Question

Choose the correct statement(s) regarding the Inter-State Council and Zonal Councils.

1. The Inter-State Council was established under Article 263 of the Constitution based on the recommendations of the Sarkaria Commission.

2. The Zonal Councils are constitutional bodies established under Article 263 to promote cooperation between states and the Centre.

3. The North-Eastern Council was created under the States Reorganisation Act of 1956.

• A. 1 only
• B. 2 only
• C. 1 and 3 only
• D. 2 and 3 only

Answer 1

Answer:

A. 1 only

Understanding Inter-State Council and Zonal Councils

Inter-State Council

• The Inter-State Council is a constitutional body established under Article 263 of the Indian Constitution.

• Its establishment was based on the recommendations of the Sarkaria Commission on Centre-State Relations (1983-87). The Council was finally constituted in 1990 by a Presidential Order.

• The primary objective of the Inter-State Council is to investigate and discuss subjects of common interest between the Union and the States, or between two or more States, and to make recommendations thereon. It also facilitates coordination of policy and action.

• The Council comprises the Prime Minister as its Chairman, Chief Ministers of all States, Chief Ministers of Union Territories with Legislative Assemblies, Administrators of UTs without Legislative Assemblies, and six Union Cabinet Ministers nominated by the Prime Minister.

Zonal Councils

• The Zonal Councils are statutory bodies, not constitutional bodies. They were established under the States Reorganisation Act of 1956.

• Their main objective is to promote inter-state cooperation and coordination. They provide a forum for discussion on matters of common interest in specific zones of the country.

• There are five Zonal Councils: the Northern, Central, Eastern, Western, and Southern Zonal Councils.

• The Union Home Minister is the common Chairman of all Zonal Councils. Each Chief Minister of the States included in the zone acts as Vice-Chairman by rotation, holding office for a year at a time.

• The Councils help in fostering a sense of national integration and in arresting the growth of acute state consciousness, linguism, and regionalism.

North-Eastern Council (NEC)

• The North-Eastern Council (NEC) is a specialized statutory body, established under the North-Eastern Council Act of 1971, specifically for the socio-economic development of the North-Eastern States.

• It was not created under the States Reorganisation Act of 1956.

• The NEC acts as an advisory body and provides a forum for discussing issues of common interest to the North-Eastern States and for ensuring coordinated development.

• Its jurisdiction includes Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Tripura, and Sikkim (Sikkim was included in 2002).

• The Union Home Minister also serves as the Chairman of the North-Eastern Council, indicating the central government's focus on the region's development.