India’s Zonal Councils: Cooperative Federalism in Action

Introduction

Zonal Councils in India are inter governmental bodies established to promote cooperative federalism and address regional issues. These councils facilitate coordination and cooperation among states and union territories within each zone, fostering dialogue, resolving disputes, and promoting balanced development. Zonal Councils serve as platforms for discussing and addressing common concerns, thereby contributing to the overall socio-economic progress and unity of the nation.

Zonal Councils in India: Promoting Inter-State Cooperation and Development

• Statutory (Extra-constitutional), only deliberative and advisory body; recommendations are not binding.
• Establishment: Established under the Re organisation of States Act 1956 (7th CAA 1956).
• Aim: Promoting cooperation and coordination between states, union territories and the Centre.
• Scope of Discussions in Zonal Council: Zonal Councils engage in discussions covering various topics such as mining, financial assistance from the central government for specific items, infrastructure development, land acquisition and transfer, water distribution, implementation of the Direct Benefit Transfer Scheme (DBT), state reorganization, and other matters of mutual concern at the regional level.
  • Issues of National Importance: Zonal Council meetings also address various national issues like establishing Fast Track Special Courts for the rapid trial of rape cases, ensuring banking facilities within 5 km of every village, expanding Primary Agricultural Credit Societies, combating child malnutrition, reducing school drop-out rates, and involving government hospitals in healthcare schemes like Ayushman Bharat.
• Five Zonal Councils: Northern, Central, Eastern, Western and Southern and provided a zonal council for each zone.
• Consideration is taken into account for the formation of these zones: 
  • The natural divisions of the country,
  • The river systems and means of communication, 
  • The cultural and linguistic affinity and the requirements of economic development, security and law and order.
• Members of Zonal Councils: Union Home Minister as Chairman + CMs of all the states in the zone + Two other ministers from each state in the zone + Administrator of each UT in the zone.
• Advisors: Persons that can be associated with the zonal council as advisors (i.e., without the right to vote in the meetings): 
  • A person nominated by the NITI Aayog; 
  • Chief secretary of the government of each state in the zone; and 
  • Development commissioner of each state in the zone.
• Common Chairman: The home minister of the Central government is the common chairman of the five zonal councils. 
• Vice-chairman: Each chief minister acts as vice-chairman of the council by rotation, holding office for one year at a time.
• Issue Resolution in Zonal Councils: Issues initially proposed by the States undergo discussion before the Standing Committee of the relevant Zonal Council. 
  • Unresolved Issues: Brought forward for discussion during the Zonal Council meeting.

North-Eastern Council: Coordinating Development and Security in the Northeast

• Statutory body created by separate Act i.e., North-Eastern Council Act, 1971. It came into existence on August 8, 1972.
• Members: All North Eastern states, Assam, Manipur, Mizoram, Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Meghalaya, Tripura and Sikkim (added in 2002).

Composition and Functions of the North-Eastern Council

• Ex-officio Chairperson:– Union Home Minister.
• Ex-officio Vice-Chairperson: Minister, Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region.
• Members: Governors and Chief Ministers of all the eight States and 3 members nominated by the President. 
• Functions: Similar to those of the zonal councils + unified and coordinated regional plan on matters of common importance; review measures for the maintenance of security and public order in the region.

Conclusion

• Zonal Councils serve as crucial platforms for fostering cooperation and addressing regional and national issues among states and union territories. 
• Similarly, the North East Zonal Council plays a significant role in promoting development and addressing unique challenges faced by the northeastern states. 
• Both these councils facilitate dialogue, cooperation, and the pursuit of collective goals, contributing to the overall progress and unity of the nation.