JD(U) advocates for special status or package for Bihar
The Janata Dal (United) has passed a resolution, demanding either a special category status or a special package for Bihar. This decision was made during a meeting, where Sanjay Jha, the party's Rajya Sabha MP, was appointed as the working president of JD(U). The party also called for stringent laws to combat paper leaks and demanded severe action against those responsible for the National Eligibility-Centre-Entrance Test-Undergraduate (NEET-UG) paper leak.
Understanding the demand for Special Category Status
The demand for a "special category" status for Bihar has been a long-standing issue for the Nitish Kumar-led JD(U). This demand has gained more attention since Kumar joined the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) this year, and a caste survey showed nearly one-third of population continues to live in poverty. Historically, states with special status received 90% of funds under centrally sponsored schemes from the Centre, with only 10% contributed by the state. For non-special category states, this split is 60:40.
Special Category Status: A historical perspective
Since 1969, the Centre has extended special assistance to certain states due to factors such as historical disadvantage, difficult terrain, low population density or a large share of tribals, strategic location along borders, economic or infrastructural backwardness. The National Development Council (NDC), part of the now-defunct Planning Commission of India, recommended special category status for 11 states from 1969 onwards.
Changes in Special Category Status Allocation
The distinction between special category and other states was abolished by the 14th Finance Commission in April 2015. The NITI Aayog, which replaced the Planning Commission, no longer has the power to allocate funds. Despite this change, states like Bihar, Odisha and Jharkhand have continued to demand special category status. Andhra Pradesh also joined these demands following its bifurcation in 2014 as a fulfillment of a commitment made by the previous UPA government.
