India has 28 States. They share rivers, borders and trade. Disputes are bound to happen. So the Constitution sets rules for how States deal with each other. These are called inter-State relations. It also creates bodies where States can talk, such as the Inter-State Council and the Zonal Councils. Exams ask about the Articles, the councils, their members and the river water disputes. This post explains them in simple words. It ends with 15 previous year questions.
Key Points (Quick Revision)
- Article 262 deals with disputes over inter-State river waters.
- Article 263 lets the President set up an Inter-State Council. It was set up in 1990.
- The Inter-State Council is chaired by the Prime Minister.
- The five Zonal Councils were created by the States Reorganisation Act, 1956. They are chaired by the Union Home Minister.
- Free trade across States is protected by Articles 301 to 307.
1. What are inter-State relations?
A federation needs States to work together. The Constitution covers four areas of inter-State relations.
- Settling river water disputes - Article 262.
- Coordination through councils - Article 263.
- Mutual recognition of public acts and records - Article 261.
- Freedom of trade and commerce - Articles 301 to 307.
Outside the Constitution, Parliament has also set up Zonal Councils and the North Eastern Council by law.
2. Inter-State river water disputes (Article 262)
Rivers cross State borders. States often fight over how much water each gets. Article 262 gives Parliament two powers.
- Parliament may make a law for the adjudication of disputes over inter-State rivers.
- Parliament may provide that neither the Supreme Court nor any other court shall hear such a dispute.
Under this Article, Parliament passed two laws in 1956:
- The River Boards Act, 1956 - for setting up boards to regulate and develop inter-State rivers.
- The Inter-State River Water Disputes Act, 1956 - for setting up tribunals to decide disputes. The award of a tribunal is final and binding.
Tribunals have been set up for rivers such as the Krishna, Godavari, Narmada, Kaveri, Ravi-Beas, Vansadhara, Mahadayi and Mahanadi.
3. The Inter-State Council (Article 263)
Article 263 says the President may set up an Inter-State Council if it serves the public interest. Its duties can include:
- Inquiring into and advising on disputes between States.
- Investigating subjects of common interest to the Centre and the States.
- Making recommendations for better coordination of policy.
For years no such council was formed. The Sarkaria Commission (1983-88) on Centre-State relations recommended a permanent Inter-State Council. Following this, the Inter-State Council was set up in 1990 by a Presidential order.
Its members are:
- The Prime Minister as chairman.
- Chief Ministers of all States.
- Chief Ministers of Union Territories with a legislative assembly.
- Administrators of Union Territories without an assembly.
- Six Union Cabinet ministers, including the Home Minister, nominated by the Prime Minister.
A Standing Committee of the Council was set up in 1996, chaired by the Union Home Minister.
The Council is only an advisory body. Its recommendations are not binding. It has met only a few times since 1990, which is a common criticism.
4. The Zonal Councils
Zonal Councils are statutory bodies, not constitutional ones. They were created by the States Reorganisation Act, 1956. The idea came from Jawaharlal Nehru in 1956, to build cooperation between States after reorganisation.
There are five Zonal Councils:
| Zonal Council | Members |
|---|---|
| Northern | Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Punjab, Rajasthan, Delhi, Chandigarh, Jammu and Kashmir, Ladakh |
| Central | Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand |
| Eastern | Bihar, Jharkhand, Odisha, West Bengal |
| Western | Goa, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu |
| Southern | Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Puducherry |
Each Zonal Council has:
- The Union Home Minister as chairman.
- The Chief Ministers of the States in the zone, who become vice-chairman by rotation, one year at a time.
- Two other ministers from each State, nominated by the Governor.
- Administrators of Union Territories in the zone.
Zonal Councils are advisory. They discuss matters such as economic planning, border disputes, linguistic minorities and inter-State transport.
5. The North Eastern Council
The North-East has its own body. The North Eastern Council was set up by a separate law, the North Eastern Council Act, 1971.
- Its members were the seven north-eastern States. Sikkim was added in 2002, making eight.
- It works as a regional planning body for the North-East.
- It is not one of the five Zonal Councils under the 1956 Act.
6. Public acts, records and trade
Article 261 - Full faith and credit. Full faith and credit must be given throughout India to the public acts, records and judicial proceedings of the Union and every State. A final judgment of a civil court in one State can be executed anywhere in India.
Articles 301 to 307 - Trade and commerce. Article 301 declares that trade, commerce and intercourse throughout India shall be free. Parliament may put reasonable restrictions in the public interest. A State may also impose reasonable restrictions, but such a Bill needs the President's previous sanction (Article 304).
The idea is that India must be one market. A State cannot block goods from another State without a strong public reason.
7. Previous year questions
- Which Article deals with disputes relating to inter-State river waters? – Article 262
- Under which Article can the President establish an Inter-State Council? – Article 263
- In which year was the Inter-State Council set up? – 1990
- Which commission recommended a permanent Inter-State Council? – Sarkaria Commission
- Who is the chairman of the Inter-State Council? – The Prime Minister
- By which Act were the Zonal Councils created? – States Reorganisation Act, 1956
- How many Zonal Councils are there? – Five
- Who is the chairman of each Zonal Council? – The Union Home Minister
- Are Zonal Councils constitutional or statutory bodies? – Statutory bodies
- Under which Act was the North Eastern Council set up? – North Eastern Council Act, 1971
- Which State was added to the North Eastern Council in 2002? – Sikkim
- Which Article provides for full faith and credit to public acts and records? – Article 261
- Which Article declares that trade and commerce throughout India shall be free? – Article 301
- Which Act provides for tribunals for inter-State river water disputes? – Inter-State River Water Disputes Act, 1956
- In which year was the Standing Committee of the Inter-State Council set up? – 1996
8. How to revise this topic
Start with the Articles: 261 full faith and credit, 262 river waters, 263 Inter-State Council, 301-307 trade.
Next, compare the two councils: ISC is constitutional (Article 263), set up 1990, chaired by the PM; Zonal Councils are statutory (1956 Act), five in number, chaired by the Home Minister.
Then fix the 1956 laws: States Reorganisation Act, River Boards Act and Inter-State River Water Disputes Act.
Finally, remember the North Eastern Council: 1971 Act, Sikkim added in 2002.
9. Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Inter-State Council?
It is an advisory body set up in 1990 under Article 263 of the Constitution, on the recommendation of the Sarkaria Commission. It is chaired by the Prime Minister and includes the Chief Ministers of all States and six Union Cabinet ministers.
What are Zonal Councils?
They are five statutory advisory bodies created by the States Reorganisation Act, 1956 - Northern, Central, Eastern, Western and Southern. Each is chaired by the Union Home Minister, with the Chief Ministers of the zone as vice-chairman by rotation.
How are inter-State river water disputes settled?
Under Article 262, Parliament passed the Inter-State River Water Disputes Act, 1956, which provides for tribunals. Parliament has also barred courts from hearing such disputes, and a tribunal's award is final.
What is the difference between the Inter-State Council and Zonal Councils?
The Inter-State Council is constitutional (Article 263), covers all States and is chaired by the Prime Minister. Zonal Councils are statutory, cover one zone each and are chaired by the Union Home Minister.
Is the North Eastern Council a Zonal Council?
No. The North Eastern Council was set up under a separate law, the North Eastern Council Act, 1971, as a regional planning body. Sikkim was added to it in 2002.
For more Polity topics in simple language, see our Centre-State Relations, Finance Commission and Delimitation Commission posts, or browse the Polity section. Preparing for a state PSC? Start with the UPPSC PCS guide or join the 100 Hour GS Course.