- The Union Home Minister recently highlighted the evolving role of Zonal Councils, stating they have transformed from discussion platforms to “engines of cooperation”. Notably, 83% of the issues raised during their meetings have been successfully resolved, showcasing their effectiveness in resolving inter-state and regional disputes.
- Proposed by: Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru in 1956
- Statutory Bodies: Established under Sections 15–22 of the States Reorganisation Act, 1956
- Year Established: 1957
- Purpose: To provide a platform for dialogue and cooperation among states and Union Territories (UTs) to resolve inter-state issues, promote balanced regional development, and strengthen Centre-State relations.
There are five Zonal Councils:
- Northern Zonal Council
- States/UTs: Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir, Ladakh, Punjab, Rajasthan, Delhi, Chandigarh
- Central Zonal Council
- States: Chhattisgarh, Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh
- Eastern Zonal Council
- States: Bihar, Jharkhand, Odisha, West Bengal
- Western Zonal Council
- States/UTs: Goa, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Dadra & Nagar Haveli and Daman & Diu
- Southern Zonal Council
- States/UTs: Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Puducherry
- North Eastern States are not included in the above five zonal councils.
- Their regional matters are addressed by the North Eastern Council, established under the North Eastern Council Act, 1972.
- Sikkim was included in the North Eastern Council in 2002 through an amendment.
- Chairman: Union Home Minister (for all Zonal Councils)
- Vice-Chairman: Chief Ministers of member states, rotating annually
Members:
- Chief Minister and two nominated ministers from each member state
- Two representatives from Union Territories in the zone
- Each Council has a Standing Committee comprising Chief Secretaries of the member states, which meets regularly to address and prepare issues for council discussions.
- Advisory Role: Zonal Councils can advise the Central and State Governments on matters of common interest.
- Issues Discussed: Law and order, economic and social planning, border disputes, linguistic minorities, inter-state transport, etc.
- Associated Agencies: Senior officers from NITI Aayog, Central Ministries, and State Governments participate as needed.
- This news underscores the growing relevance of cooperative federalism in India and the Zonal Councils’ role in promoting dialogue and dispute resolution across states.