IAS Prelims 2025 — Polity & Governance | Question 9
Authentic Classroom Explanation by IAS Monk
📍 The Question
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 are established as per the provisions of the Constitution of India?
(a) Only one
(b) Only two
(c) All the three
(d) None
✅ Correct Answer: (a) Only one
🎯 Theme of the Question
Indian Polity
Centre–State Relations
Constitutional Bodies vs Statutory vs Executive Bodies
This is a classic UPSC classification question, testing whether you can distinguish between:
- Constitutional bodies
- Statutory bodies
- Executive bodies
🧠 Classroom Explanation
Let us examine each institution one by one.
🔹 I. Inter-State Council ✅
Constitutional Status:
- Established under Article 263 of the Constitution of India
- Purpose:
- Coordination between States
- Coordination between the Centre and States
- Resolution of inter-state disputes and policy discussions
✔️ Since it is explicitly mentioned in the Constitution,
Statement I is correct.
🔹 II. National Security Council (NSC) ❌
Status:
- Established in 1998 by an executive order of the Government of India
- Chaired by the Prime Minister
- Advises on national security and strategic issues
Key Point:
- No mention in the Constitution
- Not created by an Act of Parliament
❌ Hence, Statement II is not correct.
🔹 III. Zonal Councils ❌
Status:
- Created under the States Reorganisation Act, 1956
- Statutory bodies, not constitutional
- Chaired by the Union Home Minister
- Aim to promote regional cooperation and harmony
Key Point:
- Created by Parliamentary legislation, not by the Constitution
❌ Hence, Statement III is not correct.
📊 Final Assessment
| Institution | Constitutional Basis |
|---|---|
| Inter-State Council | ✅ Yes (Article 263) |
| National Security Council | ❌ No (Executive body) |
| Zonal Councils | ❌ No (Statutory bodies) |
👉 Only one institution is constitutionally established
🧩 Prelims Trap Alert
- ❌ “Important body = constitutional body” → Wrong
- ✔️ Always ask:
- Article? → Constitutional
- Act of Parliament? → Statutory
- Cabinet / executive order? → Executive
🧠 One-Line Memory Hook
“Inter-State Council is constitutional; NSC and Zonal Councils are creations of law and order.”
🧭 IAS Monk Whisper
In polity, origin matters more than importance.