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Which of the following statements are correct regarding the Punchhi Commission’s recommendations?
(i) Governors should be given a fixed tenure of five years, and their removal should not be at the Centre’s discretion.
(ii) The Inter-State Council should have a continuing auditing role in matters of concurrent jurisdiction.
(iii) The All-India Services should be abolished to enhance state autonomy.

AOnly (i) and (ii)

BOnly (ii) and (iii)

COnly (i) and (iii)

DAll of the above (i, ii, and iii)

Answer:

A. Only (i) and (ii)

Read Explanation:

Punchhi Commission on Centre-State Relations

  • The Punchhi Commission was constituted by the Government of India in 2007 to examine and review the working of the existing arrangements between the Union and States, and recommend changes and measures to meet the challenges of good governance and strengthen the Centre-State relations. It was chaired by Justice Madan Mohan Punchhi, former Chief Justice of India.
  • The Commission submitted its report in 2010, providing comprehensive recommendations across various aspects of Union-State relations.

Key Recommendations of the Punchhi Commission:

  • Regarding Governors:
    • The Commission recommended that the Governor should have a fixed tenure of five years.
    • It suggested that the process of removing the Governor should not be left to the discretion of the Centre (President's pleasure). Instead, a process similar to the impeachment of a judge of the Supreme Court should be followed, or a resolution by the State Legislature should be passed for their removal. This proposal aimed to ensure security of tenure and prevent arbitrary removals.
    • This recommendation addresses the long-standing debate over the discretionary powers and political implications of the Governor's office, particularly under Article 156 of the Constitution.
  • Regarding the Inter-State Council:
    • The Commission strongly advocated for a more active and effective role for the Inter-State Council (ISC).
    • It recommended that the ISC should be empowered to function as a robust mechanism for resolving Centre-State disputes and for dialogue on policy issues.
    • A significant suggestion was that the ISC should have a continuing auditing role in matters falling under the Concurrent List of the Seventh Schedule. This would involve scrutinizing policies, legislation, and implementation strategies concerning concurrent subjects, ensuring better coordination and cooperation between the Union and states.
    • The Inter-State Council is established under Article 263 of the Indian Constitution.
  • Regarding All-India Services:
    • Contrary to the statement, the Punchhi Commission did not recommend the abolition of All-India Services (AIS).
    • Instead, the Commission supported the continuation of All-India Services (like IAS, IPS, IFS) as they are crucial for maintaining national unity and administrative efficiency.
    • It even suggested the possibility of creating new All-India Services in areas such as health, education, and judicial services to strengthen the all-India character of the administration.
    • All-India Services are constituted under Article 312 of the Constitution, which empowers Parliament to create such services by law.

Related Questions:

India has been described by the Constitution as

Choose the correct statement(s) about the Anandpur Sahib Resolution (1973):

  1. It sought to limit the Centre’s powers to defence, foreign affairs, communications, and currency.

  2. It demanded equal representation of all states in the Rajya Sabha.

  3. It insisted that the Constitution be made truly federal.

Consider the following statements regarding Administrative Relations.

(i) The President can establish an Inter-State Council to discuss matters of common interest between the Centre and states.
(ii) The mutual delegation of executive functions can occur only through an agreement between the Centre and states.
(iii) The Centre’s directions to states for the welfare of Scheduled Tribes are enforceable under Article 365.

Consider the following statements:

  1. The SPSC is consulted on claims for pensions due to injuries sustained in service.

  2. The first Commissioner of the Travancore PSC was G.D. Nokes.

  3. The SPSC’s selection does not confer any right to a post upon a candidate.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Choose the correct statement(s) regarding the distribution of legislative subjects under the Indian Constitution.

(i) The Union List currently contains 98 subjects, while the State List contains 59 subjects.
(ii) The Concurrent List allows both the Parliament and state legislatures to make laws, but in case of a conflict, the state law prevails if it has received the President’s assent.
(iii) The Parliament has exclusive power to legislate on matters in the State List for Union Territories.