Question

With respect to the Central Zonal Council, consider the following statements:

1. It includes Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh.

2. Its headquarters is in Allahabad.

3. The Development Commissioner of each state is a voting member.

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:

C. 1 only

Central Zonal Council

• The Central Zonal Council is an inter-State council comprising the following states: Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, and Uttarakhand.

• Therefore, statement 1, which mentions Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh, is partially correct as these states are indeed part of the Central Zonal Council. However, it's important to note the inclusion of Chhattisgarh and Uttarakhand for a complete understanding.

• The headquarters of the Central Zonal Council is located in Allahabad (now Prayagraj), Uttar Pradesh. This location serves as the administrative base for the council's activities.

• Thus, statement 2 is correct.

• Regarding statement 3, the Chief Ministers of the member states are the Chairman of their respective Zonal Councils. The Union Home Minister is the Vice-Chairman. Other members include the Chief Ministers of the states included in the zone, two other cabinet ministers from each state, and the administrators of Union Territories included in the zone. The Development Commissioner of each state is a non-voting member.

• Therefore, statement 3 is incorrect because the Development Commissioner is not a voting member.

• The Zonal Councils were established by the States Reorganisation Act, 1956.

• They are advisory bodies that aim to promote cooperation and coordination between the states and the Union Territories on various matters of common interest, such as economic planning, social planning, border disputes, and infrastructure development.

• There are five Zonal Councils: Northern, Central, Eastern, Western, and Southern.