Which commission suggested creating a Permanent Secretariat for the Inter-State Council to strengthen cooperation between the Centre and the States?
Show answer & explanation
Correct answer: B
Explanation
The correct answer is option 2 i.e. Sarkaria Commission.
The Sarkaria Commission is the one that recommended creating a Permanent Secretariat for the Inter-State Council. This commission, set up in 1983, focused on Centre-State relations and strongly pushed for a structured mechanism to ensure smoother coordination between governments. Its suggestion aimed to make the Inter-State Council more effective, consistent, and policy-oriented.
The Punchhi Commission (2007) also reviewed Centre-State ties but dealt more with modern federal issues like internal security and emergency powers. The Mandal Commission (1979) worked on identifying OBCs and recommending reservations, so it has nothing to do with federal cooperation. The Shah Commission mainly investigated excesses during the Emergency period (1975-77). So, only the Sarkaria Commission directly addressed strengthening the Inter-State Council’s functioning.