Zonal Council - GS questions based on daily current affairs

ANSWER: Union Home minister

Explanation:
Composition of Zonal Council
- The Union Home Minister is the Chairman of each of these Councils.
- The Chief Ministers of the States included in each zone act as Vice-Chairman of the Zonal Council for that zone by rotation, each holding office for a period of one year at a time.
- Other Members: Chief Minister and two other Ministers as nominated by the Governor from each of the States and two members from Union Territories included in the zone.
- Advisers: One person nominated by the Planning Commission for each of the Zonal Councils, Chief Secretaries and another officer/Development Commissioner nominated by each of the States included in the Zone.
- Besides these, Union Ministers are invited to participate in the meetings of Zonal Councils depending upon necessity.

ANSWER: Only 2

Explanation:
- Zonal Council are statutory bodies established under the States Reorganisation Act 1956.
- Zonal councils have been established by the Parliament to promote interstate cooperation and coordination.
- There are 6 zonal councils.
- Only North Eastern Council was created by North Eastern Council Act, 1972.
- The 26th meeting of the Southern Zonal Council, inaugurated by Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh.
- It decided to issue more biometric cards to fishermen for safety, urged railways to reconsider policy on sharing of costs, and discussed reimbursing the expenditure in certain areas affected by Left Wing Extremism (LWE).
- Southern Zonal Council is composed of Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Telangana and the Union Territory of Puducherry.