Inter-State Council

The Constitution of India in Article 263, provided that an Inter-State Council (ISC) may be established "if at any time it appears to the President that the public interests would be served by the establishment of a Council". Therefore, the constitution itself did not establish the ISC, because it was not considered necessary at the time the constitution was being framed, but kept the option for its establishment open. This option was exercised in 1990. Therefore, the ISC was established as a non permanent body (According to the ISC secratariate website)on 28 May 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. It cannot be dissolved and re-established. Therefore, the current status of ISC is that of a permanent constitutional body. The objective of the ISC is to discuss or investigate policies, subjects of common interest, and disputes among states.

Aims
Aims according to Article 263:
 * 1) inquiring into and advising upon disputes which may have arisen between States
 * 2) investigating and discussing subjects in which some or all of the States, or the Union and one or more of the States, have a common interest
 * 3) making recommendations upon any such subject and, in particular, recommendations for the better co ordination of policy and action with respect to that subject

Composition
The Inter-State Council composes of the following members:
 * Prime Minister, Chairman.
 * Chief Ministers of all states.
 * Chief Ministers of the union territories having legislative assemblies.
 * Lieutenant Governors and Administrators of the union territories not having legislative assemblies.
 * 6 Union Cabinet Ministers, including Union Home Minister, to be nominated by the Prime Minister.
 * Governors of the states being administered under President's rule.

Standing Committee
 * Union Home Minister, Chairman
 * 5 Union Cabinet Ministers
 * 9 Chief Ministers

Meetings
The Council has met 12 times since its inception (1990).