Question 1 from UPSC CSE 2019 - Polity & Governance

Question

Which one of the following suggested that the Governor should be an immediate 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?

Accepted Answer

Correct Option: C. Sarkaria Commission (1983)

Strategy: Focus on the commission associated with federal relations and the post of Governor. The phrase 'Governor should be from outside the State and a detached figure' directly links to the Sarkaria Commission, which is best known for extensive recommendations on Centre-State relations and specifically addressed the profile of Governors. Cross-checking with other options, none are primarily known for this guideline, which points to option C.

Key Info: The Sarkaria Commission (1983), officially known as the Commission on Centre-State Relations, was constituted to examine and review the working of existing arrangements between the Union and States, particularly regarding powers, functions, and relations. A significant recommendation concerned the appointment of Governors. The Commission advised that the Governor should be an eminent person from outside the state, not involved in state politics, and preferably not engaged in active politics recently. The idea was to ensure the impartiality and neutrality of the office. The Sarkaria Commission also recommended that the state Chief Minister be consulted before appointment, and that the Governor should not be a member of the ruling party. The First Administrative Reforms Commission (1966) was focused on administrative reforms, not specifically on the Governor's post. The Rajamannar Committee (1969) was a Tamil Nadu state committee reviewing Centre-State relations but did not lay down universal guidelines for the Governor's post. The National Commission to Review the Working of the Constitution (NCRWC, 2000) reviewed broader constitutional mechanisms but the key recommendations on the Governor's selection profile trace back to the Sarkaria Commission. The post of Governor is a constitutional post under Articles 153-162 of the Indian Constitution; the selection and powers are central to federal principles in India.

Answer

Option A: First Administrative Reforms Commission (1966)

Answer

Option B: Rajamannar Committee (1969)

Answer

Option D: National Commission to Review the Working of the Constitution (2000)