Official UPSC Format

With reference to India, consider the following:
I. The Inter-State Council
II. The National Security Council
III. Zonal Councils
How many of the above were established as per the provisions of the Constitution of India?

1. I. The Inter-State Council

2. II. The National Security Council

3. III. Zonal Councils

⚡ Quick Recall Snippet

In Indian Polity, bodies are classified by their origin. The Inter-State Council is a constitutional body (Article 263), Zonal Councils are statutory (States Reorganisation Act, 1956), and the National Security Council is an executive body.

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Detailed Solution & Authority Citations

Correct Answer is Option A
To answer this, one must classify the genesis of each body based on the text of the Constitution versus acts of Parliament or executive action.
  • I. Inter-State Council (Correct): This is a purely Constitutional Body. It is explicitly provided for under Article 263 of the Constitution (though it was formally constituted in 1990 based on the Sarkaria Commission's recommendations).

  • II. National Security Council (Incorrect): The NSC is an Executive Body. It is neither mentioned in the Constitution nor created by an Act of Parliament. It was formed by an executive order in 1998 to advise the PM on national security.

  • III. Zonal Councils (Incorrect): These are Statutory Bodies. They are not mentioned in the Constitution. They were established by an Act of Parliament, specifically Part III of the States Reorganisation Act, 1956 to foster inter-state cooperation.
    • Therefore, only the Inter-State Council is established as per constitutional provisions.

    🚨 The Examiner's Trap

    The word 'Council' frequently misleads aspirants. Zonal Councils 'feel' constitutional because they deal with federalism, but they are purely statutory. The NSC sounds highly official but is purely executive. Only the ISC has a dedicated constitutional article.

    Active Recall Flashcard

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    Are Zonal Councils constitutional or statutory bodies?

    Statutory bodies (created by the States Reorganisation Act, 1956).

    Concept Flow Mapping

    Inter-State Council
    Established By
    Article 263
    Zonal Councils
    Established By
    States Reorganisation Act
    National Security Council
    Established By
    Executive Order

    Logic Quest

    "Why is it important to distinguish a Constitutional body from a Statutory body?"

    Not analyzing core concepts like Classification of Government Bodies through the lens of Previous Year Questions is a serious miss-out. This PYQ engine is specifically designed to help you decode the examiner's mindset and master highly probable Indian Polity questions for your upcoming Prelims.