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 Inter-State Council. Choose the correct answer from the codes given below :

The National Development Council (NDC), the Governors’ Conference and the Zonal Councils function as non-constitutional advisory devices used to secure cooperation and coordination between the Centre and the states. Textbooks classify such advisory bodies and high‑level conferences as extra‑constitutional mechanisms for consultation and coordination; they explicitly list non‑constitutional advisory bodies and key conferences including the governors’ conference and zonal arrangements as instruments of intergovernmental consultation [1]. Zonal Councils have been instituted to promote inter‑state cooperation and coordination among states in each zone [2]. By contrast, the Inter‑State Council was established under Article 263 of the Constitution and is therefore a constitutional body, not an extra‑constitutional device [3].

Sources

1. [1] Indian Polity, M. Laxmikanth(7th ed.) > Chapter 15: Centre-State Relations > 11. Extra-Constitutional Devices > p. 151
2. [2] Indian Polity, M. Laxmikanth(7th ed.) > Chapter 16: Inter-State Relations > C HAP-i1iE R 16 Inter-State Relations > p. 167
3. [3] Indian Polity, M. Laxmikanth(7th ed.) > Chapter 16: Inter-State Relations > INTER-STATE COUNCILS > p. 168