List of Important Commissions in India

A commission is a government-appointed group entrusted with a particular mission or objective. Commissions can vary in duration, ranging from long-term to short-term. Based on the classification, there are two types of Commissions. They are:

1. Permanent Commissions.
2. Ad-hoc Commissions.

 Permanent commissions are established for ongoing purposes, while ad-hoc commissions are established for a singular objective, and their existence concludes once they fulfill their mission and submit their findings to the government.

Commissions and committees hold great significance in the Indian Polity & Constitution section, as numerous questions related to these bodies frequently appear in various Kerala PSC examinations such as the year in which they were established.

List of Permanent Commissions

The table below contains the list of some of the important permanent commissions in the order in which they are established.

Commissions	Year of Establishment	Purpose
Law Commission	1834	Initiate legal reforms aimed at promoting justice in society.
Union Public Service Commission (UPSC)	1926	Conduct examinations for appointment to the services of the Union Government. Conduct examinations for recruiting personnel to various Union Government services. Provide staffing through interviews, advise on recruitment rules, handle disciplinary cases, and offer advice on matters referred by the President of India.
Central Water Commission (CWC)	1945	Oversee water resource management schemes, conservation, and utilization nationwide.
Atomic Energy Commission of India	1948	Plan and implement measures, grounded in sound technical and economic principles, for the advancement of atomic energy.
Election Commission (ECI)	1950	Administer the electoral process across India.
Finance Commission (FCI)	1951	Recommend the distribution of financial resources between the central government and states.
Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC)	1956	Strategize, promote, organize, facilitate, and assist in the establishment and growth of khadi and village industries in rural areas.
University Grants Commission (UGC)	1956	Recognize universities in India, allocate funds, and maintain education standards.
Central Vigilance Commission (CVC)	1964	Process and investigate crimes involving central government officials, corporations, businesses, and local authorities under the central government.
Commission for Agricultural Costs and Prices (CACP)	1965	Stabilize agricultural prices, ensure viable income for farmers, and provide essential agricultural commodities at reasonable prices.
Administrative Reforms Commission (ARC)	1966	Provide recommendations for improving the public administration system in India.
Indo-Bangladesh Joint Rivers Commission (JRC)	1972	Maintain liaison for optimizing the benefits of shared river systems between India and Bangladesh.
Staff Selection Commission (SSC)	1975	Recruit personnel for various positions within Union Government Ministries and Departments.
National Flood Commission (Rashtriya Barh Ayog)	1976	Adopt a coordinated, integrated, and scientific approach to flood control issues in the country.
Commission for Additional Sources of Energy	1981	Formulate and implement policies and programs for the development of new and renewable energy sources.
Telecom Commission	1989	Oversee various aspects of the telecommunications sector.
National Commission for Women (NCW)	1992	Safeguard and advance the interests of women in India.
National Commission for Backward Classes (NCBC)	1993	Consider inclusions and exclusions in the lists of job reservations for municipalities and advise the government on related matters.
National Human Rights Commission (NHRC)	1993	Protect and promote human rights in India.
National Commission on Cattle	2002	Provide recommendations for enhancing cattle conditions in India.
Competition Commission of India (CCI)	2003	Enforce 'The Competition Act, 2002' throughout India.
National Forest Commission	2003	Review and assess the existing forest policy.
National Commission for Scheduled Tribes (NCST)	2004	Protect and improve the conditions of Scheduled Tribes in India.
National Commission for Enterprises in the Unorganized Sector	2004	Address issues faced by enterprises in the unorganized sector.
Central Information Commission (CIC)	2005	Receive and inquire into complaints from aggrieved individuals.
National Statistical Commission (NCS)	2005	Reduce the challenges faced by statistical agencies regarding data collection.

List of Ad-hoc Commissions

The list of some of the significant permanent commissions, listed in the order of their establishment, may be seen in the table below.

Commission	Year of Establishment	Purpose
Radhakrishnan Commission / University Education Commission	1948	Investigate the higher education needs in India. Recommended the fusion of secondary education and higher education through the establishment of the UGC (University Grants Commission)
Kaka Kalelkar Commission	1953	Promote and uplift marginalized sections of society. (First Backward Classes Commission)
States Reorganisation Commission / Fazl Ali Commission	1953	Recommend the reorganization of state boundaries
Mukherjee Commission	1959	Conduct a re-investigation into the circumstances surrounding the death of Subhash Chandra Bose.
Kothari Commission	1964	Formulate comprehensive principles and guidelines for educational development across all levels. Advise the government on establishing a standardized national education pattern in India.
Kapur Commission	1966	Inquire into the conspiracy leading to the assassination of Mahatma Gandhi.
Khosla Commission	1970	Investigate the circumstances surrounding the death of Subhash Chandra Bose in 1945.
Shah Commission	1977	Investigate and document the wrongdoings committed during the period of the Indian Emergency.
Mandal Commission	1979	Identify and classify over 450 backward classes, comprising 52% of the country's population. Recommend a 27% reservation of seats in academic institutions and government positions for these classes.
Sarkaria Commission	1983	Examine and assess the balance of power between the central government and the states, suggesting necessary reforms. Provide recommendations on the appointment of Governors.
Thakkar Commission	1984	Investigate and probe the assassination of Indira Gandhi.
Liberhan Commission	1992	Investigate and document events related to the Babri Masjid demolition.
Jain Commission	1996	Investigate the assassination of former Indian Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi
Nanavati Commission	2000	Conduct an inquiry into the 1984 anti-Sikh riots.
Narendran Commission	2000	Study and produce a report on the representation of Backward Classes in the State's public services.
National Commission to review the working of the Constitution	2000	Suggest changes in electoral laws, and propose the establishment of a national judicial commission for appointing judges, and recommend the election of the Prime Minister by Lok Sabha.
Nanavati-Mehta Commission	2002	Investigate and probe the Godhra train burning incident and the subsequent post-Godhra carnage.
U.C. Banerjee Commission	2002	Inquire into the Godhra incident and the communal riots that occurred in 2002.
Phukan Commission	2003	Conduct an inquiry into corruption allegations stemming from the Tehelka tapes controversy.
Commission for Religious and Linguistic Minorities	2004	Examine a variety of issues related to linguistic and religious minorities in India.
Swaminathan Commission / National Commission on Farmers (NCF)	2004	Develop a sustainable farming system that enhances profitability and competitiveness in agricultural commodities.
Upendra Commission	2004	Investigate and probe the alleged rape and murder of Thangjam Manorama Devi.
Mukherjee Commission	2005	Re-investigate the death of Subhash Chandra Bose.
M.M. Punchhi Commission	2007	Examine the relationship between the central and state governments regarding center-state relations.

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