Southern Zonal Council
Prelims:
Indian Polity
and Governance
Mains:
GS Paper II:
Indian Polity and Governance
Current relevance:
The
31st meeting of the Southern Zonal Council (SZC) was scheduled to be
chaired by the union home minister and Minister of Cooperation on 20
August 2026 at Mahabalipuram, Tamil Nadu, with a focus on strengthening
cooperative federalism and resolving Centre–State and inter-State issues
through dialogue.
Highlights:
About Zonal Council:
1.
Five Zonal Councils were established under Sections 15–22 of the States
Reorganisation Act, 1956.
2.
They provide a structured mechanism for dialogue and consultation
on issues affecting two or more States or the Centre and States.Their role is advisory
in nature.
3.
They seek to promote mutual understanding, cooperation and resolution
of inter-State and Centre–State issues through dialogue.
4.
A Standing Committee at the level of Chief Secretaries first
deliberates issues proposed by States; unresolved matters are subsequently
placed before the Zonal Council.
Constitutional provision:
1.
Zonal
Councils are statutory bodies created under the States Reorganisation
Act, 1956.
2.
Article
263 – Inter-State Council:
The Constitution separately provides for
the establishment of an Inter-State Council to facilitate coordination,
discussion and inquiry into matters of common interest between States and
between the Union and States.
Southern Zonal Council:
1.
The
Southern Zonal Council comprises:
·
States:
Andhra Pradesh,
Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Telangana.
·
Union
Territories: Puducherry,
Andaman and Nicobar Islands and Lakshadweep.
2.
The
union home minister serves as Chairman.
3.
The
Chief Ministers of member States serve as Vice-Chairman by
rotation.
4.
The
meeting is organised by the Inter-State Council Secretariat, Ministry of
Home Affairs, with the concerned State serving as host.
Significance for
Cooperative Federalism:
1.
Zonal
Councils support the principle that “strong States make a strong nation.”
2.
They
promote cooperative federalism by institutionalising consultation
between the Union and States.
3.
They
facilitate the settlement of regional and inter-State issues through discussion
rather than confrontation.
4.
According
to the given information, 69 meetings of Zonal Councils and their
Standing Committees have been held from June 2014 to August 2026.
Source: PIB - https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleaseDetail.aspx?PRID=2301113®=48&lang=1