Fill in the blanks:
The Union Home Minister chairs a Zonal Council meeting as ________ chairman.
Show answer & explanation
Correct answer: A
Explanation
The correct answer is option 1 i.e. ex-officio.
The Union Home Minister acts as the ex-officio chairman of all five Zonal Councils (Northern, Central, Eastern, Western, and Southern). The term "ex-officio" means that by virtue of holding the office of the Union Home Minister, the individual automatically becomes the chairman of these councils.
These are statutory bodies established under the States Reorganisation Act of 1956. Their primary role is to promote interstate cooperation and resolve disputes regarding boundaries, linguistic minorities, and interstate transport.