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Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Thursday said he would launch a movement across Bihar if the Centre fails to grant the State special category status.
What is Special Category status for state
Special Category Status (SCS) is a classification given by the Centre to assist in the development of those states that face geographical and socio-economic disadvantages.
This classification was done on the recommendations of the Fifth Finance Commission in 1969.
It was granted based on the Gadgil formula.
Criteria for selection
Hilly Terrain
Low Population Density And/Or Sizeable Share of Tribal Population;
Strategic Location along Borders With Neighbouring Countries;
Economic and Infrastructure Backwardness; and Non-viable Nature of State finances.
It was initially granted to only three states: Jammu and Kashmir, Nagaland, and Assam.
Special Category Status for plan assistance was granted in the past by the National Development Council to the States
11 states namely, Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Sikkim, Tripura and Uttarakhand were granted special category status.
Following the recommendations of 14th Finance Commission, the Special Category States cease to exist .
The 14th Finance Commission suggested to fill the resource gap of such states through tax devolution by increasing it to 42% from 32%.
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