The States Reorganisation Act, 1956

Section 16. Composition of the Councils

In force · As amended up to 2026-08

16. Composition of the Councils .―(1) The Zonal Council for each zone shall consist of the following members, namely:― (a) a Union Minister to be nominated by the President; (b) the Chief Minister of each of the States included in the zone and two other Ministers of each such State to be nominated by the Sadar-i-Riyasat, in the case of Jammu and Kashmir*, and by the Governor, in any other case, and if there is no Council of Ministers in any such State, three members from that State to be nominated by the President; (c) where any[3] [Union territory] is included in the zone, not more than two members from each 12[such territory] to be nominated by the President; 13* * * * * (2) The Union Minister nominated under clause (a) of sub-section (1) to a Zonal Council shall be its Chairman. (3) The Chief Ministers of the States included in each zone shall 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: Provided that if during that period there is no Council of Ministers in the State concerned, such member from that State as the President may nominate in this behalf shall act as Vice-Chairman of the Zonal Council. 1. Subs. by Act 31 of 1966, s. 86, for "Punjab" (w.e.f. 1-11-1966). 2. Subs. by Act 53 of 1970, s. 47, for "Punjab" (w.e.f. 25-1-1971). 3. Subs. by the Adaptation of Laws (No. 1) Order, 1956, for "Part C States". 4. Subs. by Act 53 of 1970, s. 47, for "Himachal Pradesh and Chandigarh" (w.e.f. 25-1-1971). 5. Subs. by Act 81 of 1971, s. 74, for clause (c) (w.e.f. 21-1-1972). 6. Subs. by Notification No. S.O. 778(E), dated 8-12-1976, Gazette of India, Pt. II, Sec. 3(ii). 7. Subs. by Act 18 of 1987, s. 64, for clause (d) (w.e.f. 30-5-1987). 8. Subs. by Act 11 of 1960, s. 86, for "Madras and Kerala" (w.e.f. 1-5-1960). 9. Subs. by the Madras State (Alteration of Name) (Adaptation of Laws on Union Subjects) Order, 1970, for "Madras" (w.e.f. 14-1-1969). 10. Subs. by the Mysore State (Alteration of Name) (Adaptation of Laws on Union Subjects) Order, 1974, for "Mysore" (w.e.f. 1-11-1973). 11. Ins. by Act 20 of 1963, s. 57 and Second Schedule (w.e.f. 13-5-1963). 12. Subs. by the Adaptation of Laws (No. 1) Order, 1956, for "such State". 13. Omitted by Act 81 of 1971, s. 74 (w.e.f. 21-1-1972). *. Vide notification No. S.O. 3912(E), dated 30th October, 2019, this Act is made applicable to the Union territory of Jammu and Kashmir and the Union territory of Ladakh. (4) The Zonal Council for each zone shall have the following persons as Advisers to assist the Council in the performance of its duties, namely:― (a) one person nominated by the Planning Commission; - (b) the Chief Secretary to the Government of each of the States included in the Zone; and (c) the Development Commissioner or any other officer nominated by the Government of each of the States included in the Zone. (5) Every Adviser to a Zonal Council shall have the right to take part in the discussions of the Council or of any Committee thereof of which he may be named a member but shall not have a right to vote at a meeting of the Council or of any such Committee.

Source: India Code

How this section changed

  1. omitted by Act 81 of 1971, s. 74

    In force from 21 Jan 1972

    Footnote: 13. Omitted by Act 81 of 1971, s. 74 (w.e.f. 21-1-1972).

  2. substituted by Adaptation of Laws (No. 1) Order, 1956

    Date not stated in the footnote

    Earlier wording: “Part C States”

    Footnote: 3. Subs. by the Adaptation of Laws (No. 1) Order, 1956, for "Part C States".

  3. substituted by Adaptation of Laws (No. 1) Order, 1956

    Date not stated in the footnote

    Earlier wording: “such State”

    Footnote: 12. Subs. by the Adaptation of Laws (No. 1) Order, 1956, for "such State".