Question

With reference to the Eastern Zonal Council, consider the following statements:

1. It includes Bihar, Jharkhand, and West Bengal.

2. Its headquarters is in Kolkata.

3. The council addresses disputes related to inter-state river waters.

Which of the above statements is/are correct?

• A. 1 and 2 only
• B. 2 and 3 only
• C. 1 and 3 only
• D. 1, 2, and 3

Answer 1

Answer:

C. 1 and 3 only

Eastern Zonal Council

• The Eastern Zonal Council comprises the states of Odisha, Bihar, Jharkhand, and West Bengal.

• The headquarters of the Eastern Zonal Council is located in Kolkata, West Bengal.

• The Zonal Councils, including the Eastern Zonal Council, are advisory bodies established under the States Reorganisation Act, 1956.

• Their primary role is to discuss and make recommendations on matters of common interest in the fields of economic and social planning, inter-state disputes, linguistic minorities, border disputes, and other issues concerning the states within the zone.

• Specifically, these councils address issues like inter-state river water disputes, although the final decision-making power in such matters rests with the central government and Parliament.

• The Union Home Minister is the ex-officio chairman of all Zonal Councils. The Chief Ministers of the states included in each zone act as vice-chairmen of the respective Zonal Councils on a rotational basis.

• The Zonal Councils aim to foster cooperation and coordination among states, promoting national integration and strengthening the federal structure of India.