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Zonal Councils of India GK Questions & Answers
Zonal Councils in India are statutory deliberative bodies established under Part III (Sections 15 to 22) of the States Reorganisation Act of 1956, rather than constitutional bodies under Article 263. Initiated under Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru to mitigate regionalism following linguistic state reorganizations, the 1956 Act divided the country into five distinct administrative zones: Northern (headquartered at New Delhi), Central (headquartered at Prayagraj/Allahabad), Eastern (headquartered at Kolkata), Western (headquartered at Mumbai), and Southern (headquartered at Chennai). Subsequently, the North Eastern Council was instituted as an autonomous statutory authority under the North Eastern Council Act of 1971, encompassing Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, and Tripura, with Sikkim incorporated through a 2002 amendment. The Union Home Minister serves as the common ex-officio Chairman across all five Zonal Councils, while the Chief Ministers of the member States hold the office of Vice-Chairman by annual rotation. Two additional cabinet ministers nominated by the Governor from each state and the Chief Secretary act as members and advisors. These councils advise on inter-state boundary disputes, linguistic minority safeguards, interstate transport networks, and economic development planning.
High-yield conceptual summaries for competitive exams and rapid revision.
Zonal Councils are statutory entities established under Sections 15 to 22 of the States Reorganisation Act of 1956, not constitutional bodies.
The States Reorganisation Act of 1956 originally demarcated five territorial Zonal Councils: Northern, Central, Eastern, Western, and Southern.
The Union Home Minister acts as the ex-officio Chairman of all five statutory Zonal Councils.
The Chief Ministers of member states within each zone serve as Vice-Chairman by annual rotation in alphabetical or designated sequence.
The Northern Zonal Council is headquartered in New Delhi, covering Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir, Punjab, Rajasthan, NCT of Delhi, Chandigarh, and Ladakh.
The Central Zonal Council has its administrative headquarters at Prayagraj (Allahabad), comprising Chhattisgarh, Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, and Madhya Pradesh.
The Eastern Zonal Council is headquartered in Kolkata, including Bihar, Jharkhand, Odisha, and West Bengal.
The Western Zonal Council is headquartered in Mumbai, encompassing Goa, Gujarat, Maharashtra, and the Union Territory of Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu.
The Southern Zonal Council is headquartered in Chennai, comprising Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, and the Union Territory of Puducherry.
The North Eastern states were excluded from the 1956 Act framework and were separately organized under the North Eastern Council Act of 1971.
The North Eastern Council (NEC) is headquartered in Shillong and became operational on November 7, 1972.
Sikkim was added as the eighth member of the North Eastern Council following the North Eastern Council (Amendment) Act of December 2002.
Each Zonal Council includes the Chief Minister and two other Cabinet Ministers nominated by the Governor from each participating State.
The Chief Secretary of each member state acts as the Secretary to the Zonal Council on an annual rotational basis.
Zonal Councils function solely as advisory deliberative forums without binding executive or legislative authority over participating state governments.
easyNITI Aayog, Planning History & Inter-State Council
Who serves as the Chairman of the Zonal Councils created under the States Reorganisation Act, 1956?
Verified Explanation
Under the States Reorganisation Act, 1956, the Union Home Minister acts as the common Chairman of all the five Zonal Councils (Northern, Central, Eastern, Western, Southern).
2ID: GK-INST-00086
easyNITI Aayog, Planning History & Inter-State Council
How many statutory Zonal Councils were established across India under the States Reorganisation Act, 1956 to foster interstate cooperation?
Verified Explanation
The States Reorganisation Act, 1956 established 5 Zonal Councils: Northern, Central, Eastern, Western, and Southern. (The North Eastern Council was created separately under the NEC Act, 1971).
3ID: GK-INST-00303
hardNITI Aayog, Planning History & Inter-State Council
Under Section 15 of the States Reorganisation Act, 1956, who is statutorily designated as the common Chairman of all five Zonal Councils (Northern, Central, Eastern, Western, and Southern)?
Verified Explanation
Section 16(1)(a) of the States Reorganisation Act, 1956 mandates that the Union Minister of Home Affairs is the common Chairman of all five Zonal Councils, fostering inter-state and Centre-state coordination.
4ID: GK-INST-00393
mediumNITI Aayog, Planning History & Inter-State Council
Under which statutory enactment were the five Zonal Councils (Northern, Central, Eastern, Western, and Southern) created in 1956?
Verified Explanation
The Zonal Councils are statutory (not constitutional) bodies established under Part III of the States Reorganisation Act, 1956 to foster inter-state cooperation.
5ID: GK-INST-00394
mediumNITI Aayog, Planning History & Inter-State Council
Who acts as the common Chairman of all the five statutory Zonal Councils in India?
Verified Explanation
Under Section 16(1) of the States Reorganisation Act, 1956, the Union Home Minister acts as the common Chairman of all five Zonal Councils, while the Chief Ministers of member states act as Vice-Chairman by annual rotation.
6ID: GK-INST-00448
easyNITI Aayog, Planning History & Inter-State Council
Who acts as the ex-officio Chairman of the five statutory Zonal Councils created under the States Reorganisation Act, 1956?
Verified Explanation
Under Section 16 of the States Reorganisation Act 1956, the Union Home Minister is the common Chairman of all five Zonal Councils (Northern, Central, Eastern, Western, and Southern).
7ID: GK-INST-00509
easyNITI Aayog, Planning History & Inter-State Council
Who presides over the meetings of the Zonal Councils created under the States Reorganisation Act, 1956?
Verified Explanation
The Union Minister for Home Affairs acts as the common Chairman of all five Zonal Councils (Northern, Central, Eastern, Western, and Southern) created under Part III of the States Reorganisation Act, 1956.
8ID: GK-INST-00581
hardNITI Aayog, Planning History & Inter-State Council
Under which statutory legislation were India's five statutory Zonal Councils (Northern, Central, Eastern, Western, and Southern) created?
Verified Explanation
Zonal Councils are statutory (not constitutional) bodies established under Part III of the States Reorganisation Act, 1956 to foster interstate cooperation, with the Union Home Minister acting as the common Chairman of all Zonal Councils.
9ID: GK-STUT-00148
mediumState Capitals & Formation
Under the States Reorganisation Act of 1956, how many statutory Zonal Councils were originally established to promote interstate cooperation?
Verified Explanation
Section 15 of the States Reorganisation Act, 1956 established five Zonal Councils: Northern, Central, Eastern, Western, and Southern. The North-Eastern Council was later set up separately under a 1971 Act.
10ID: GK-STUT-00149
mediumState Capitals & Formation
Who acts as the permanent common Chairman of all the five statutory Zonal Councils in India?
Verified Explanation
The Union Home Minister is the permanent Chairman of all five Zonal Councils, while the Chief Ministers of the member states act as Vice-Chairman by annual rotation.