UPSC Prelims 2025 Q53: Inter-State Council, NSC, Zonal Councils

With reference to India, consider the following:

I. The Inter-State Council

II. The National Security Council

III. Zonal Councils

How many of the above were established as per the provisions of the Constitution of India?

  1. Only one
  2. Only two
  3. All the three
  4. None

Answer: (a) Only one

Statement-wise explanation

  • I: correct — Article 263 of the Constitution lets the President set up an Inter-State Council if it is in the public interest. The Council was set up by a Presidential Order dated 28 May 1990, on the Sarkaria Commission's recommendation. That order was made under Article 263, so the Council exists as per the Constitution. Its job is to recommend: it looks into and discusses subjects of common interest to the Union and the States, and suggests better coordination of policy.
  • II: incorrect — The National Security Council was set up by an executive decision of the Vajpayee government on 19 November 1998. Brajesh Mishra was the first National Security Adviser. No Article of the Constitution and no Act of Parliament provides for it. It is an executive body headed by the Prime Minister. The National Security Council Secretariat, the Strategic Policy Group and the National Security Advisory Board support it.
  • III: incorrect — Zonal Councils are statutory bodies, not constitutional ones. Five Zonal Councils were set up in 1957 under Sections 15–22 of the States Reorganisation Act, 1956. The Union Home Minister chairs each of them. The Chief Minister of a member State is Vice-Chairman, by yearly rotation. Their role is only advisory.

How to eliminate

This question is mostly solved by knowing facts. One concrete fact makes it easy: Article 263 is the only one of the three that the Constitution names. 'Inter-State Council' is printed in the Constitution's own text, so you can be sure Statement I counts. That rules out 'None'. Next, the National Security Council is a late-1990s creation of the Vajpayee government. Bodies set up that recently by the executive are almost never constitutional, so 'All the three' is very unlikely. That leaves 'Only one' or 'Only two', and the choice depends on Zonal Councils. Remember the link to the 1956 States Reorganisation Act: they were born with the reorganisation of States, so a law created them. Facts to remember: ISC = Art. 263 + Presidential Order of 1990. Zonal Councils = States Reorganisation Act, 1956 (Sections 15–22). NSC = executive order of 1998.

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Constitutional, statutory and executive bodies

UPSC often tests where a body's authority comes from:

  • A constitutional body is provided for in an Article of the Constitution.
  • A statutory body is created by an Act of Parliament.
  • An executive body is created by a Cabinet decision or government resolution, with no law behind it.

An executive body can be wound up by another executive decision. A statutory body needs Parliament to change the Act. A constitutional body needs a constitutional amendment.

Body Source Year Chair
Inter-State Council Art. 263; Presidential Order 1990 Prime Minister
Zonal Councils (5) States Reorganisation Act, 1956, Ss. 15–22 1957 Union Home Minister
North Eastern Council North Eastern Council Act, 1971 1972 Statutory
National Security Council Executive order 1998 Prime Minister
NITI Aayog Cabinet resolution 2015 Prime Minister

Article 263 allows the Council but does not create it. The text says the President may set one up "if at any time it appears" to serve the public interest. Nothing was set up under it until 1990, after the Sarkaria Commission (1983–88) recommended a permanent Council.

ISC members:

  • The Chief Ministers of all States, and of Union Territories with legislatures
  • The Administrators of other Union Territories
  • Governors of States under President's Rule
  • Union Ministers nominated by the Prime Minister

The ISC last met (its 11th meeting) on 16 July 2016. Its Standing Committee was reconstituted in November 2024, with the Union Home Minister as chair.

Zonal Councils cover the Northern, Central, Eastern, Western and Southern zones. Their purpose is to encourage the States to work together. They discuss border disputes, linguistic minorities, inter-State transport and regional planning. The Inter-State Council Secretariat in the Ministry of Home Affairs organises their meetings.

In the news

Centre–State coordination bodies were in the news before the 2025 exam. The Inter-State Council's Standing Committee was reconstituted in November 2024, with the Union Home Minister as chair. The Western Zonal Council held its 27th meeting at Pune on 22 February 2025.

NCERT Concepts to Revise

  • Inter-State Council: Statement I asks where this Council's authority comes from: an Article of the Constitution or something else.
  • Sarkaria Commission: This Commission's report led the government to set up a permanent Council in 1990, which helps date and source that body.
  • Cooperative federalism: All three bodies are forums for Union–State or national coordination; this concept explains why such forums exist.

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