Home Minister chairs the western zonal council meeting

CategoryPolity

Last Updated13/06/2022

Union Home Minister chaired the western zonal council meeting in Diu with the Chief Ministers of Goa and Gujarat, and the administrator of the Union Territory of Daman, Diu, Dadra and Nagar Haveli.
It was highlighted that the regional councils provide a forum for discussion in a structured manner on issues affecting one or more States or issues between the Centre and the States

These are Statutory bodies established under the States Reorganisation Act 1956 and not constitutional bodies.
They are only deliberative and advisory bodies.
Objective : to promote interstate cooperation and coordination.
- Bringing out national integration.
- Arresting the growth of acute State consciousness, regionalism, linguism and particularistic tendencies.
- Enabling the Centre and the States to co-operate and exchange ideas and experiences.
- Establishing a climate of co-operation amongst the States for successful and speedy execution of development projects.

Northern Zonal Council: comprises the States of Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir, Punjab, Rajasthan, National Capital Territory of Delhi and Union Territory of Chandigarh.
Central Zonal Council: comprises the States of Chhattisgarh, Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh.
Eastern Zonal Council: comprises the States of Bihar, Jharkhand, Orissa, and West Bengal.
Western Zonal Council: compris the States of Goa, Gujarat, Maharashtra and the Union Territories of Daman & Diu and Dadra & Nagar Haveli.
Southern Zonal Council: comprises the States of Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu and the Union Territory of Puducherry.

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 year 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Advisers– One person nominated by the Planning Commission (which has been replaced by NITI Ayog now) for each of the Zonal Councils, Chief Secretaries and another officer/Development Commissioner nominated by each of the States included in the Zone.
Union Ministers are also invited to participate in the meetings of Zonal Councils depending upon necessity.

Prelims takeaway