Published: 5th Oct, 2023
Context:
Recently, the Home Minister has attended 31st meeting of the Northern Zonal Council at Amritsar, Punjab, and emphasized that the Zonal Councils has over the years proved to be a significant factor in promoting healthy bond of mutual understanding and cooperation in various spheres.
What are Zonal Councils?
- Zonal Councils are the statutory bodies.
- They are established by an Act of the Parliament, that is, States Reorganisation Act of 1956.
- The act divided the country into five zones- Northern, Central, Eastern, Western and Southern and provided a zonal council for each zone.
- While forming these zones, several factors have been taken into account which include:
- The natural divisions of the country.
- The river systems and means of communication.
- The cultural and linguistic affinity.
- The requirements of economic development, security and law and order.
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Composition:
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Organizational Structure:
- Chairman: The Union Home Minister is the Chairman of each of these Councils.
- Vice Chairman: The Chief Ministers of the States included in each zone act as Vice-Chairman of the Zonal Council for that zone by rotation, each holding office for a period of one yer at a time.
- Members: Chief Minister and two other Ministers as nominated by the Governor from each of the States and two members from Union Territories included in the zone.
- Advisers: One person nominated by the Planning Commission (now NITI Aayog) for each of the Zonal Councils, Chief Secretaries and another officer/Development Commissioner nominated by each of the States included in the Zone.
Functions of the Councils:
- Any matter of common interest in the field of economic and social planning,
- Any matter concerning border disputes, linguistic minorities or inter-State transport,
- Any matter connected with or arising out of, the reorganization of the States under the States Reorganisation Act.
About Northern Zonal Council:
- The Northern Zonal Council comprises the States of Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir, Punjab, Rajasthan, National Capital Territory of Delhi and Union Territory of Chandigarh.
- The Zonal Councils provide an excellent forum where irritants between Centre and States and amongst States can be resolved through free and frank discussions and consultations.
- Through discussion and exchange of views, the Zonal Councils help in developing a coordinated approach among the States on important issues of socio and economic development.
- The Zonal Councils also discuss and make recommendations on issues of common interest of the States.
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Most recently, a North-Eastern Council was created by a separate Act of Parliament, the North-Eastern Council Act of 1971. |
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