25th Central Zonal Council Meeting Held in Varanasi
Why in the news
The 25th meeting of the Central Zonal Council took place in Varanasi, chaired by the Union Home Minister and organised by the Inter-State Council Secretariat with the Uttar Pradesh government.
Key facts
- Central Zonal Council states: Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Uttarakhand.
- The Union Home Minister is the chairman of every Zonal Council.
- Zonal Councils are statutory, not constitutional, bodies created by the States Reorganisation Act, 1956.
- Five Zonal Councils were created; the North Eastern Council was established separately in 1972.
About Zonal Councils
| Aspect | Detail |
|---|---|
| Role | High-level advisory forum for cooperation among states and with the Centre |
| Chairman | Union Home Minister |
| Vice-Chairman | Chief Ministers of member states, by annual rotation |
| Members | Chief Ministers, Lieutenant Governors or Administrators, and two ministers nominated by each state |
Matters taken up include investigation of sexual offences, Fast Track Special Courts, financial inclusion, emergency response systems, and regional issues such as nutrition, education, health and power.
Exam angle
- Zonal Councils are statutory, created by an Act of Parliament, and only advisory.
- Know the chairman and the rotating vice-chairman.
- The North Eastern Council (1972) is separate from the five Zonal Councils.