensationStates were compensated for revenue loss for five years (till June 2022) through a cess
Taxes outside GSTPetroleum crude, diesel, petrol, natural gas, ATF (GST to apply only when the Council decides); alcohol for human consumption; stamp duty; electricity duty
Cess and surchargeKept wholly by the Centre (Art 270, 271); their rising share shrinks the divisible pool, a frequent State complaint
FRBM Act, 2003Fiscal deficit targets for the Centre; States have their own fiscal responsibility laws
Prelims trap: GST Council decisions need three-fourths of weighted votes (Centre one-third, States two-thirds), so neither side can push a decision alone.
Remember itTax Articles as levy / collect / keep: 268 Centre / State / State; 269 Centre / Centre / State; 270 shared pool; 271 surcharge stays with the Centre. Finance Commission share: 42 (14th) → 41 (15th) → 41 (16th).
Beyond the basics · ranker’s edge
PointDepth
15th FC criteriaIncome distance 45%, population (2011) 15%, area 15%, forest and ecology 10%, demographic performance 12.5%, tax effort 2.5%
16th FC (tabled 1 Feb 2026)Kept States’ share at 41%. New horizontal weights: income distance 42.5%, population (2011) 17.5%, demographic performance 10%, area 10%, forest 10%, contribution to GDP 10% (new); tax effort dropped. Revenue-deficit, sector-specific and State-specific grants discontinued; local body grants split 80% basic, 20% performance
GST Council votingThree-fourths of weighted votes present: Centre one-third, all States together two-thirds; quorum one-half of members
BorrowingArticle 293(3): consent needed while a State owes the Centre. Kerala v. Union (2024): questions on net borrowing ceilings referred to a Constitution Bench
Grants275(1) statutory grants include special grants for Scheduled Tribes’ welfare and Scheduled Areas; 282 discretionary grants fund most Centrally Sponsored Schemes
Prelims trap: Professions tax ceiling ₹2,500 a year (Art 276). Article 268 duties are levied by the Centre but collected and kept by States. (PYQ 2004)
In depth: the story behind it and how UPSC asks it

The story behind it

India’s States raise less revenue than they spend, while the Centre raises more. Economists call this “vertical fiscal imbalance”. The Finance Commission is the Constitution’s machinery for closing it. The 15th Commission (N.K. Singh) set the States’ share of the divisible pool at 41%. The 16th Commission (Arvind Panagariya), covering 2026–31, kept it at 41% in its report tabled on 1 February 2026.

Before GST (2017), a State levied sales tax on goods sold within it, which is why UPSC’s 2014 answer on the toothpaste tax was “a State tax”. Today that is a GST shared between the Union and the States.

How UPSC asks it

  1. UPSC 2014 The sales tax you pay while purchasing a toothpaste is a:
    1. tax imposed by the Central Government
    2. tax imposed by the Central Government but collected by the State Government
    3. tax imposed by the State Government but collected by the Central Government
    4. tax imposed and collected by the State Government
    Show answer(d) tax imposed and collected by the State Government. Before GST, sales tax (VAT) on intra-State sales was a State tax. It is now subsumed in GST.

4. Commissions on Centre-State relations

The idea in brief

Several commissions studied how to improve Centre-State relations:

Exam notes
BodyKey recommendation
Administrative Reforms Commission (1966)Study team on Centre-State relations; Inter-State Council under Article 263; Governors with experience, non-partisan
Rajamannar Committee (1969)Set up by Tamil Nadu; more State autonomy, omit Articles 356, 357, 365; abolish All-India Services
Anandpur Sahib Resolution (1973)Akali Dal: Centre should keep only defence, foreign affairs, communications and currency
Sarkaria Commission (1983–88)Strong Centre needed; Inter-State Council; Article 356 sparingly; Governor an eminent person from outside the State, not active in politics recently (PYQ 2019)
Punchhi Commission (2007–10)Fixed five-year tenure for Governors, removal by State legislature resolution; “localised emergency”
BodyDetails
NCRWC (2000–02)M.N. Venkatachaliah; also reviewed Centre-State relations
West Bengal Memorandum (1977)More fiscal autonomy and abolition of Articles 356, 357, 360
Tamil Nadu committee (2025)High-level committee under Justice Kurian Joseph on State autonomy and Centre-State relations
Remember itState asked, Centre asked: Rajamannar (1969) was a Tamil Nadu committee; Sarkaria (1983) and Punchhi (2007) were the Centre’s. Sarkaria = Article 356 sparingly + Inter-State Council; Punchhi = fixed term for Governors, localised emergency.
Beyond the basics · ranker’s edge
BodyDepth
West Bengal Memorandum (1977)Wanted “federal” in place of “union”, Article 356/357/360 deleted, 75% of Central revenue to States
SarkariaJustice R.S. Sarkaria; 247 recommendations; Governor from outside the State, consulted with the CM; no unilateral Article 356
PunchhiJustice M.M. Punchhi; Governor removable by State legislature resolution; “localised emergency” under 355 and 356
Prelims trap: Rajamannar was appointed by a State (Tamil Nadu), not the Centre. (PYQ 2019: Sarkaria on Governors)
In depth: the story behind it and how UPSC asks it

The story behind it

Every major review of Centre–State relations was triggered by friction. Tamil Nadu set up the Rajamannar Committee (1969) after the DMK came to power. The Akali Dal’s Anandpur Sahib Resolution (1973) and West Bengal’s memorandum (1977) demanded more State autonomy. The Union responded with the Sarkaria Commission (1983–88). Its main advice: keep a strong Centre, use Article 356 sparingly, appoint Governors from outside the State who are not active politicians, and set up an Inter-State Council. The Punchhi Commission (2007–10) revisited these after decades of coalition politics.

How UPSC asks it

  1. UPSC 2019 Which one of the following suggested that the Governor should be an eminent person from outside the State and should be a detached figure without intense political links or should not have taken part in politics in the recent past?
    1. First Administrative Reforms Commission (1966)
    2. Rajamannar Committee (1969)
    3. Sarkaria Commission (1983)
    4. National Commission to Review the Working of the Constitution (2000)
    Show answer(c) Sarkaria Commission (1983). The Sarkaria Commission.

5. Quick revision and traps

Exam notes
248Residuary powers: Parliament
249 / 250 / 252 / 253Rajya Sabha resolution / Emergency / two States ask / treaties
263Inter-State Council, 1990
271Surcharges are not shared
Beyond the basics · ranker’s edge
PYQ patternHow to prepare
Which list is X in?Practise 30 tricky entries (stock exchange, betting, migration, mines, public health)
Articles 249–253One condition per Article
Tax Articles 268–271Levy / collect / keep table