11th July 2025 (15 Topics)

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Zonal Meet on Women & Child Development

Context:

The Ministry of Women and Child Development is convening a Zonal Meeting on 12th July 2025 in Kevadia, Gujarat, to enhance Centre-State collaboration and review key schemes like Mission Shakti, Mission Vatsalya, and SakshamAnganwadi&Poshan 2.0.

Purpose and Participants:

The Zonal Meeting is intended to enhance Centre-State coordination for effective implementation of Women and Child Development (WCD) schemes.
Participating states: Gujarat, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Goa, and Dadra & Nagar Haveli and Daman & Diu.

Key Schemes in Focus:

Mission Shakti: Focuses on safety, security, and empowerment of women (includes Sambal and Samarthya sub-schemes).
Mission Vatsalya: For child protection services including institutional/non-institutional care, adoption, and child helpline.
SakshamAnganwadi and Poshan 2.0: Strengthens nutrition services and infrastructure; promotes digital tools like the Poshan Tracker.

Technological and Governance Innovations:

Discussions include use of Face Recognition Systems (FRS) for authentication in service delivery.
Promotes technology-enabled grassroots integration and cross-learning from best practices presented by various states.
Initiative like “EkPedMaaKeNaam” shows convergence of environmental sustainability with social development efforts.

Zonal Councils

Statutory bodies established under the States Reorganisation Act, 1956 (Sections 15–22).
Aim: To promote cooperative federalism, resolve inter-State issues, and enhance Centre–State coordination.
Proposed by Jawaharlal Nehru during debates on the States Reorganisation Commission (1953).
Five Zonal Councils were set up; the North Eastern Council (NEC) was created separately in 1972 under the NEC Act.

Types of Zonal Councils and Member States

Northern Zonal Council: Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Punjab, Rajasthan, Jammu & Kashmir, Delhi, Chandigarh
Central Zonal Council: Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Uttarakhand
Eastern Zonal Council: Bihar, Jharkhand, Odisha, West Bengal, Sikkim
Western Zonal Council: Rajasthan, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Goa, Dadra & Nagar Haveli and Daman & Diu
Southern Zonal Council: Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Puducherry
North Eastern Council (NEC)(Separate): Covers 8 North Eastern States; set up in 1972

Composition of Zonal Councils

Chairman – Union Home Minister (ex-officio)
Vice-Chairman – Chief Minister of a member State (rotates annually)
Members:
- Chief Ministers and Administrators of member States/UTs
- Two Ministers nominated by each State’s Governor
Advisors:
- One nominee from NITI Aayog
- Chief Secretaries and Development Commissioners of member States
- A Permanent Committee of Chief Secretaries prepares issues for discussion

Functions of Zonal Councils

Foster cooperation on border disputes, infrastructure, water sharing, and internal security
Provide a platform for dialogue on inter-State transport, economic and social planning
Enable regular interaction between State and Central officials to resolve administrative issues
Encourage sharing of best practices and development models

Supreme Court's Intervention in Bihar SIR

Polity & Governance

Empowering India’s Youth

Economy

Recurring Infrastructure Failures

Economy Infrastructure

Protecting the Right to Vote

Polity & Governance

FATF Report Flags Pakistan Terror Funding

International Relations International Organization

Ashadha Purnima Celebrated at Sarnath

Indian Culture

India’s Manuscript Legacy

Indian Culture

Telangana Approves 42? Reservation in Local Body Elections

Polity & Governance

Aspirational DMF Programme

Polity & Governance

Boundary Rationalisation of Sariska Tiger Reserve

Ecology and Environment Environment Conservation

Revival of Lotus in Wular Lake

Ecology and Environment

DST Funding Model for State S&T Councils

Science & Technology Research and Development

Strengthening India’s TB Elimination Strategy

Science & Technology

UNFPA's Rights-Based Fertility Approach

Miscellaneous

GS Analyst: Daily Current Affairs

Zonal Meet on Women & Child Development

Purpose and Participants:

Key Schemes in Focus:

Technological and Governance Innovations: