(a) whether the Government have identified merit and non-merit goods and services with a view to provide subsidy on these items;
(b) if so, the names of items in each category and the basis of selection; and
(c) the amount of the States and Central Government subsidies on the above mentioned items and services, item-wise; and
(d) the steps taken to dispense with State and Central subsidies on these items and services?
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF FINANCE
(SHRI BALASAHEB VIKHE PATIL)
(a), (b), (c) & (d): An Expenditure Reforms Commission
has been set up by the Government of India to inter alia
review the framework of all subsidies, both explicit and
implicit, examine the economic rationale for their
continuance and make recommendations for making subsidies
transparent and suggest measures for maximising their impact
on the target population at minimum cost. The Commission
would also review the framework of user charges of
Departmental and commercial entities and suggest an
effective strategy for cost recovery through user charges etc.