National 20 August 2026
Union Home Minister Amit Shah Chairs 31st Southern Zonal Council Meeting in Mahabalipuram
Why in the News?
Union Home and Cooperation Minister Amit Shah chaired the 31st meeting of the Southern Zonal Council (SZC) at Mahabalipuram in Tamil Nadu. The conference focused on enhancing cooperative federalism and inter-state coordination between the Centre, southern states, and Union Territories.
Key Features / Major Points:
Member States & UTs: The council comprises Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, and the Union Territories of Puducherry, Andaman & Nicobar Islands, and Lakshadweep.
Vice-Chairmanship: The Chief Minister of the host state (Tamil Nadu) serves as the Vice-Chairman, a role rotated annually among the member Chief Ministers.
Organizer: Organized by the Inter-State Council Secretariat under the Ministry of Home Affairs, with the Government of Tamil Nadu acting as the host.
Focus Areas: Discussions centered on inter-state water sharing, infrastructure development, economic growth, disaster management, and law & order security.
Static GK Facts:
Zonal Councils:
Nature: They are statutory bodies established by an Act of Parliament (not constitutional bodies).
Enactment: Created under Sections 15 to 22 of the States Reorganisation Act, 1956.
Total Councils: 5 (Northern, Central, Eastern, Western, and Southern).
Chairman: The Union Home Minister is the common ex-officio Chairman of all Zonal Councils.
(Note: The North-Eastern Council was established separately under the North-Eastern Council Act, 1971)
One-Liner Quiz (All Competitive Exams):
Who acts as the ex-officio Chairman of all the Zonal Councils in India?
Answer: Union Home Minister
Under which legislation were the five Zonal Councils established in India?
Answer: States Reorganisation Act, 1956