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Chandigarh: Union Home Minister Amit Shah will on Monday chair the 32nd meeting of the Northern Zonal Council (NZC) in Haryana’s Faridabad, where a broad spectrum of governance, security and development-related issues are expected to come up for detailed deliberations.
The NZC brings together eight states and Union territories — Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Punjab, Rajasthan, Delhi, Jammu & Kashmir, Ladakh and Chandigarh — making it one of the most significant inter-state coordination platforms in the northern region.
Top Leadership to Participate
Chief ministers, lieutenant governors, administrators, and senior officials from the Centre, states, and Union territories will attend the day-long meeting. The Haryana Chief Minister, who serves as the vice-chairperson of the Council for this session, will host the high-level gathering.
Focus on Women’s and Children’s Safety
According to officials, one of the key national priority issues on the agenda will be the speedy investigation and disposal of cases involving sexual offences against women and children.
The Council will take stock of the progress on the Implementation of Fast Track Special Courts (FTSCs), Strengthening investigation mechanisms and improving inter-state coordination in handling such cases.
Banking Access, ERSS-112, and Essential Services
Another essential item for discussion is the expansion of brick-and-mortar banking facilities in every village, a step aimed at strengthening last-mile financial inclusion. The meeting will also review the implementation of the Emergency Response Support System (ERSS-112), the nationwide single emergency helpline for police, fire, and medical emergencies.
Regional Issues: Education, Health, Electricity, Urban Planning
A range of regional priorities, shared among northern states, will be addressed, including nutrition, education reforms, public health systems, power sector coordination, cooperative institutions, and urban development. Officials noted that the northern region faces several common challenges, including rapid urbanisation, inter-state migration, law and order coordination, and infrastructure stress around the National Capital Region, making the Council’s role increasingly critical.
Framework and Functioning of Zonal Councils
The Northern Zonal Council, one of five established under the States Reorganisation Act, 1956, serves as an advisory platform to resolve inter-state disputes and ensure cooperative federalism.
Every member state nominates two ministers to the Council, while chief secretaries form a permanent committee to examine issues before full Council discussions. The permanent committee first scrutinises issues proposed by states; unresolved or broader matters are escalated to the Zonal Council meeting.
‘TEAM BHARAT’ Vision
The Ministry of Home Affairs stated that under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of “TEAM BHARAT”, zonal councils have emerged as key instruments for fostering consensus, policy coherence, and administrative collaboration between states and the Centre. Over the last 11 years, 63 meetings of various zonal councils and their permanent committees have been held, reflecting a renewed thrust on coordinated governance.
