State PCS - Jharkhand (JPSC)

• 12 Jul 2025

27th Eastern Zonal Council Meeting at Ranchi

Why in News? 

Union Home Minister Amit Shah chaired the 27th Eastern Zonal Council meeting in Ranchi.  

• The meeting focused on development, federalism, security, and inter-state matters, with participation from Bihar, Jharkhand, Odisha, and West Bengal. 

Key Points 

• Key Highlights: 
  • TEAM BHARAT Vision: Emphasis on collective development of states to achieve the goal of a developed India by 2047. 
    • Promotes cooperative federalism and integration of central and state efforts. 
  • The meeting focused on long-pending inter-state issues related to Masanjore Dam(Mayurakshi River), Taiyabpur Barrage (Mahananda River), and Indrapuri Reservoir (Son River). 
  • The meeting addressed unresolved PSU-related asset-liability issues between Bihar and Jharkhand, with mutual steps taken toward resolution. 
  • Law and Order: 
    • Eastern states were urged to swiftly implement new criminal laws and hold regular National Narcotics Coordination Portal (NCORD) meetings to combat narcotics. 
    • Naxalism has significantly declined in Bihar, Jharkhand, and Odisha, with West Bengal declared Naxalism-free; India aims to be Naxalism-free by 3st March 2026. 
  • Discussion on National and Regional Development Issues: Key topics included Fast Track Special Courts (FTSC) for speedy trials, Emergency Response Support System (ERSS-112) rollout, rural banking access, and improvements in nutrition, education, health, urban planning, power, and cooperative systems. 

Zonal Council 

• Formation: It was established under Sections 15 to 22 of the States Reorganisation Act, 1956. 
• Leadership: 
  • It is chaired by the Union Home Minister. 
  • Chief Ministers, Lieutenant Governors (LGs), and Administrators from member states are members. 
  • One Chief Minister acts as Vice-Chairman on a yearly rotational basis. 
• Membership: Two Ministers from each member state are nominated by the Governor to the Council. 
• Five Zonal Councils: 
  • Northern Zonal Council: Includes Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir, Punjab, Rajasthan, the National Capital Territory of Delhi, and the Union Territory of Chandigarh. 
  • Central Zonal Council: Consists of Chhattisgarh, Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, and Madhya Pradesh. 
  • Eastern Zonal Council: Comprises Bihar, Jharkhand, Odisha, Sikkim, and West Bengal. 
  • Western Zonal Council: Encompasses Goa, Gujarat, Maharashtra, and the Union Territories of Daman & Diu and Dadra & Nagar Haveli. 
  • Southern Zonal Council: Covers Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, and the Union Territory of Puducherry. 
• Standing Committees: 
  • Each Council has a Standing Committee led by Chief Secretaries. 
  • State-proposed issues are first reviewed here before being placed in the full Council meeting. 
• The North Eastern States: 
  • Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Tripura, Mizoram, Meghalaya, and Nagaland- are not part of the Zonal Councils.  
    • Their unique issues are addressed by the North Eastern Council, established under the North Eastern Council Act, 1972.