(a) whether special package has been provided for development of certain States in the
country during the current financial year;
(b) if so, the names of States to whom this package has been released along with the
criteria for releasing the package;
(c) whether the Government is contemplating to provide financial package to backward and
newly-formed States;
(d) if so, the details thereof; and
(e) if not, the reasons therefor?
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF FINANCE (SHRI NAMO NARAIN MEENA)
(a) to (e): Annual Plans of the States are finalized on an assessment of inter-state and
inter-sectoral Plan priorities, including needs of backward and newly-formed States, within
the overall availability of resources at the Central and State level. Central Assistance to
State Plans is released annually by the Ministry of Finance, including Special Central
Assistance (SCA) to meet the gap in resources to Special Category States; Special Plan
Assistance (SPA) to Special Category States for funding of identified projects that are
not covered under any Central scheme; SCA for Border areas; SCA for Hill areas; Prime Minister
Reconstruction Plan for Sikkim and Jammu & Kashmir and One Time Additional Central Assistance
(OTACA) for the projects of Special importance to General Category States. Further, under the
State component of Backward Regions Grant Fund (BRGF), the ongoing Integrated Action Plan
(IAP) for 82 selected Tribal and Backward Districts, Bundelkhand Package for Uttar Pradesh
& Madhya Pradesh, Special Plan for KBK districts of Odisha, Special Plan for Bihar and Special
Plan for West Bengal have been approved for continuation during 2012-13. State-wise details of
allocations and funds released during 2012-13 till 12.12.12 is given in the Annexure-I.