Executive Summary:
This document is a response to Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 2746 regarding the meetings and effectiveness of Zonal Councils in India between 2014 and 2025. It details the number of meetings held, the key issues discussed, and the government's perspective on the Councils' effectiveness. The response was provided on August 5, 2025, by the Minister of State in the Ministry of Home Affairs.
Key Points / Main Content:
* **Meetings Held:**
* 63 meetings of the Zonal Councils and their Standing Committees were held between January 1, 2014, and July 31, 2025.
* These meetings involved discussions on a wide range of issues sponsored by State Governments, UT Administrations, and Central Ministries/Departments.
* Recommendations were made to resolve or achieve progress on these issues through cooperation.
* **Key Issues Discussed:**
* **Child Malnutrition:** Addressing malnutrition among girl children through Poshan Abhiyan has been discussed regularly since January 2023.
* **Cooperative Movement:** Strengthening the cooperative movement ("sahkar se smriddhi") has been discussed since August 2023.
* **Women Empowerment:** Discussions have included speedy investigation of rape and sexual offenses under the POCSO Act, and the implementation status of Fast Track Special Courts since January 2022.
* **Panchayat Income:** Increasing the income of Panchayats was discussed in the 25th meeting of the Central Zonal Council on June 24, 2025, and in its Standing Committee meetings prior.
* **Effectiveness of Zonal Councils:**
* The government views Zonal Councils as an effective forum for discussion and making recommendations.
* The number of meetings and issues discussed have increased substantially in recent years.
Impact Analysis:
* State Governments/UT Administrations:
* Impact: Addressed and sponsored issues are being discussed in Zonal Council meetings for resolution and progress.
* Action Required: Continue to sponsor issues and participate in discussions to further progress on regional matters.
* Central Ministries/Departments:
* Impact: Their sponsored issues are being discussed in Zonal Council meetings, with potential for collaborative solutions.
* Action Required: Engage in discussions, provide necessary support and information, and implement recommendations arising from the meetings.
* Zonal Councils and Standing Committees:
* Impact: Serve as key platforms for cooperative discussions and recommendations on critical regional and national issues.
* Action Required: Continue to facilitate effective discussions, address sponsored issues, and generate actionable recommendations.
Key Entities Referenced
Zonal Councils: A statutory forum for discussion between State Governments, UT Administrations, and Central Ministries/Departments.
Ministry of Home Affairs: The Indian government ministry responsible for internal security and policy.
Lok Sabha: The lower house of the Parliament of India.
DR. SAMBIT PATRA: The individual who raised the unstarred question in the Lok Sabha.
SHRI NITYANAND RAI: The Minister of State in the Ministry of Home Affairs who provided the answer.
Poshan Abhiyan: A program addressing malnutrition among girl children, regularly discussed in Zonal Council meetings.
POCSO Act: Act related to speedy investigation in cases of rape and sexual offences against women and children
Central Zonal Council: One of the Zonal Councils in India, the 25th meeting was held on 24.6.2025.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2746
TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 5TH AUGUST, 2025/ SRAVANA 14, 1947 (SAKA)
MEETINGS OF ZONAL COUNCIL
†2746. DR. SAMBIT PATRA:
Will the Minister of HOME AFFAIRS be pleased to state:
(a) the number of meetings of the Zonal Councils held between 2014 and
2025 and the key outcomes thereof;
(b) the action plan prepared by the Government through the Zonal Councils
for the elimination of child malnutrition, strengthening of the cooperative
movement, women empowerment and increasing the income of panchayats,
if so, the details thereof; and
(c) whether there is any plan under consideration of the Government to make
the Zonal Councils more effective and if so, the details thereof?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS
(SHRI NITYANAND RAI)
(a): 63 meetings of the Zonal Councils and their Standing Committees have
been held between 1st January, 2014 till 31st July, 2025, in which wide
ranging issues sponsored by State Governments/ UT Administrations and
Central Ministries/ Departments have been discussed in detail, and
appropriate recommendations have been made with the aim of resolving or
achieving progress over such issues in a cooperative spirit.-2-
L.S.US.Q.NO. 2746 FOR 05.08.2025
(b): Issues pertaining to elimination of child malnutrition, strengthening of
cooperative movement, women empowerment and increasing the income of
panchayats have been discussed in meetings of Zonal Councils, wherein
status of progress as well as points of concern and action on these issues
have also been discussed. Accordingly, agenda on 'addressing malnutrition
among girl children through Poshan Abhiyan' has been regularly discussed
in meetings of all Zonal Councils and their Standing Committees since
January 2023; agenda on strengthening cooperative movement titled
'sahkar se smriddhi - strengthening cooperative movement in the country'
has been discussed in meetings of all Zonal Councils and their Standing
Committees since August 2023; agenda related to women empowerment
including those pertaining to speedy investigation in cases of rape and
sexual offences under POCSO Act against women and children, and status
of implementation of the scheme for Fast Track Special Courts for timely
trial of such cases, have been discussed in meetings of all Zonal Councils
and their Standing Committees since January 2022; and agenda related to
increasing income of panchayats has been discussed in the 25th meeting of
the Central Zonal Council held on 24.6.2025 as well as in its Standing
Committee before that.-3-
L.S.US.Q.NO. 2746 FOR 05.08.2025
(c): In view of Zonal Councils providing an effective statutory forum to
State Governments/ UT Administrations and Central Ministries/ Departments
for discussion in a cooperative spirit, over the issues they sponsor, and for
making of appropriate recommendations with the aim of resolving or
achieving progress over such issues, the numbers of the meetings of Zonal
Councils and their Standing Committees, as well as the number of issues
discussed therein, have seen a substantial increase over the past years.
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