Why in the News?
Union Home Minister recently highlighted that 83% of issues discussed in Zonal Council meetings have been resolved, reaffirming their role as effective platforms for intergovernmental cooperation.
What are Zonal Councils?
- Establishment: They are statutory bodies established under the States Reorganisation Act, 1956; they are not constitutional bodies.
- Purpose: Their main goal is to promote cooperation and coordination among states, union territories, and the central government.
- Basis for Zoning: Zones were drawn based on natural divisions, cultural and linguistic affinity, river systems, and security needs.
- Zonal Division: India is divided into five zones—Northern, Central, Eastern, Western, and Southern—with a separate Zonal Council for each:
-
- Northern Zonal Council: Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir, Punjab, Rajasthan, Delhi, Chandigarh
- Central Zonal Council: Chhattisgarh, Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh
- Eastern Zonal Council: Bihar, Jharkhand, Odisha, West Bengal
- Western Zonal Council: Goa, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Dadra & Nagar Haveli, Daman & Diu
- Southern Zonal Council: Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Puducherry
Note:
|
Composition and Structure of Zonal Councils:
- Chairperson: Each Zonal Council is chaired by the Union Home Minister.
- State Representation: The Chief Ministers of all states in the respective zone are members of the Council.
- Additional Members: Each state nominates two additional ministers; administrators of union territories also participate.
- Vice-Chairperson Role: The role of Vice-Chairperson rotates annually among the Chief Ministers.
- Standing Committees: These are formed with Chief Secretaries of states and meet ahead of full sessions to finalize the agenda.
Functions and Responsibilities:
- Cooperation & Consensus: Promote interstate and Centre-state cooperation through dialogue and consensus-building.
- Key Issues Addressed: Economic and social planning, Border disputes, Inter-state transport, Linguistic minority concerns etc.
- Advisory Role: While the councils’ recommendations are advisory, they play a vital role in dispute resolution and coordinated policy formulation.
Recent Developments and Significance:
- Leadership in NEC: In 2018, the Union Home Minister became the Chairperson of the North Eastern Council, signaling a push for broader integration.
- Revitalization under Modi Government: Zonal Councils have evolved into dynamic, action-oriented platforms rather than passive advisory bodies.
- Strengthening Federalism: These councils now actively contribute to cooperative federalism, resolve disputes, and accelerate regional development.
- Efficacy in Implementation: With 83% of agenda issues resolved, Zonal Councils demonstrate increasing political will and effectiveness in addressing regional challenges.
| [UPSC 2013] Which of the following bodies is/are not mentioned in the Indian Constitution?
1. National Development Council 2. Planning Commission 3. Zonal Councils Select the correct answer using the codes given below. Options: (a) 1 and 2 only (b) 2 only (c) 1 and 3 only (d) 1, 2 and 3 |
Get an IAS/IPS ranker as your 1: 1 personal mentor for UPSC 2024
