Zonal Councils: Composition & Functions

• Union Home Minister Amit Shah recently chaired the 32^nd meeting of the Northern Zonal Council in Faridabad, Haryana. The meeting underscores the ongoing significance of zonal councils in enhancing regional cooperation and Centre–State coordination.

About Zonal Councils

• Mooted by PM Jawaharlal Nehru in 1956 to address linguistic hostilities and promote cooperation.
• Legal Basis: Established under States Reorganisation Act, 1956 as statutory (extra-constitutional) advisory bodies.
• Objective: Foster coordination among states and the Centre for economic, social and political stability.
• Nature: Only deliberative and advisory, recommendations are not binding.

Five Zonal Councils and Their Structure

Composition

• Chairman: Union Home Minister (common chairman for all Zonal Councils).
• Vice-Chairman: Chief Ministers of states in each zone, serving by rotation for one year.
• Members:
  • Chief Ministers and two ministers from each state in the zone.
  • Administrators of Union Territories in the zone.
  • NITI Aayog representative, Chief Secretaries and Development Commissioners as advisors (without voting rights).

• Standing Committees: Chief Secretaries of member states discuss issues and prepare for main meetings.

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North Eastern Council: Special Regional Body

• Legal Basis: North Eastern Council Act, 1971 (came into force in 1972).
• Members: Assam, Manipur, Mizoram, Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Meghalaya, Tripura and Sikkim (added in 2002).
• Chairperson: Union Home Minister.
• Vice-Chairperson: Minister for Development of the North Eastern Region (DoNER).
• Functions: Same as Zonal Councils; In addition to coordinated regional planning and security review.

Factors Considered in Zonal Formation

• Natural Divisions: Geographical continuity and topography.
• River Systems & Connectivity: Facilitates regional cooperation in water resources.
• Cultural & Linguistic Affinity: Helps in social and administrative coordination.
• Economic & Security Needs: Ensures balanced development and law & order management.

Role of Zonal Councils in Disputes and Development

• Dispute Dialogue: Provides a neutral forum for resolving inter-state conflicts. E.g., discussions on the SYL Canal dispute between Punjab and Haryana.
• Security Coordination: Enables joint strategies on law and order, seen in the Eastern Zonal Council’s role in reducing LWE violence by 76% since 2010.
• Infrastructure Integration: Supports regional planning of transport and power networks. E.g., the Western Zonal Council’s work on coastal connectivity among Maharashtra, Gujarat, and Goa.
• Social Harmonisation: Aligns policies on health and education. E.g., the Southern Zonal Council’s efforts to reduce school dropout rates across states.
• Economic Alignment: Addresses regulatory issues to promote balanced growth, evident in Central Zonal Council discussions on mining and land acquisition for regional development.

Limitations of Zonal Councils

• Advisory Nature: Since decisions are non-binding, progress often stalls. E.g., the SYL Canal dispute continues despite multiple Northern Council discussions.
• Irregular Meetings: Inconsistent meeting frequency hampers continuity. E.g., Eastern Zonal Council’s gaps slowed coordination on LWE issues.
• Poor Implementation: Lack of monitoring leads to weak follow-through. E.g., partial execution of mining and land reforms in Central Zonal states.
• Overlapping Institutions: More influential bodies overshadow councils. E.g., the GST Council and state MoUs take precedence over the Southern Zonal Council deliberations.
• Administrative Constraints: Uneven state capacity delays action. E.g., Jharkhand and Odisha’s slower implementation of regional connectivity decisions.

Way Forward

• Implement Recommendations: Implement the suggestions from the Sarkaria and Punchhi Commissions regarding regular meetings, follow-up mechanisms, and secretariat support.
• Strengthen Monitoring: Establish a dedicated mechanism or digital dashboard to monitor the council’s implementation decisions.
• Political Commitment: Ensure ongoing cooperation between the Centre and states to make councils effective instruments of federalism.
• Administrative Strengthening: Enable bureaucratic and standing committees to address issues proactively, decreasing reliance on political-level meetings.

Zonal Councils are essential pillars of cooperative federalism, facilitating dialogue, coordination, and equitable regional development. As emphasised by the Punchhi Commission, “regular meetings and follow-up are key to translating deliberations into action.”

Reference: The Hindu | PMFIAS: Zonal Councils

PMF IAS Pathfinder for Mains – Question 436

Q. Zonal Councils were designed as platforms of cooperative federalism, yet their impact remains uneven across regions. Critically analyse their role in resolving inter-state disputes and promoting balanced regional development. (250 Words) (15 Marks)

Approach

• Introduction: Write a brief introduction about the Zonal Council.
• Body: Analyse the zonal council’s role in inter-state disputes and regional balance, and also discuss the limiting factors and the way forward.
• Conclusion: Emphasis on establishing a robust and effective zonal council to promote cooperative federalism and foster national integration.