A short note on Constitution of India in Article 263

The ISC or the Inter-State Council is a provision provided by Article 263 in the Indian Constitution. At the time the Constitution was framed, a need for Council was not felt. Though there have been Councils in India before independence under the colonial raj, at the time of making the constitution, no such need was felt to establish one. Article 263 was used in 1990. In this article, it is stated that if the President at any time for some reason felt that the establishment of an ISC would benefit the interests of the public then they could establish it. 

Constitution of India

The Constitution of India was made with the intent of it being open and diverse, being adaptable, and not overly right. It has taken sources from all over the world and has employed a mix of different policies and ideas to reflect the diversity of the cultures resign in the country. That is why the constitution of India in Article 263 is such an example of openness and foresight. Article 263 was used in 1990. The standing committee under the ISC as provided by the Indian Constitution are:

• Chief Ministers (9)
• Union Home Minister (Chairman)
• Union Cabinet Ministers (5)

Since the establishment of a council, it has met over the various topic 11 times. 

Constitution of India in Article 263

However, due to the aim of the makers to keep the Constitution flexible and adaptable to the changing times, Article 263 was kept in the constitution. The constitution of India in Article 263 is a unique provision that calls for the establishment of a council between states should the President feels the need. This provision was exercised in the year 1990. The ISC was made a permanent body by the Presidential order along with the counsel of the Sarkaria Commission. It can not be dissolved or re-established. Therefore, the ISC continues to be a permanent body. ISC has certain objectives:

• Keeping the relationship between the state’s cordial
• Resolving and checking disputes between states
• Providing good solutions to disputes arising out of inter-state conflicts
• Investigate policies
• Preside over common interests

Council

The establishment of the ISC saw the council meeting 11 times so far. The council has been convened under the Prime Ministership of the following:

• Vishwanath Pratap Singh (1990)
• H.D. Deve Gowda (1996)
• I. K. Gujral (1997)
• Atal Bihari Vajpayee (2000, 2001)
• Manmohan Singh (2005, 2006)
• Narendra Modi (2016)

Highlights of 11th Inter-State Council Meeting

The highlights of the 11th Inter-State Council Meeting include:

• Discussing matters of Punchhi Commission on important Centre and State relations
• Intelligence security
• Decking with the threat of terrorism
• Aadhaar and its benefits
• Public service interest
• Police Modernisation

The 11th ISC session was presided over by Narendra Modi as the Prime Minister (Chairman) of the council. Many chief ministers from 17 different states had participated in the council meeting. Things of public importance were discussed in the meeting. This was the first ISC meeting in almost a decade. The ISC meeting was deemed a success by the attendees. 

Conclusion

The composition of the ISC is the Prime Minister, state chief ministers, Home minister, Union ministers, and Governors. The Constitution of India in Article 263 has already provided for the ISC. The Constitution of India in Article 263 has enacted this provision in 1990 and therefore the current Prime Minister is the Chairman of the ISC. Therefore, the ISC continues to be a permanent body.