The Inter-State Council was established under Article 263 of the Constitution of India through a Presidential Order dated 28.5.1990. The Council is a recommendatory body with the following duties:
(a) Investigating and discussing such subjects, in which some or all of the States or the Union and one or more of the States have a common interest, as may be brought up before it;
(b) Making recommendations upon any such subject and in particular recommendations for the better coordination of policy and action with respect to that subject; and
(c) Deliberating upon such other matters of general interest to the States as may be referred by the Chairman to the Council.