The talks over special category status for the states of Bihar and Andhra Pradesh have once again gained momentum after the victory of the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Tuesday secured a win on 240 of the 543 seats in Lok Sabha, falling a little short of the majority mark of 272.
However, the NDA did manage to get a majority in the Lower House of the Parliament, with N Chandrababu Naidu-led Telugu Desam Party (TDP) bagging 16 seats and the Janata Dal (United), led by Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, receiving 12 seats.
Further, they are joined by the Shiv Sena (7), Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) (5) and others.
As both the NDA and the Opposition's INDIA bloc are exploring various options to form a government at the Centre, JD(U) spokesperson Arvind Nishad, in an exclusive interview with CNBC-TV18, said the party would continue to be a part of the NDA.
Dispelling any speculation about the party's loyalty to the NDA, Nishad said, “We fought the election as part of the NDA. We will remain part of the NDA in the future, too.”
However, the party might this time seek a special status for Bihar. “Bihar has not received the kind of economic support it should have got. When Narendra Modi takes oath as the Prime Minister for the third time, the people of Bihar expect a special package that will put the state on the path to becoming a more developed economy,” Nishad said.
Meanwhile, N Chandrababu Naidu, who is expected to again take oath as the Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh, has been demanding a special category status for the state for a long time.
Interestingly, the INDIA bloc has reportedly offered to fulfil this demand if Naidu leaves the NDA to join them. However, the TDP leader earlier in the day made it clear that he would remain a part of the NDA.
What is the Special Category Status?
Introduced in 1969 on the recommendation of the Fifth Finance Commission, the Special Category Status is a classification granted by the central government to assist the development of states which face socio-economic or geographical disadvantages.
According to reports, some of the states that have currently been granted Special Category Status are Assam, Nagaland, Himachal Pradesh, Manipur, Meghalaya, Sikkim, Tripura, Arunachal Pradesh, Mizoram and Uttarakhand.
Benefits
The states that come under Special Category Status used to receive grants based on the Gadgil-Mukherjee formula, which had earmarked nearly 30% of the total central assistance for States to the SCS States, according to a report in The Hindu.
However, post the abolition of the Planning Commission and the recommendations of the 14th and 15th Financial Commission, this assistance to the Special Category Status states has been subsumed in an increased devolution of the divisible pool funds for all States -- increased from 32% to 41% in the 15th FC.
Moreover, the Centre-State funding of the centrally sponsored schemes in SCS states is divided in the 90:10 ratio, which is far more favourable than the 60:40 or 80:20 splits for the other states.
These states get other various incentives in the form of concessions in customs and excise duties and income tax rates.
Why is Bihar demanding SCS?
Bihar has been asking for it ever since the mineral-rich Jharkhand was carved out of it back in 2000. Among the front-runners in the state is Nitish Kumar, who has been demanding the state's inclusion in the category since 2006.
Bihar has been ranked as the poorest state in India, according to the Centre's ‘Multi-dimensional Poverty Index’ (MPI) report. It is estimated to have nearly 52% of its population, without having proper access to requisite health, education and living standards.
While the state meets most of the criteria for the Special Category Status, it does not fulfil the criteria of hilly terrain and geographically difficult areas.
SCS to Andhra Pradesh
After its bifurcation in 2014, Andhra Pradesh has also seen many of its political leaders demanding a Special Category Status on the grounds of revenue loss due to the city of Hyderabad going to Telangana.
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Tuesday secured a win on 240 of the 543 seats in Lok Sabha, falling a little short of the majority mark of 272.
However, the NDA did manage to get a majority in the Lower House of the Parliament, with N Chandrababu Naidu-led Telugu Desam Party (TDP) bagging 16 seats and the Janata Dal (United), led by Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, receiving 12 seats.
Further, they are joined by the Shiv Sena (7), Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) (5) and others.
As both the NDA and the Opposition's INDIA bloc are exploring various options to form a government at the Centre, JD(U) spokesperson Arvind Nishad, in an exclusive interview with CNBC-TV18, said the party would continue to be a part of the NDA.
Dispelling any speculation about the party's loyalty to the NDA, Nishad said, “We fought the election as part of the NDA. We will remain part of the NDA in the future, too.”
However, the party might this time seek a special status for Bihar. “Bihar has not received the kind of economic support it should have got. When Narendra Modi takes oath as the Prime Minister for the third time, the people of Bihar expect a special package that will put the state on the path to becoming a more developed economy,” Nishad said.
Meanwhile, N Chandrababu Naidu, who is expected to again take oath as the Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh, has been demanding a special category status for the state for a long time.
Interestingly, the INDIA bloc has reportedly offered to fulfil this demand if Naidu leaves the NDA to join them. However, the TDP leader earlier in the day made it clear that he would remain a part of the NDA.
What is the Special Category Status?
Introduced in 1969 on the recommendation of the Fifth Finance Commission, the Special Category Status is a classification granted by the central government to assist the development of states which face socio-economic or geographical disadvantages.
Among the factors considered before granting this are:
- The state needs to have hilly and difficult terrain.
2. It must have a low population density and/or a sizeable share of tribal population.
3. It should be at a strategic location along international borders.
4. Economic and infrastructural backwardness.
5. Must have a non-viable nature of state finances.
According to reports, some of the states that have currently been granted Special Category Status are Assam, Nagaland, Himachal Pradesh, Manipur, Meghalaya, Sikkim, Tripura, Arunachal Pradesh, Mizoram and Uttarakhand.
Benefits
The states that come under Special Category Status used to receive grants based on the Gadgil-Mukherjee formula, which had earmarked nearly 30% of the total central assistance for States to the SCS States, according to a report in The Hindu.
However, post the abolition of the Planning Commission and the recommendations of the 14th and 15th Financial Commission, this assistance to the Special Category Status states has been subsumed in an increased devolution of the divisible pool funds for all States -- increased from 32% to 41% in the 15th FC.
Moreover, the Centre-State funding of the centrally sponsored schemes in SCS states is divided in the 90:10 ratio, which is far more favourable than the 60:40 or 80:20 splits for the other states.
These states get other various incentives in the form of concessions in customs and excise duties and income tax rates.
Why is Bihar demanding SCS?
Bihar has been asking for it ever since the mineral-rich Jharkhand was carved out of it back in 2000. Among the front-runners in the state is Nitish Kumar, who has been demanding the state's inclusion in the category since 2006.
Bihar has been ranked as the poorest state in India, according to the Centre's ‘Multi-dimensional Poverty Index’ (MPI) report. It is estimated to have nearly 52% of its population, without having proper access to requisite health, education and living standards.
While the state meets most of the criteria for the Special Category Status, it does not fulfil the criteria of hilly terrain and geographically difficult areas.
SCS to Andhra Pradesh
After its bifurcation in 2014, Andhra Pradesh has also seen many of its political leaders demanding a Special Category Status on the grounds of revenue loss due to the city of Hyderabad going to Telangana.
First Published: Jun 5, 2024 5:45 PM IST
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