Union Home Minister and Southern Zonal Council Chairman Amit Shah is chairing the 31st meeting of the Southern Zonal Council (SZC) today in Mahabalipuram, Tamil Nadu.
Established under Sections 15 to 22 of the States Reorganisation Act, 1956, the Southern Zonal Council comprises the states of Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Keralam, Tamil Nadu, and Telangana, along with the Union Territories of Puducherry, Andaman and Nicobal Islands, and Lakshadweep. According to a release from the Ministry of Home Affairs, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay serves as the current Vice-Chairman, a role rotated among the chief ministers of the member states.
The meeting is organised by the Inter-State Council Secretariat under the Ministry of Home Affairs, with the Government of Tamil Nadu acting as the host. Attendees include the Chief Ministers, Lieutenant Governors, and Administrators of the member states and union territories, accompanied by two senior ministers from each state, Chief Secretaries, advisors, and central government officials.
Zonal Councils function through a structured mechanism that includes a standing committee of Chief Secretaries. Issues proposed by states are first deliberated at the standing committee level before being placed before the full council for consideration. While the role of the Zonal Councils is advisory, they provide a structured platform for dialogue to foster mutual understanding and cooperation between the Centre and states, as well as among member states.
Over the last approximately 12 years, from June 2014 to the present, a total of 69 meetings of the various Zonal Councils and their standing committees have been held under the cooperative federalism framework. These forums address regional and national issues, including the implementation of Fast Track Special Courts for cases involving crimes against women and children, education, the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act, water sharing projects, Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (Gramin), and civil aviation.
"Inter-state cooperation and regulatory alignment are foundational for long-term economic stability and regional business growth. Platforms like the Southern Zonal Council facilitate structured dialogue between state governments and the Centre, helping resolve administrative bottlenecks related to infrastructure, water sharing, and resource allocation. For businesses operating across multiple states, streamlined inter-governmental coordination creates a more predictable and stable operating environment." — Dr. Shishir Gupta, Founder & CEO, StartupLanes
