Faridabad, 17 November 2025 — Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation Amit Shah on Monday chaired the 32nd meeting of the Northern Zonal Council (NZC) in Faridabad, where security challenges, inter-state coordination, women’s safety, and regional development dominated discussions.
The meeting opened with tributes and a two-minute silence for the victims of the recent car bomb blast in Delhi and the explosion at Nowgam Police Station in Jammu & Kashmir. Shah reaffirmed the Centre’s commitment to eliminating terrorism “from its roots” and vowed that the culprits behind the Delhi attack would be tracked down and brought to justice.
Chief ministers of Haryana, Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, Rajasthan, Jammu & Kashmir and Delhi attended the meeting, along with administrators and lieutenant governors of Chandigarh, Delhi, J&K and Ladakh. Senior officials from the Inter-State Council Secretariat, central ministries and state governments were also present.
Shah emphasised the crucial role of Zonal Councils in fostering dialogue, cooperation, and policy coordination. He said the Prime Minister’s vision that “strong states create a strong nation” was being advanced meaningfully through these platforms. Between 2014 and 2025, the number of Zonal Council meetings increased two-and-a-half times compared to 2004–2014, with 1,600 issues discussed and 81.43% resolved.
Women’s and children’s safety emerged as a major focus, with Shah calling for an increase in Fast Track Special Courts to ensure swift trials in cases of rape and offences under the POCSO Act. He underscored the need to address delays in justice delivery, malnutrition, and stunting.
Shah also highlighted the potential of cooperation, agriculture and fisheries as engines for poverty reduction and job creation. He said the Ministry of Cooperation had launched 57 initiatives to strengthen the sector, including the computerisation of PACS and the establishment of three national-level cooperative societies.
The Home Minister noted that Zonal Councils, though advisory in nature, had become action-oriented platforms over the past decade with concrete outcomes. He stressed the need for coordinated efforts among states to address water resource management, environmental challenges and inter-state issues.
The meeting reviewed national issues including urban master planning, power supply systems, strengthening PACS, reducing school dropout rates, implementation of the Poshan Abhiyan, and increasing the participation of public hospitals in the Ayushman Bharat–Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana. Topics such as ERSS-112, banking access, water sharing and higher education were also discussed.
Shah welcomed Rajasthan’s efforts to promote millets and urged all states to include them in free food grain schemes to boost production and improve public health.
Reflecting on Surajkund’s historical and cultural legacy, Shah said the region symbolised India’s civilisational depth and resilience. He paid tribute to Sikh Gurus, noting their sacrifices in protecting India’s spiritual and cultural traditions.
The meeting concluded with a call for stronger inter-state cooperation to secure regional stability, strengthen governance, and accelerate national development.
