Extra-Constitutional Devices

In addition to the above-mentioned constitutional devices, there are extra-constitutional devices to promote cooperation and coordination between the Centre and the states. These include a number of advisory bodies and conferences held at the Central level.

The non-constitutional advisory bodies include the NITI Ayog (which succeeded the planning commission),9 the National Integration Council,10 the Central Council of Health and Family Welfare, the Central Council of Local Government, the Zonal Councils,11 the North- Eastern Council, the Central Council of Indian Medicine, the Central Council of Homoeopathy, the Transport Development Council, the University Grants Commission and so on.‌‌

The important conferences held either annually or otherwise to facilitate Centrestate consultation on a wide range of matters are as follows: (i) The governors’ conference (presided over by the President). (ii) The chief ministers’ conference (presided over by the prime minister). (iii) The chief secretaries’ conference (presided over by the cabinet secretary). (iv) The conference of inspector-general of police. (v) The chief justices’ conference (presided over by the chief justice of India). (vi) The conference of vice-chancellors. (vii) The home ministers’ conference (presided over by the Central home

minister). (viii) The law ministers’ conference (presided over by the Central law minister).

Articles 268 to 293 in Part XII of the Constitution deal with Centre- state financial relations. Besides these, there are other provisions dealing with the same subject. These together can be studied under the following heads: