MAHABALIPURAM — Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation Amit Shah is scheduled to chair the 31st meeting of the Southern Zonal Council (SZC) on August 20, 2026, in Mahabalipuram, Tamil Nadu.
Organized by the Inter-State Council Secretariat under the Ministry of Home Affairs in partnership with the Government of Tamil Nadu, the summit brings together Chief Ministers, Lieutenant Governors, Union Territory Administrators, and Chief Secretaries across southern India to resolve inter-state and Centre-state policy matters.
Key Structural & Operational Highlights
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Council Composition: Encompasses the states of Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Keralam, Tamil Nadu, and Telangana, along with the Union Territories of Puducherry, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, and Lakshadweep.
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Leadership Framework: Union Home Minister Amit Shah serves as Chairman, with Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay acting as Vice-Chairman by rotation.
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Preparatory Mechanism: Agenda items undergo prior technical screening by a Standing Committee headed by state Chief Secretaries before escalation to the full council.
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Statutory Authority: Established under Sections 15 to 22 of the States Reorganisation Act, 1956, to serve as an advisory and dispute-resolution platform for regional planning.
Priority Agenda & Strategic Objectives
The summit aligns with the Union government’s ‘Team Bharat’ framework to strengthen cooperative federalism and streamline regional implementation of key national programs:
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Inter-State Coordination: Settlement of long-pending inter-state infrastructure issues, river water sharing disputes, and provisions related to the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act.
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Public Safety & Judicial Delivery: Reviewing the rollout of Fast Track Special Courts (FTSCs) for the expedited investigation and trial of sexual offenses against women and children.
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Regional Development: Deliberations on civil aviation regional connectivity, rural housing mandates under Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (Gramin), and joint education initiatives across the southern zone.
