Special category status for Bihar is not made out: MoS Finance Pankaj Chaudhary

NEW DELHI As the BJP’s key ally in the National Democratic Alliance (NDA), the JD(U) had demanded special category status for Bihar, Minister of State for Finance Pankaj Chaudhary, in a written reply, said that special status cannot be granted to Bihar as per the Inter-Ministerial Group (IMG) report 2012.

Chaudhary, in a written reply to the question of JD(U) MP Ramprit Mandal informed Lok Sabha, “The Special Category Status for plan assistance was granted in the past by the National Development Council (NDC) to some states that were characterised by a number of features necessitating special consideration. These features included (i) hilly and difficult terrain, (ii) low population density and/or sizeable share of tribal population, (iii) strategic location along borders with neighbouring countries, (iv) economic and infrastructural backwardness and (v) non-viable nature of State finances. The decision was taken based on an integrated consideration of all the factors listed above and the peculiar situation of the state.

“Earlier, the request of Bihar for Special Category Status was considered by an Inter-Ministerial Group (IMG) which submitted its report on March 30, 2012. The IMG came to the finding that based on existing NDC criteria, the case for Special Category Status for Bihar is not made out”, the minister said.

Bihar will not receive special state status.

This was stated by Finance Minister of State @mppchaudhary in a written response in the Lok Sabha.#MonsoonSession2024 pic.twitter.com/crohLuGc0t

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Notably, the YSRCP and BJD have also demanded special category status for Andhra Pradesh and Odisha respectively, at an all-party meeting on Sunday. Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader Manoj Kumar Jha on Sunday said that Bihar seeks both special state status and a special package. He also said that the demand for special status for Bihar has been there since the division of Bihar and Jharkhand.

“This demand of Bihar (special state status) is called unrealistic by many people… This demand has been there since the division of Bihar and Jharkhand… Apart from political parties, we want a change in the policies of the central government which considers Bihar as a centre of labour supply… We want both, special state status and special package,” Jha said.

The Budget Session of Parliament that began on Monday will have 16 sittings spread over 22 days. Union Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Kiren Rijiju said that this session will mainly be devoted to financial business relating to the Union Budget for 2024-25 which will be presented to Lok Sabha on July 23. (ANI)