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Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation Amit Shah chaired the 28th meeting of the Western Zonal Council in Panaji, Goa, on 7 September 2026.
The Council covers Maharashtra, Gujarat, Goa and the Union Territory of Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu.
Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant, its Vice-Chairman, hosted the meeting along with Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and UT Administrator Praful K. Patel.
Agenda items included cooperative federalism, inter-state coordination, crimes against women, fast-track special courts and village-level banking.
Zonal councils are statutory advisory bodies created under the States Reorganisation Act, 1956, and are serviced by the Inter-State Council Secretariat in the Ministry of Home Affairs.
Created the five zonal councils - Northern, Central, Eastern, Western and Southern - as statutory advisory bodies to promote inter-state coordination after the linguistic reorganisation of States. They are statutory, not constitutional.
Empowers the President to establish an Inter-State Council to inquire into and advise on disputes and subjects of common interest between States. The Inter-State Council Secretariat, which now services the zonal councils, works in this domain.
The North Eastern Council is the sixth such body but was created by a separate statute, not by the States Reorganisation Act, and today functions under the Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region. Exams test this distinction often.
Five advisory bodies grouping States and Union Territories by region, meant to discuss matters of common concern such as border and water disputes, transport, and law and order.
Covers Maharashtra, Gujarat, Goa and the Union Territory of Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu; held its 28th meeting in Panaji.
Provides secretarial and organisational support to the Inter-State Council and to the zonal councils, including agenda preparation and follow-up on decisions.
GS Paper 2 > Polity > Federalism, inter-state relations and institutional mechanisms
General Awareness > Indian polity and statutory bodies
Arrange the following events in chronological order: 1. Eastern Zonal Council meeting 2022 2. States Reorganisation Act passed 3. First Central Zonal Council meeting
Answer: 2-3-1
With reference to India, consider the following: I. The Inter-State Council II. The National Security Council III. Zonal Councils How many of the above were established as per the provisions of the Constitution of India?
Answer: Only one
Which of the following commissions recommended the establishment of a Permanent Secretariat for the Inter-State Council to institutionalize Centre-State cooperation?
Answer: Punchhi Commission
Which Article enables the President to establish an Inter-State Council?
Answer: Article 263
Consider the following statements: Inter-State Council is a constitutional body under Article 263. Its recommendations are binding on the Union and States. Which of the above statements is/are correct?
Answer: Only 1
One of five statutory advisory bodies created under the States Reorganisation Act, 1956, grouping States and Union Territories by region to discuss matters of common interest.
A working relationship in which the Union and the States act as partners on shared problems rather than as rival levels of authority.
A body envisaged under Article 263 of the Constitution to inquire into and advise on disputes and common subjects between States; its Secretariat also services the zonal councils.