Inter-State Council

The Constitution of India, under Article 263, provides that an Inter-State Council (ISC) may be established "at any time it appears to the President that the public interests would be served" by such establishment.

The first Inter-State Option was constituted in 1990 by a presidential order on recommendation of Sarkaria Commission. 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. The Inter-State Council is 'not a permanent body' as it can be established ‘at any time’ if it appears to the President that the public interests would be served by the establishment of such a Council. The Inter-State Council is also 'not a constitutional body' as its source of power is not directly derived from the Constitution. It is for the "President by an order to establish such a Council, and to define the nature of the duties to be performed by it and its organisation" and procedure under Article 263. The objective of the ISC is to discuss or investigate policies, subjects of common interest, and disputes among states.