Polity Notes

INTER-STATE COUNCIL

(Ministry of Home Affairs)

India has a federal Constitution. We have Union Government as well as State Governments. For the development of the Country, Centre and State must work together as team India. Our federation should be Co-operative federation but situation is not the same. This is a fact that Union Government for narrow political gains do try to overturn opposition ruled State Governments.

In view of various problems between healthy relation between Centre and States, Union Government set up a Commission in June 1983 under the Chairmanship of Justice R.S. Sarkaria to suggest reform in distribution of Powers between Union and States. This Commission submitted its report in 1988 and made its recommendations.

Union Government accepted the recommendation of Sarkaria Commission and established Inter State Council in April 1990 under Article 263. The Head Quarter of Inter State Council is at New Delhi.

Composition of Inter-State Council

Chairman

- Ex-officio (Prime Minister)

Members

- Chief Ministers of all States and representatives of UTs

Members

6 Union Cabinet Ministers nominated by Prime Minister

Inter-State Council was established to support Centre State and Inter-State Coordination and Cooperation, to promote and support cooperative federalism in India, activate Zonal Councils by organising its regular meetings, facilitate Consideration of all pending issues and emerging issues of Centre State and Inter-State relations by Zonal Councils and Inter-State Council and to develop system of monitoring the implementation of the recommendation of the of Inter-State Council and Zonal Councils.