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:
- Permanent Commissions.
- 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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