11th Standing Committee meeting of the Inter-State Council

The Union Home Minister, Shri Rajnath Singh recently chaired the 11th Standing Committee meeting of the Inter-State Council.

• The council was attended by Chief Ministers of various states.

What is the inter-state council?

The Council is a recommendatory body to investigate and discuss subjects, in which some or all of the states or the union government have a common interest.

Key facts:

• Article 263 of the Constitution of India provides for the establishment of an Inter-State Council.
• It considers recommendations for the better coordination of policy and action, and also matters of general interest to the states.
• The inter-state council is not a permanent constitutional body for coordination between the states and union government. It can be established ‘at any time’ if it appears to the President that the public interests would be served by the establishment of such a council.

What is the composition of the inter-state council?

The Council shall consist of:

• Prime minister who is the chairman.
• Chief ministers of all states who are members.
• Chief ministers of union territories and administrators of UTs as members.
• Six union ministers of cabinet rank in the union council of ministers nominated by the prime minister are also members.