Question

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

1. Its headquarters is in New Delhi.

2. It includes the Union Territories of Delhi and Chandigarh.

3. The council is chaired by the Chief Minister of Haryana.

Which of the above statements is/are correct?

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

Answer 1

Answer:

B. 2 and 3 only

Northern Zonal Council

• The Northern Zonal Council is one of the five zonal councils of India, established under the States Reorganisation Act, 1956.

• The Act aims to foster cooperation and coordination between the states and the Union Territories in the respective zones.

Composition of the Northern Zonal Council

• Member States: Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, Punjab, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, and Uttarakhand.

• Union Territories: Delhi and Chandigarh are included in the Northern Zonal Council.

Office and Chairmanship

• The headquarters of the Northern Zonal Council is indeed in New Delhi. This is where the Zonal Council Secretariat is located.

• The chairmanship of the Zonal Council rotates annually among the member states, with the Union Home Minister acting as the ex-officio Chairman of all Zonal Councils. However, the day-to-day work and meetings are presided over by the Chief Ministers of the constituent states on a rotational basis.

• In the context of the Northern Zonal Council, the statement that the council is chaired by the Chief Minister of Haryana refers to the rotational chairmanship. The Chief Minister of Haryana, along with the Chief Ministers of other member states, serves as the Chairman for a period.

Analysis of Statements

• Statement 1: The headquarters is in New Delhi. This statement is correct.

• Statement 2: It includes the Union Territories of Delhi and Chandigarh. This statement is correct.

• Statement 3: The council is chaired by the Chief Minister of Haryana. This statement is correct, as the chairmanship rotates among the Chief Ministers of the member states.