Inter-State Council

What is the Inter-State Council?

The Inter-State Council is an association that was established to encourage collaboration and cooperation between various central and inter-state activities. It does so by conducting various summits by collaborating with zonal councils.

Establishment of the Inter-State Council

The Inter-State Council was formed under Article 263 of the Constitution of India. On 28th May 1990, it was passed as a Presidential Order under the Ministry of Home Affairs. In 1991, the council’s Secretariat was set up, which is located in Vigyan Bhawan Annexe, Maulana Azad Road, New Delhi. Later in April 2011, secretarial functions of the Zonal Councils were transferred to the Inter-State Council Secretariat with immediate effect. 

Composition of the Council

According to the Presidential Order, the Council consists of – Prime Minister who shall be the Chairman of the Council ( Currently Mr. Narendra Modi)

• Chief Ministers of all states
• Chief Ministers Of Union territories having a Legislative Assembly 
• Administrators Of Union territories not having a Legislative Assembly
• Six Ministers of Cabinet rank in the Union Council Of Ministers to be appointed by the Chairman
• And if the need arises, Other Ministers and Ministers Of State having independent Charge in the Union Government

The current organisation of members and their designations in the Council is as follows :

1. Secretary – Ms. Anuradha Prasad 
2. Adviser – Sh Ashokkumar R Parmar 
3. Additional Secretary – Shri Sriram Taranikanti 
4. Director – Dr. Vikrant Pandey 
5. Deputy Secretary (Gen. Admn) – Sh. Devendra Singh Gaur 
6. Director (OSC & CVO) – Sh. Ravinder Singh 
7. Director (ZCS) – Sh. Kashi Nath 
8. Deputy Secretary (ZCS) – Sh. Arvind Kumar Srivastava 
9. Under Secretary (Admn) & DDO – Sh. Om Prakash Kumar

The Secretariat is headed by – a Secretary to the Government of India, assisted by two Advisors in the rank of Additional Secretary to the Government of India, two Directors, and three officers each in the rank of Deputy Secretary and Under Secretary.

Duties and Procedure of the Council 

The Inter-State Council has to abide by the following duties according to the Presidential Order of 1990 :

• To review and investigate topics of common interest involving some or all of the states.
• Making any suggestions or proposals regarding the subjects discussed keeping inter-state coordination and harmony in mind
• Ensure proper monitoring regarding the decisions taken by the Council during the discussions.

Standing Committee of the Inter-State Council

In October 1996, the Inter-State Council, on the recommendation of the Sarkaria Commission, had created a general body that could further assist the various activities of the Inter-State Council regarding the processing of its matters and their constant consultation. Its duties as mentioned in the notification issued by the Inter-State Council Secretariat on 5th December 1996 are as follows –

• Have consultation and process matters for consideration of the Council
• Review and update the recommendations of Sarkaria Commission, especially the vital question of devolution of financial powers from the Central Government to State Governments
• Examine the changes required in Article 356 of the Constitution
• Consider the current views of the State Governments on 179 recommendations on which there was a consensus in the Sub-committee and the 12 items on which there was no consensus.
• Discuss all matters related to Centre-State relations before they are taken up for consideration in the Inter-State Council
• Monitor the implementation of decisions taken on the recommendations of the Council
• Consider any other matter referred to it by the Chairman/Council.

Composition of the Standing Committee

According to the last reconstitution vide Gazette notification tracing back to 9th August 2019, the current designations of the members of the Standing Committee are as follows –

• It is led by the Chairman (currently Shri Amit Shah, Minister of Home Affairs )

The other members of the committee are as follows :

• Smt. Nirmala Sitharaman – Minister of Finance and Corporate Affairs
• Shri Narendra Singh Tomar – Minister of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare and Rural Development and Minister of Panchayati Raj 
• Shri Thaawar Chand Gehlot – Minister of Social Justice and Empowerment 
• Shri Gajendra Singh Shekhawat – Minister of Jal Shakti 
• Chief Ministers of these states – Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Bihar, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Odisha, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh

Conclusion : 

The constitutional assistance of ISC brings all states to accordance by creating an atmosphere for their collaboration and interaction. It also aids the improvement of a trustworthy relationship between the centre and states.