Central Zonal Council meeting begins in Varanasi under Amit Shah's chairmanship

A meeting of the Central Zonal Council began in Varanasi on Tuesday under the chairmanship of Union Home Minister Amit Shah.

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai, Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav, Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami, and several senior officials are at the meeting, according to an official statement issued by the Press Information Bureau (PIB).

Zonal councils provide a structured mechanism for dialogue and discussion on issues affecting two or more states or the Centre and states, and serve as an important platform to enable cooperation.

The last meeting of the council was held on October 7, 2023 in Uttarakhand.

Ahead of the meeting, Adityanath posted on X that the council strengthens federal unity, national integrity, and regional development and "will further empower and accelerate Prime Minister Narendra Modi's 'Team India' vision."

Earlier on Tuesday morning, after offering prayers at the Kashi Vishwanath Temple here, Madhya PradeshCM Mohan Yadav told reporters: "This is a time when states must work in coordination, share development strategies, and learn from each other's experiences. The aim is to ensure progress and public welfare. The meeting will cover all such important matters."

There are five zonal councils in the country which are statutory bodies set up under the States Re-organisation Act, 1956 to provide a common meeting ground to the states and Union territories in each zone for resolution of inter-state and regional issues, fostering balanced socioeconomic regional development and building harmonious Centre-state relations.