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Consider the following statements about the membership of Zonal Councils:

  1. Each state in the zone nominates two ministers to the council.

  2. The NITI Aayog nominates a person as an advisor to each Zonal Council.

  3. The Chief Minister of each state is a permanent member of the council.

    Which of the above statements is/are correct?

A1 and 2 only

B1 and 3 only

C2 and 3 only

D1, 2, and 3

Answer:

B. 1 and 3 only

Read Explanation:

Zonal Councils

  • Establishment: Zonal Councils were established by the States Reorganisation Act, 1956. They are advisory bodies and not constitutional bodies.

  • Objective: The primary aim of Zonal Councils is to promote interstate cooperation and coordination on matters of common interest, such as economic planning, social welfare, and border disputes.

  • Membership Structure:

    • Chairman: The Union Home Minister is the ex-officio Chairman of all five Zonal Councils.

    • Vice-Chairman: The Union Minister of State, nominated by the Central Government, acts as the Vice-Chairman. He or she serves as the Chairman for one year at a time, rotating among the states included in the zone.

    • Members: Each state included in a zone nominates:

      • The Chief Minister as a member.

      • Two other ministers as members.

    • Advisory Role: The NITI Aayog does not nominate a person as an advisor to each Zonal Council. Instead, it may provide expertise or data as needed, but direct nomination of advisors is not part of the Zonal Council structure.

  • Zonal Council Areas: India is divided into five zones:

    • Northern Zonal Council: Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, Punjab, Rajasthan, Delhi, and Chandigarh.

    • Central Zonal Council: Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Madhya Pradesh, and Chhattisgarh.

    • Eastern Zonal Council: Bihar, Jharkhand, Odisha, and West Bengal.

    • Western Zonal Council: Goa, Gujarat, Maharashtra, and Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu.

    • Southern Zonal Council: Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, and Puducherry.

  • Island Territories: The Andaman and Nicobar Islands and Lakshadweep are not included in any of the five Zonal Councils.

Key Points for Exams:

  • Zonal Councils are statutory bodies, not constitutional.

  • The Union Home Minister is the Chairman of all Zonal Councils.

  • The Chief Minister of each state is a permanent member of the respective Zonal Council.

  • Each state nominates two ministers besides the Chief Minister.

Related Questions:

Which of the following activities are placed under limitations for the Attorney General?
i. Accepting an appointment as a director in any private company or corporation without the Government of India's permission.
ii. Advising or holding a brief in a case where he/she is already expected to appear for the Government of India.
iii. Representing the Government of India in a reference made by the President to the Supreme Court under Article 143.

Given below are two statements, Assertion (A) and Reason (R).

Assertion (A): The State Finance Commission has the power to require any person to furnish information on relevant matters.

Reason (R): This power is crucial for the Commission to conduct a comprehensive and evidence-based review of the financial position of the Panchayats.

Choose the correct answer from the options given below:

Choose the correct statement(s) regarding the qualifications of Finance Commission members.

i) The Chairman must have experience in public affairs.

ii) One member must be a judge of the Supreme Court or qualified to be one.

iii) One member must have specialized knowledge of government finance and accounts.

iv) One member must have special knowledge of economics.

Consider the following statements about the factors considered in forming Zonal Councils:

  1. Natural divisions and river systems were considered while forming the zones.

  2. Linguistic affinity was a key factor in determining the zones.

  3. The zones were created to ensure equal population distribution.

Which of the above statements is/are correct?

Assertion (A): The CAG’s administrative expenses are charged upon the Consolidated Fund of India and are not subject to parliamentary vote.

Reason (R): This provision ensures the CAG’s financial autonomy, preventing parliamentary control over its budget.

Select the correct answer code: