The Inter-State Council is a recommendatory body the President may set up under the Constitution to investigate and discuss subjects of common interest to the Union and the states. It was created by a Presidential Order on 28 May 1990 after a commission on Centre-state relations recommended it. All Chief Ministers, the Chief Ministers of Union Territories with legislatures, administrators of other UTs and six Union Cabinet ministers are members.
Key facts
- Created by Presidential Order on 28 May 1990; it is a recommendatory body, not permanent and not constitutional in itself.
- Members: all state Chief Ministers, CMs of UTs with legislatures, administrators of other UTs, six Union Cabinet ministers nominated by the PM.
- Its Standing Committee (not the Council itself) is chaired by the Union Home Minister, with five Union ministers and nine Chief Ministers.
- Met 12 times: first on 10 October 1990, 11th on 16 July 2016, 12th on 25 November 2017. (as of 23 Oct 2026)
Latest
The Inter-State Council (Amendment) Order, 2026 (September 2026) invites the Governor when a state is under President's Rule and the Lieutenant Governors of Delhi, Puducherry and Jammu and Kashmir to its meetings.
Why exams ask about it
The Article, the commission that recommended it, who chairs it and who attends are the usual questions.