Inter-State Council Practice Questions
19 free Inter-State Council practice questions for the Indian Polity. Tap an option to answer — you get instant feedback, the correct answer, and a detailed explanation for every question.
Which Article of the Indian Constitution empowers the President to establish an Inter-State Council?
- A Article 262
- B Article 280
- C Article 312
- D Article 263
Correct answer: Article 263
Article 263 provides for the establishment of an Inter-State Council to effect coordination between the Centre and the States. Unlike the Finance Commission, it is not a mandatory permanent body and is established when the President deems it necessary.
The Inter-State Council was established for the first time in 1990 based on the recommendations of which commission?
- A Sarkaria Commission
- B Punchhi Commission
- C Rajamannar Committee
- D Administrative Reforms Commission
Correct answer: Sarkaria Commission
The Sarkaria Commission on Centre-State Relations (1983–88) made a strong case for the establishment of a permanent Inter-State Council. Following this recommendation, the V.P. Singh government established the council in 1990.
Which of the following is NOT a member of the Inter-State Council?
- A State Chief Ministers
- B Chief Ministers of UTs with Legislative Assemblies
- C Governors of all States
- D Six Cabinet Ministers nominated by PM
Correct answer: Governors of all States
Chief Ministers represent the states in the council. Governors only represent states that are currently under President's Rule; otherwise, they are not members of the council.
The Inter-State Council is a:
- A Statutory Body
- B Non-constitutional Body
- C Judicial Body
- D Constitutional Body
Correct answer: Constitutional Body
Since the Inter-State Council is established under the provisions of Article 263 of the Constitution, it is a constitutional body. However, it is not a permanent constitutional body as it is created by a Presidential Order.
Who presides over the Inter-State Council meetings in the absence of the Prime Minister?
- A The Union Home Minister
- B The senior-most Chief Minister
- C The Speaker of Lok Sabha
- D A Minister nominated by the PM
Correct answer: A Minister nominated by the PM
In the absence of the Prime Minister, a Union Cabinet Minister nominated by the Prime Minister presides over the meeting. Usually, the Home Minister is a prominent member but does not preside automatically unless nominated.
What is the primary function of the Inter-State Council as per Article 263?
- A To inquire into and advise upon disputes between states
- B To adjudicate inter-state water disputes
- C To allocate financial grants to states
- D To manage the deployment of central forces within the states
Correct answer: To inquire into and advise upon disputes between states
The council is tasked with inquiring into and advising upon disputes which may have arisen between states. It also investigates and discusses subjects in which the States or the Union have a common interest.
How many times a year is the Inter-State Council mandated to meet according to its rules?
- A At least once a year
- B At least twice a year
- C At least thrice a year
- D At least four times a year
Correct answer: At least thrice a year
The Inter-State Council is supposed to meet at least thrice a year. However, in practice, the meetings have been much less frequent over the decades.
Which body was set up in 1996 for continuous consultation and processing of matters for the consideration of the Council?
- A The Standing Committee of the Council
- B The Zonal Council
- C The Governing Council of NITI Aayog
- D The National Development Council of India
Correct answer: The Standing Committee of the Council
A Standing Committee of the Inter-State Council was set up in 1996 under the chairmanship of the Union Home Minister. It processes matters for the Council's consideration and monitors the implementation of decisions.
The nature of the advice given by the Inter-State Council is:
- A Binding on the Union Government
- B Binding on the State Governments
- C Purely advisory and non-binding
- D Binding only during a National Emergency
Correct answer: Purely advisory and non-binding
The Inter-State Council is a recommendatory body. Its function is to discuss and advise; its recommendations are not legally binding on the governments involved.
The Secretariat of the Inter-State Council also functions as the Secretariat for which other bodies?
- A Zonal Councils
- B NITI Aayog
- C Finance Commission
- D Election Commission
Correct answer: Zonal Councils
Since 2011, the Inter-State Council Secretariat has also been functioning as the Secretariat for the Zonal Councils. This helps in streamlining the administrative work related to inter-state coordination.
Under whose administrative control does the Inter-State Council Secretariat function?
- A Ministry of Home Affairs
- B Prime Minister's Office (PMO)
- C Ministry of Finance
- D Cabinet Secretariat
Correct answer: Ministry of Home Affairs
The Secretariat of the Inter-State Council is headed by a Secretary to the Government of India and functions under the Union Ministry of Home Affairs.
Which of the following describes the difference between Article 262 and Article 263?
- A Article 262 is for water disputes; Article 263 is for general coordination.
- B Article 262 is for the President; Article 263 is for the Parliament.
- C Article 262 is a constitutional body; Article 263 is statutory.
- D Article 262 is for the Inter-State Council; Article 263 is for the Finance Commission.
Correct answer: Article 262 is for water disputes; Article 263 is for general coordination.
Article 262 specifically deals with the adjudication of disputes relating to waters of inter-state rivers. Article 263 is broader, dealing with general coordination and dispute advice between the Centre and States.
The Inter-State Council's decisions are generally taken by:
- A Simple majority
- B Two-thirds majority
- C The sole discretion of the Chairman
- D General consensus
Correct answer: General consensus
The Inter-State Council aims for cooperative federalism, so decisions on any matter brought before the Council are taken by consensus. This ensures that the views of both the Centre and the various States are reconciled.
Who has the power to define the nature of duties to be performed by the Inter-State Council?
- A The Parliament by law
- B The Supreme Court
- C The Inter-State Council itself
- D The President of India
Correct answer: The President of India
Article 263 states that it shall be lawful for the President by order to establish such a Council and to define the nature of the duties to be performed by it. This gives the executive flexibility in defining the Council's scope.
Which of the following is a duty of the Inter-State Council according to the Presidential Order of 1990?
- A Discussing policies for coordination of action
- B Adjudicating territorial disputes between states
- C Determining and altering state boundaries
- D Appointing and removing Governors of states
Correct answer: Discussing policies for coordination of action
The Council is tasked with investigating and discussing subjects of common interest and making recommendations for the better coordination of policy and action on those subjects.
How many Union Ministers are permanent invitees to the Inter-State Council?
- A None are designated as permanent invitees
- B Exactly five ministers are permanent invitees
- C All Union Cabinet Ministers are permanent invitees
- D The number varies as per the Chairman's nomination
Correct answer: The number varies as per the Chairman's nomination
According to the composition, besides the six cabinet ministers who are members, other Union Ministers of Cabinet rank or Ministers of State (Independent Charge) can be nominated as permanent invitees to the Council.
Which Article of the Constitution was used to establish the Central Council of Health and the Central Council of Local Government?
- A Article 262
- B Article 263
- C Article 243
- D Article 285
Correct answer: Article 263
The President has used Article 263 to establish various councils like the Central Council of Health and the Central Council of Local Government. These are specific-purpose councils for coordination in those particular sectors.
Who is the Chairman of the Standing Committee of the Inter-State Council?
- A The Prime Minister
- B The Union Home Minister
- C The Union Finance Minister
- D The senior-most Chief Minister
Correct answer: The Union Home Minister
The Standing Committee of the Inter-State Council is chaired by the Union Home Minister. It also includes five Union Cabinet Ministers and nine Chief Ministers.
The Inter-State Council is often criticized for:
- A Having too much power over the Parliament
- B Infrequent meetings and irregular engagement
- C Being headed by the President instead of the PM
- D Excluding the Union Territories from proceedings
Correct answer: Infrequent meetings and irregular engagement
Despite being a vital constitutional tool for federalism, the Council is often criticized for its infrequent meetings. Sometimes, several years pass between two consecutive sittings of the Council.