Zonal Councils
Subject: Indian Polity | Centre-State Relations
UPSC Notes
Zonal Councils are statutory advisory bodies established to promote cooperation among states and resolve inter-state disputes through consultation.
They were established under the States Reorganisation Act, 1956.
The idea was recommended by the States Reorganisation Commission to promote national integration and cooperative federalism.
Five Zonal Councils
Council | States/UTs |
|---|---|
Northern | Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Punjab, Rajasthan, Jammu and Kashmir, Delhi and Chandigarh |
Central | Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Uttarakhand and Chhattisgarh |
Eastern | Bihar, Jharkhand, Odisha, West Bengal and Sikkim |
Western | Maharashtra, Gujarat, Goa, Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu |
Southern | Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Puducherry |
North Eastern Council
Established under the North Eastern Council Act, 1971.
Became operational in 1972.
Covers eight northeastern states.
It is a separate statutory body and not one of the five Zonal Councils.
Composition of Zonal Councils
Chairman: Union Home Minister.
Vice-Chairman: Chief Minister of one of the member states, by rotation.
Other members include state Chief Ministers and ministers nominated from member states.
Major functions
Promoting regional cooperation.
Resolving inter-state disputes.
Discussing economic and social planning.
Improving transport and communication.
Addressing linguistic and minority-related issues.
Strengthening national integration.
Importance
Zonal Councils provide an institutional mechanism for cooperative and competitive federalism.
Key Pointers
Legal basis: States Reorganisation Act, 1956.
Total regular Zonal Councils: Five.
Chairman: Union Home Minister.
Nature: Statutory and advisory.
North Eastern Council: Separate institution.
NEC Act: 1971.
NEC became operational: 1972.
Administrative ministry: Ministry of Home Affairs.
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