Question : ACCORDING SPECIAL STATUS TO BIHAR

(a) whether the Government is considering any proposal to accord special status to the State of Bihar;

(b) if so, the details thereof;

(c) the total amount allocated to Bihar by the Government during the last three years under all central sector schemes;

(d) the allocation-utilisation ratio during the same period; and

(e) the reasons for not granting special status to Bihar so far?

Answer given by the minister

MINISTER OF STATE FOR PLANNING, SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY AND EARTH SCIENCES (DR. ASHWANI KUMAR)

(a) & (b): A delegation from Bihar presented a Memorandum to the Prime Minister in July 2011 requesting for Special Category Status to Bihar. An Inter- Ministerial Group (IMG) was constituted to consider and examine all the issues raised in the Memorandum including the request for Special Category Status to Bihar.

(c) & (d) The Central Ministries release funds to States through Central Assistance to State Plan Schemes and Centrally Sponsored Schemes. The amount released to Bihar for three years is as follows:

	(Rs. crore)
2009-10	2010-11	2011-12
Central Assistance to	4579.97	6371.125	942.93
State Plans
Centrally Sponsored Schemes	7626.18	13725.22	13155.77
Total	12206.15	20096.34	19413.27

The releases by Central Ministries are made in instalments taking into consideration utilization certificates submitted by the State from time to time.

(e): The Special Category Status is granted only by the National Development Council (NDC) after integrated consideration of several criteria which include the following:

(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 Inter-Ministerial Group (IMG) constituted to examine the Memorandum regarding Special Category Status to Bihar has submitted its Report to the Planning Commission recently.

Question : ACCORDING SPECIAL STATUS TO BIHAR

Answer given by the minister

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