Inter-State Council
| अन्तर्राज्य परिषद | |
 Inter State Council in December, 2014 | |
| Formation | May 28, 1990 |
|---|---|
| Headquarters | New Delhi |
Chairman | Prime Minister Narendra Modi |
| Website | http://interstatecouncil.nic.in/ |
The Constitution of India in Article 263, provided that an Inter-State Council (ISC) may be established "if at any time it appears to the President that the public interests would be served by the establishment of a Council". Therefore, the constitution itself did not establish the ISC, because it was not considered necessary at the time the constitution was being framed, but kept the option for its establishment open. This option was exercised in 1990. Therefore, the ISC was established as a non permanent body (According to the ISC secratariate website)on 28 May 1990 by a presidential order on recommendation of Sarkaria Commission.[1][2] Moreover, the Commission on Centre-State Relations under the Chairmanship of Justice R. S. Sarkaria had recommended that a permanent Inter-State Council called the Inter-Governmental Council (IGC) should be set up under Article 263. The ISC has been established pursuant to this recommendation of the commission. It cannot be dissolved and re-established. Therefore, the current status of ISC is that of a permanent constitutional body. The objective of the ISC is to discuss or investigate policies, subjects of common interest, and disputes among states.[2]
Aims[edit]
Aims according to Article 263:[1]
- inquiring into and advising upon disputes which may have arisen between States
- investigating and discussing subjects in which some or all of the States, or the Union and one or more of the States, have a common interest
- making recommendations upon any such subject and, in particular, recommendations for the better co ordination of policy and action with respect to that subject
Composition[edit]
The Inter-State Council composes of the following members:[3]
- Prime Minister, Chairman.
- Chief Ministers of all states.
- Chief Ministers of the union territories having legislative assemblies.
- Lieutenant Governors and Administrators of the union territories not having legislative assemblies.
- 6 Union Cabinet Ministers, including Union Home Minister, to be nominated by the Prime Minister.
- Governors of the states being administered under President's rule.
Standing Committee
- Union Home Minister, Chairman
- 5 Union Cabinet Ministers
- 9 Chief Ministers
Meetings[edit]
The Council has met 12 times since its inception (1990).[4]
| Sr. No. | Date | Prime Minister |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 10 October 1990 | V. P. Singh |
| 2 | 15 October 1996 | H. D. Deve Gowda |
| 3 | 17 July 1997 | Inder Kumar Gujral |
| 4 | 28 November 1997 | |
| 5 | 22 January 1999 | Atal Bihari Vajpayee |
| 6 | 20 May 2000 | |
| 7 | 16 November 2001 | |
| 8 | 27–28 March 2003 | |
| 9 | 28 June 2005 | Manmohan Singh |
| 10 | 12 December 2006 | |
| 11 | 16 July 2016 | Narendra Modi |
| 12 | 25 November 2017 |
References[edit]
- ^ a b "Article 263 in The Constitution Of India 1949". indiankanoon.org. Indian Kanoon. 28 May 1990. Retrieved 21 December 2016.
- ^ a b "Genesis of the Inter State Council". interstatecouncil.nic.in/. Inter State Council Secretariat. Retrieved 2 January 2017.
- ^ "Composition of the Inter State Council". interstatecouncil.nic.in/. Inter State Council Secretariat. Retrieved 2 January 2017.
- ^ "Meetings of the Inter State Council". interstatecouncil.nic.in/. Inter State Council Secretariat. Retrieved 2 January 2017.