UPSC Prelims 2025 · GS Paper I

Question 53: Polity and Governance

With reference to India, consider the following :

IThe Inter-State Council
IIThe National Security Council
IIIZonal Councils

How many of the above were established as per the provisions of the Constitution of India?

aOnly one

bOnly two

cAll the three

dNone

AnswerThe answer is (a).

The Inter-State Council was set up in 1990 under Article 263, which lets the President establish a council to coordinate between the States and the Centre, so it exists under the Constitution's provisions. The National Security Council was created in 1998 by an executive decision of the Government, with no constitutional basis. The Zonal Councils were set up by the States Reorganisation Act, 1956, so they are statutory, not constitutional. Remember: Article 263 for the Inter-State Council; the NSC is executive and Zonal Councils are statutory.

I. Article 263 provides for the Inter-State Council.
II. The NSC was set up by an executive decision in 1998.
III. Zonal Councils were created by the States Reorganisation Act, 1956.

How you could have got this

No shortcut here: in a “how many” question, ruling out options doesn’t help. Every statement has to be judged.

This follows an unofficial answer: UPSC has not published its key for this year, and if that answer is wrong, so is this path.

Which options go is worked out from UPSC’s key and the options, not by a model.

Why each option is right or wrong

(a) Right: only the Inter-State Council rests on the Constitution (Article 263).
(b) Wrong: Zonal Councils are statutory, created by the 1956 Act.
(c) Wrong: the NSC and Zonal Councils are not constitutional bodies.
(d) Wrong: the Inter-State Council is established under Article 263.

Explanation: written by UPSC Grade, not by UPSC.

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Source: UPSC, Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination 2025, General Studies Paper I, Series A. The paper on upsc.gov.in.