Zonal Councils in India promote cooperative federalism by enhancing coordination among states and union territories, addressing regional issues, and supporting balanced socio-economic development across the country.

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• Zonal Councils are statutory and advisory bodies established under the States Reorganisation Act 1956 to promote coordination and cooperation among states, union territories, and the central government.
• These councils are deliberative in nature, and their recommendations are not binding, but they play a crucial role in resolving inter-state issues through dialogue and consensus building.
• There are five Zonal Councils in India: Northern, Central, Eastern, Western, and Southern, each covering specific states and union territories based on geography and administrative needs.
• The Union Home Minister serves as the common chairman of all Zonal Councils, while chief ministers of member states act as vice-chairmen on a rotational basis for one year.
• Zonal Councils discuss a wide range of issues including infrastructure development, water sharing, land disputes, financial assistance, and implementation of central schemes like direct benefit transfer.
• They also address national concerns such as reducing school dropouts, tackling malnutrition, improving banking access, and ensuring faster justice through special courts.
• Members include chief ministers of states, administrators of union territories, and nominated ministers, while advisors include officials from policy institutions and state administrations.
• The North Eastern Council, established in 1971, functions similarly but focuses specifically on development, security, and coordinated planning in the northeastern region of India.