The Constitution of India in Article 263,[1] provided that an Inter-State Council (ISC) may be established "if at any time it appears to the President that the public interests would be served by the establishment of a Council".

[2][3] Moreover, the Commission on Centre-State Relations under the Chairmanship of Justice R. S. Sarkaria had recommended that a permanent Inter-State Council called the Inter-Governmental Council (IGC) should be set up under Article 263.

It is for the "President by an order to establish such a Council, and to define the nature of the duties to be performed by it and its organisation" [5] and procedure under Article 263.

The objective of the ISC is to discuss or investigate policies, subjects of common interest, and disputes among states.

[3] According to the Para 4 "Duties of the Council" of President Order dated 28th May 1990,[6] the Council shall be a recommendary body and in that capacity, shall perform the following duties, namely- The Inter-State Council composes of the following members:[7] Para 6 of the Presidential Order by which the Inter-State Council was established provided that “there shall be a Secretariat comprising of such officers and staff as the Chairman may think fit to appoint”.