BharatNotes What is the Punchhi Commission?
The Punchhi Commission was the second Commission on Centre-State Relations, constituted by the Government of India on 27 April 2007 under the chairmanship of Justice Madan Mohan Punchhi, a former Chief Justice of India. It was tasked with reviewing the working of the existing arrangements between the Union and the States in light of social, economic and political developments since the Sarkaria Commission (constituted 1983, reported 1988). The Commission submitted its report in March 2010, comprising seven volumes.
Why it was set up
By the mid-2000s, the rise of coalition governments, regional parties, economic liberalisation and recurring friction over the Governor's office and President's Rule made a fresh review necessary. The Commission's remit covered legislative, administrative and financial relations, the role of Governors, emergency provisions, deployment of central forces, river-water disputes, and mechanisms for inter-governmental coordination such as the Inter-State Council.
Key recommendations
| Area | Recommendation |
|---|---|
| Governor — selection | Appointment through a consultative committee; the Chief Minister should be consulted; nominee should be apolitical for a period before appointment |
| Governor — tenure & removal | Fixed five-year tenure; removal only by a resolution of the State legislature, not at the Centre's pleasure |
| Article 356 (President's Rule) | "Localised emergency" — the Centre should act only in the specific troubled area rather than dissolve the whole State; such intervention limited to about three months |
| Article 355 | Wider reading of the Union's duty to protect States, with safeguards against misuse |
| Communal violence | Central forces could be deployed for a short period (about a week) during serious communal violence, with State consent taken on a post-facto basis |
| Treaty-making | The Union's treaty-making power should be regulated where it affects matters on the State List, with greater State involvement |
| Inter-State Council | Strengthen Article 263 to make the Inter-State Council a credible forum; consult States on Concurrent List legislation |
Significance
The Commission's central message was that cooperative federalism is essential to India's unity and development. Its recommendations on the Governor's appointment and removal, and on curbing the misuse of Article 356, echoed and built upon earlier reformist thinking (Sarkaria Commission and the S.R. Bommai v. Union of India, 1994 judgment). They are frequently cited in current debates on Governor-State government friction.
Current status (as of June 2026)
The Punchhi Commission's recommendations have not been formally adopted by way of constitutional amendment or comprehensive legislation; they remain advisory. The report continues to inform parliamentary and policy discussion on federalism, the Governor's role, and the Inter-State Council.
UPSC angle
This is a foundation concept for GS2 — Centre-State relations and federalism. Expect Prelims factual recall (chairman, year constituted, year of report, predecessor commission) and Mains analytical use on the Governor's office, Article 356 misuse, and cooperative federalism. Foundation concept — no direct standalone PYQ on the Commission itself; it underpins the recurring federalism and Governor question family. Do not confuse it with the Sarkaria Commission.
