Context:

• Union Home and Cooperation Minister Amit Shah chaired the 25th meeting of the Central Zonal Council in Varanasi on 24 June 2025.

Key Points:

• First-time held in Varanasi: The meeting was organized in Varanasi for the first time outside the state capital, reflecting the Central Government’s policy to reduce regional disparity.
• Cooperative federalism: The meeting reinforced Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of “cooperative and competitive federalism.”
• Amit Shah’s role: As Home Minister, Shah promoted coordination between the Centre and the states.

Key Participants:

• Chief Ministers: Yogi Adityanath (Uttar Pradesh), Mohan Yadav (Madhya Pradesh), Pushkar Singh Dhami (Uttarakhand), Vishnudev Sai (Chhattisgarh)
• Others: Chief Secretaries of states, senior ministers, representatives of NITI Aayog, and members of the Inter-State Council Secretariat.

Key Issues Discussed:

Regional Cooperation:

• Resolution of inter-state disputes (water, boundary, property)
• Equitable use of natural resources

Security:

• Road and communication systems in border areas
• Fast-track courts for crimes against women and children
• Promotion of 112 helpline

Development:

• Nutrition, health, and education
• Banking facilities in villages
• Expansion of Vibrant Village scheme and BharatNet
• Environment and Tourism:
• Environmental protection and tourism development

Cooperation:

• Cooperative system and administrative coordination

GI Products:

• Promotion of regional products

Outcomes:

• Federal unity: Yogi Adityanath termed it part of the “Team India” approach
• Development roadmap: Strategy for security, development, and coordination
• Dispute resolution: Platform for discussion on inter-state issues
• Regional inclusion: Hosting in Varanasi promotes regional development

Zonal Councils:

• Established: Under Sections 15 to 22 of the States Reorganisation Act, 1956
• Chairperson: Union Home Minister
• Vice-Chairperson: One of the Chief Ministers of the member states (rotates annually)
• Members: Chief Ministers of the concerned states, Lieutenant Governors/Administrators of Union Territories
• Total Zonal Councils: 5

Zonal Councils in India:

Note: For the northeastern states, a separate body, the North Eastern Council (NEC), was established in 1971, which covers Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Tripura, and Sikkim.

Relevant Facts:

• These councils are not constitutional but statutory bodies
• Their decisions are advisory, not binding
• These councils strengthen the spirit of decentralization, federalism, and cooperative federalism