Introduction
Constituted under Article 263 in 1990 following the Sarkaria Commission, the Inter‑State Council serves as a forum for consultation between the Centre and states on shared interests. While designed as a key mechanism for coordination, it has remained largely dormant—meeting only 11 times between 1990 and 2016, despite a mandate of three annual sessions. Its advisory nature, infrequent functioning, and lack of follow-up mechanisms have undermined its potential. Yet with rising demands from states and renewed political momentum, its revival is increasingly urgent. ThePrint+5India Today+5The Week+5Wikipedia+3Drishti IAS+3India Today+3
Institutional Structure: Mandate & Limitations
Legal Foundations and Membership
Under Article 263, the ISC is established by presidential order. Members include the Prime Minister as Chairman, all state Chief Ministers, UT administrators, and six Union Cabinet ministers nominated by the PM, with permanent invitees as needed. nammakpsc.com+9Drishti IAS+9adda247+9
A Standing Committee, chaired by the Home Minister, processes agenda items and monitors follow-up. The ISC Secretariat in New Delhi facilitates its operations. Drishti IAS
Institutional Deficits
Despite its design, the ISC continues to suffer from:
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Rare meetings: Though mandated thrice yearly, the ISC met only once during 2010–16. India Today+2Drishti IAS+2iastoppers.in+2
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Advisory status only: Core decisions remain non-binding, and both Centre and states may ignore recommendations without any accountability or tracking. India Today
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Limited participation: Civil society and experts are excluded, weakening its deliberative legitimacy. iastoppers.in+1India Today+1
Recent Developments: Reconstitution & Activism
Reconstitution in 2024
In November 2024, the ISC was officially reconstituted under PM Narendra Modi’s leadership, with Union ministers from NDA allies included to ensure broader representation. The standing committee, chaired by Home Minister Amit Shah, was also refreshed. India Today+8Business Standard+8The Week+8
Demand for Activation by Tamil Nadu
In mid-2022, Tamil Nadu CM M.K. Stalin sent a letter emphasising the ISC's revival to reinforce cooperative federalism. He proposed placing significant Union bills before the ISC for consultation—particularly those affecting states—to prevent ad hoc judicial confrontation. India Today
Why Revival Matters: Federal Challenges & Dispute Resolution
Managing Centre‑State and Interstate Tensions
The ISC offers a structured platform to address contentious issues like river disputes, state border conflicts, and fiscal policy—areas that often result in litigation or political friction. Strengthening the ISC could provide preemptive conflict resolution. Drishti IASiastoppers.in
Enhancing Dialogue on Key Issues
Central legislation impacting education, health, taxation, and state transfers could be discussed within ISC forums before parliamentary introduction, promoting consensus-building and reducing state backlash. India TodayDrishti IAS
Empirical Momentum: Evidence of Cooperative Spirit
Zonal Councils & Central Platforms
Recent high-level gatherings such as Central Zonal Council meetings—where CM Mohan Yadav called for partnership rather than rivalry between Centre-state—reflect growing institutional engagement. NITI Aayog and Chief Ministers’ Council meetings are also being increasingly used as platforms for policy coordination. The Times of India
Border Dispute Resolution Efforts
States like Assam and Arunachal Pradesh have successfully pursued bilateral committee meetings to resolve longstanding boundary disputes via dialogue rather than confrontation—a model ISC could support nationally. The Times of India
Challenges on the Road to Revitalization
Lack of Binding Authority
Without statutory backing or enforcement power, ISC recommendations risk being ignored. This makes its role merely advisory rather than decisively impactful. Wikipedia+12iastoppers.in+12Drishti IAS+12
Political Dynamics & Bias
Political differences between Centre and states—or opponent parties—can reduce ISC's willingness to reach consensus. Trust deficits and varying agendas pose structural risks. India Todayiastoppers.in
Secretariat Capacity & Institutional Support
The Secretariat currently lacks sufficient staffing, analytical support, and cross-government coordination. ISC meetings and follow-ups often fail due to resource constraints. nammakpsc.comiastoppers.in
Recommendations: Strengthening ISC Functionality
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Mandatory Meeting Schedule & Agendas
Reinforce ISC’s schedule via presidential notification or legislation, ensuring at least three meetings annually with pre-determined thematic priorities (e.g. fiscal policy, water sharing, infrastructure, social justice). -
Constitutional Reform under Article 263
Amend Article 263 to grant ISC semi-legislative status—empowering it to issue binding frameworks, and obligating Centre and states to justify any non-adoption. -
Civil Society & Expert Inclusion
Incorporate subject-matter experts, academicians, and civil society representatives into meetings or advisory panels to deepen policy deliberation. -
Empower Secretariat & Regional Cells
Build capacity within the ISC Secretariat and institute zonal or regional liaison cells for coordination and follow-up of Council recommendations. -
Institutionalize Standing Committee Oversight
Improve the standing committee’s powers to monitor implementation, prepare annual public impact reports, and lodge state-centre action updates. -
Link ISC to Policy Instruments
Require ISC review before major national policies—such as inter-state water agreements, pan-India legislation affecting states, or major infrastructure schemes.
Conclusion
The revival of the Inter‑State Council presents a timely opportunity to reinvigorate cooperative federalism in India. From decades of dormancy, it now stands on the verge of transformation—with reconstitution, state-led demand, and practical challenges pointing to a need for revitalization.
But revival must go beyond ceremonial meetings. With clear legal mandates, binding recommendations, expert-inclusive processes, and strengthened secretariat resources, the ISC can evolve from a talking shop into a central institution for political accommodation and federal cooperation.
Revitalising the ISC offers more than administrative coordination—it promises to anchor India’s federal polity in dialogue, trust, and shared nation-building.