{"id":125760,"date":"2026-09-23T17:06:05","date_gmt":"2026-09-23T11:36:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/?p=125760"},"modified":"2026-09-23T17:06:05","modified_gmt":"2026-09-23T11:36:05","slug":"rajamannar-committee","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/rajamannar-committee\/","title":{"rendered":"Rajamannar Committee, Centre-State Relations, Recommendations"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The <\/span><b>Rajamannar Committee<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> was an important initiative related to <\/span><b>Centre-State relations and Indian federalism<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. Set up by the <\/span><b>Tamil Nadu Government in 1969<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, the committee examined the distribution of powers, financial resources and administrative responsibilities between the Centre and the States. Its recommendations focused on <\/span><b>greater state autonomy<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and a more balanced federal structure.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><b>What is the Rajamannar Committee?<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The <\/span><b>Rajamannar Committee<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> was a three-member committee appointed by the <\/span><b>DMK government of Tamil Nadu in 1969<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> to examine <\/span><b>Centre-State relations<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and suggest measures to give greater autonomy to the states. It was headed by <\/span><b>Dr. P. V. Rajamannar<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, former Chief Justice of the Madras High Court, with <\/span><b>A. Lakshmanaswami Mudaliar<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and <\/span><b>P. Chandra Reddy<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> as its members.<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The committee was constituted on <\/span><b>22 September 1969<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> to examine the distribution of <\/span><b>powers and resources between the Centre and the States<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It was the <\/span><b>first state-level initiative<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> to undertake a detailed review of Centre-State relations under the Indian Constitution.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The committee examined constitutional, administrative and financial arrangements that, in its view, had increased the <\/span><b>centralisation of power<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It submitted its report to the <\/span><b>Tamil Nadu Government in 1971<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, recommending several changes to strengthen <\/span><b>state autonomy and the federal structure<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The committee particularly focused on the <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/7th-schedule-of-indian-constitution\/\" target=\"_blank\"><b>Seventh Schedule<\/b><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, financial relations, emergency provisions, All-India Services and the role of institutions such as the <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/planning-commission-of-india\/\" target=\"_blank\"><b>Planning Commission<\/b><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><b>Rajamannar Committee Background<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Rajamannar Committee was set up against the background of growing concerns in Tamil Nadu about the <\/span><b>increasing powers of the Union government<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and the limited autonomy available to states.<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The committee believed that several <\/span><b>constitutional provisions gave the Centre extensive powers<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, which could affect the autonomy of elected state governments.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It identified the <\/span><b>centralisation of financial resources<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> as another concern, as states depended heavily on the Centre for financial assistance.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The committee also examined the role of the <\/span><b>Planning Commission<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, which had a major role in central planning and the allocation of resources to states.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It argued that the existing distribution of legislative powers under the <\/span><b>Union, State and Concurrent Lists<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> needed to be reconsidered to create a better federal balance.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The committee also examined the use of provisions such as <\/span><b>Articles 356, 357 and 365<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, which could increase Union control over state governments.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Its objective was to suggest <\/span><b>constitutional and administrative changes that would provide greater autonomy to states<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> while maintaining the federal structure.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><b>Key Recommendations of the Rajamannar Committee<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The <\/span><b>Rajamannar Committee recommendations<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> focused on reducing excessive centralisation and strengthening the powers of state governments. Some of its major recommendations were:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Strengthening the Inter-State Council:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> The committee recommended the immediate establishment of a strong <\/span><b>Inter-State Council under Article 263<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> to promote consultation and resolve differences between the Centre and States.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Making the <\/b><a href=\"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/upsc-exam\/finance-commission\/\" target=\"_blank\"><b>Finance Commission<\/b><\/a><b> permanent:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> It suggested making the <\/span><b>Finance Commission a permanent body<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> to provide a more stable mechanism for Centre-State financial relations.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Revising the Seventh Schedule:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> The committee called for a <\/span><b>re-examination and redistribution of subjects<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> in the Union, State and Concurrent Lists to give states greater legislative powers.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Transfer of subjects to the State List:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> It recommended transferring certain subjects from the Union and Concurrent Lists to the <\/span><b>State List<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, including areas such as trade unions, industrial and labour disputes, electricity and some aspects of inland waterways.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Transfer of residuary powers:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> The committee recommended that <\/span><b>residuary legislative powers should be given to the States<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> instead of being vested with Parliament.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Repealing Articles 356, 357 and 365:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> It called for the deletion of these provisions, particularly <\/span><b>Article 356<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, which allows the imposition of President&#8217;s Rule in a state.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Abolition of All-India Services:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> It recommended abolishing <\/span><b>All-India Services such as the IAS, IPS and IFS<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> to reduce the Centre&#8217;s influence over state administration.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Replacing the Planning Commission:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> The committee proposed replacing the <\/span><b>Planning Commission with a statutory body<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, arguing that the existing arrangement increased the Centre&#8217;s influence over state finances and planning.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Greater financial resources for states:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> It called for widening the basis of <\/span><b>revenue devolution<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> so that states could have greater financial resources and reduce their dependence on the Centre.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><b>Significance of the Rajamannar Committee for Centre-State Relations<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The <\/span><b>Rajamannar Committee<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> holds an important place in the evolution of India&#8217;s debate on <\/span><b>federalism and Centre-State relations<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. Although its recommendations were not implemented in full, its report brought several issues of state autonomy into national discussion.<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It highlighted concerns about the <\/span><b>growing centralisation of political, administrative and financial powers<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> in India.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Its recommendations strengthened the debate on creating a more balanced relationship between the <\/span><b>Union and State governments<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The proposal for a stronger <\/span><b>Inter-State Council<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> later became an important part of discussions on cooperative federalism.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Its recommendations on <\/span><b>Article 356 and state autonomy<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> contributed to the wider debate on the use of President&#8217;s Rule and the constitutional balance between the Centre and States.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The committee&#8217;s views also influenced subsequent discussions and studies on Centre-State relations, including the <\/span><b>Sarkaria Commission<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and later the <\/span><b>Punchhi Commission<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Although the <\/span><b>Central Government did not accept its recommendations<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, the report remains an important reference point in understanding demands for <\/span><b>greater state autonomy and fiscal devolution<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Rajamannar Committee therefore represents an important milestone in India&#8217;s continuing debate over how to balance a <\/span><b>strong Union with meaningful state autonomy<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Rajamannar Committee examined Centre-State relations in India, recommending greater state autonomy, financial devolution, and reforms to strengthen the federal structure.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":29,"featured_media":125655,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[786],"tags":[5107,5108,10449],"class_list":["post-125760","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-general-studies","tag-indian-polity","tag-indian-polity-notes","tag-rajamannar-committee","no-featured-image-padding"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/125760","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/29"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=125760"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/125760\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":125947,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/125760\/revisions\/125947"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/125655"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=125760"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=125760"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=125760"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}