Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Monday presided over the 32nd meeting of the Northern Zonal Council, driving forward an agenda centred on collaborative governance, inter-state coordination, and accelerated resolution of shared policy challenges.
The session opened with a tribute to the victims of the 10 November Delhi blast.
Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta, who attended the meeting, praised the Council’s role in nurturing constructive dialogue.
In a post on X, she noted that the forum translates Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of cooperative federalism into practical action.
Gupta emphasised that only collective participation can resolve several complex issues between the Centre and states, and she added that the Council provides an effective platform for structured, solution-oriented discussions.
The meeting examined multiple issues of national importance, including the swift investigation and disposal of sexual offence cases against women and children. The need for wider implementation of Fast Track Special Courts (FTSCs) to expedite justice was underscored.
Also discussed were efforts to expand brick-and-mortar banking services to all designated village areas, strengthen the Emergency Response Support System (ERSS-112), and improve essential sectors such as nutrition, education, healthcare, electricity supply, urban planning, and the cooperative network.
A statement issued after the meeting highlighted the comprehensive nature of the discussions, aimed at reinforcing development and administrative alignment across states and union territories.
Council Structure and Growing Importance
The Northern Zonal Council comprises Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Punjab, Rajasthan, Delhi, Jammu & Kashmir, Ladakh, and Chandigarh. Senior officials from the Centre, states, and UTs took part in the meeting.
The Inter-State Council Secretariat under the Ministry of Home Affairs organised the session, and the Haryana government hosted it. Amit Shah chaired the meeting, while Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini served as the vice-chairperson.
Although advisory in nature, Zonal Councils have steadily strengthened their role in fostering mutual understanding, administrative cooperation, and dispute resolution.
Established under Sections 15 to 22 of the States Reorganisation Act, 1956, the five Zonal Councils, including the Northern Council, have convened 63 meetings over the last 11 years.
The Councils continue to serve as an essential mechanism for addressing inter-state concerns, Centre–State disputes, and regional development priorities, ensuring a cohesive approach to governance across India’s federal structure.
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