RAS question
The Inter-State Council is established under which Article?
Correct answer: (C) Article 263.
The Inter-State Council is established under Article 263 of the Constitution of India.
Explanation
Article 263 is the constitutional basis for the Inter-State Council. It says that, when the President considers that public interests would be served, the President may establish a Council to inquire into and advise on disputes between States, discuss subjects of common interest to States, or make recommendations for better co-ordination of policy and action. The Council was established in 1990 on the recommendation of the Sarkaria Commission, the Prime Minister chairs it, and Chief Ministers of all States along with six Union Ministers are members. That is why Article 263, not a taxation, water-dispute or records provision, is the correct choice.
Why the other options are wrong
- (A) Article 261 concerns public acts, records and judicial proceedings, so it does not create the constitutional mechanism for an Inter-State Council.
- (B) Article 262 deals with adjudication of disputes relating to waters of inter-State rivers, whereas the Inter-State Council is provided for separately under Article 263.
- (D) Article 265 states that no tax shall be levied except by authority of law, which is unrelated to inter-State consultation or co-ordination.
Concept
This tests Centre-State relations and co-operative federalism, a recurring RAS polity theme because institutions such as the Inter-State Council link constitutional text with practical inter-governmental co-ordination.