Zonal Councils: advisory forums set up under the States Re-organisation Act, 1956

Background

The idea of Zonal Councils was mooted by the first Prime Minister of India in 1956, during the debate on the report of the States Re-organisation Commission; he suggested grouping the States into four or five zones, each with an Advisory Council.
Five Zonal Councils were set up vide Part-III of the States Re-organisation Act, 1956.
As listed on the Ministry of Home Affairs page, the Southern Zonal Council comprises Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu and the Union Territory of Puducherry.
The Union Home Minister is the Chairman of each Council; the Chief Ministers of the States in each zone act as Vice-Chairman by rotation, each holding office for a period of one year at a time.
Each Zonal Council has a Standing Committee consisting of the Chief Secretaries of its member States.
The North Eastern States are not included in the Zonal Councils; their special problems are looked after by the North Eastern Council, set up under the North Eastern Council Act, 1972.
The Councils are advisory bodies.