UPSC Prelims 1995 · General Studies
Question 13: Polity and Governance
Which of the following is/are extra-constitutional and extra-legal device(s) for securing cooperation and coordination between the States in India? I. The National Development Council II. The Governors’ Conference III. Zonal Councils IV. The Interstate Council Choose the correct answer from the codes given below:
AnswerThe answer is (a).
The National Development Council and the Governors' Conference are bodies created by executive decision, with no mention in the Constitution, and the given key also lists the Zonal Councils among such devices. The Inter-State Council is different: Article 263 lets the President set one up for coordination between States, and it was set up in 1990, so it rests on the Constitution. Remember: NDC and the Governors' Conference are outside the Constitution; the Inter-State Council is inside it.
- I. The NDC was set up in 1952 by a government resolution, with no constitutional basis.
- II. The Governors' Conference is a convention, not provided for in the Constitution.
- III. Counted as extra-constitutional in the given key.
- IV. The Inter-State Council is provided for in Article 263.
Why each option is right or wrong
- (a) Right per the given key: I, II and III.
- (b) Wrongly includes the Inter-State Council, which is constitutional under Article 263.
- (c) Leaves out the NDC and the Governors' Conference and includes the Inter-State Council.
- (d) The Inter-State Council rests on Article 263, so it cannot be the only extra-constitutional device.
Worth knowing: Zonal Councils were created by the States Reorganisation Act, 1956, so strictly they are statutory; option (a) is the nearest of the choices, none of which is fully accurate.
Explanation: written by UPSC Grade, not by UPSC.
Source: UPSC, Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination 1995, General Studies. UPSC's own paper isn't online; the words are from a published compilation. The paper on upsc.gov.in.