UPSC Prelims 2025 Q53: Indian Polity – Constitutional & Non - Constitutional Bodies
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?
- (a) Only one
- (b) Only two
- (c) All the three
- (d) None
Answer: (a) Only one
Explanation
Which bodies were set up under the Constitution?
| Body | Set up as per the Constitution? | How it was created |
|---|---|---|
| I. The Inter-State Council | Yes | Article 263; set up in 1990 on the Sarkaria Commission's advice |
| II. The National Security Council | No | By an executive order in 1998 |
| III. Zonal Councils | No | By the States Reorganisation Act, 1956; they are statutory |
Who heads them:
| Body | Chairman |
|---|---|
| Inter-State Council | Prime Minister |
| National Security Council | Prime Minister; the National Security Adviser is its secretary |
| Zonal Councils | Union Home Minister |
Three kinds of bodies: constitutional (named in the Constitution), statutory (made by an Act), executive (made by a Government order).
Only one of the three is constitutional.
Answer: (a) Only one.
Why each option is right or wrong
- (a) CORRECT. Only the Inter-State Council was set up under the Constitution (Article 263).
- (b) Incorrect. The National Security Council and Zonal Councils are not constitutional bodies.
- (c) Incorrect. Two of the three were not set up under the Constitution.
- (d) Incorrect. The Inter-State Council is a constitutional body.
Key point
Inter-State Council: Article 263 (1990). Zonal Councils: States Reorganisation Act, 1956. National Security Council: executive order, 1998.
Remember
Only the Inter-State Council is constitutional.
Common mistakes
- Treating Zonal Councils as constitutional because they deal with Centre-State matters.
- Assuming the National Security Council must be in the Constitution.
- Confusing the Inter-State Council with the Zonal Councils.
Exam tip
Sort every body into constitutional, statutory or executive. Only Article 263 gives a council here.
Sources
- Constitution of India — Article 263
- States Reorganisation Act, 1956 — Part III (Zonal Councils)