Overview and Functions of Zonal Councils in India

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Key takeaways

The Union Home Minister will chair the 31st meeting of the Southern Zonal Council (SZC) on August 20, 2026, in Mahabalipuram, Tamil Nadu.
Established under Part III of the States Reorganisation Act, 1956, Zonal Councils function as statutory advisory bodies to boost inter-state cooperation.
The original 1956 Act created 5 zonal councils, while the North-Eastern Council was set up later under the North-Eastern Council Act, 1971.
These councils address inter-state border disputes, linguistic minority matters, joint socio-economic planning, water sharing, and regional transport connectivity.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah will chair the 31st meeting of the Southern Zonal Council (SZC) on August 20, 2026, in Mahabalipuram, Tamil Nadu.

Zonal Councils are high-level statutory advisory bodies that promote cooperation among states and resolve inter-state issues through regional planning.
The central government established these regional advisory bodies in the year 1956.
The legal authority for establishing these councils comes from Part III of the States Reorganisation Act, 1956.
These councils are statutory bodies created by an act of Parliament, which means they are not constitutional bodies.
Under the 1956 Act, the government divided the country into 5 zones: Northern, Central, Eastern, Western, and Southern Zonal Councils.
Later, Parliament established the North-Eastern Council separately through the North-Eastern Council Act, 1971.
These councils aim to strengthen cooperative federalism, promote national integration, control regionalism, and offer a platform for Centre-State cooperation.

They discuss practical solutions to settle sensitive inter-state border friction and protect the rights of linguistic minorities.
They formulate common regional plans for development across sectors such as agriculture, health, education, coastal security, and disaster management.
They coordinate infrastructural expansion plans for inter-state highway networks, railway connections, and regional electricity grids.
They facilitate mutual agreements between states concerning inter-state river water sharing, irrigation canals, and dam operations.
A Standing Committee headed by member state Chief Secretaries on rotation screens administrative issues before submitting them to the main council.

They provide a regular forum where the Centre and states resolve operational issues collectively to strengthen Team India.
They enable neighboring states to settle shared administrative and development challenges through mutual dialogue rather than expensive court litigation.