'No Special Category Status For Bihar': Centre

New Delhi: Citing an inter-ministerial group report prepared in 2012, the Centre on Monday ruled out a case for granting special category status to Bihar. 

 In a written reply in the Lok Sabha on the first day of the Monsoon session, Minister of State for Finance Pankaj Chaudhary said special category status was granted in the past by the National Development Council (NDC) to some states which were characterised by a number of features necessitating special consideration. 

"Earlier, the request of Bihar for Special Category Status was considered by an Inter-Ministerial Group (IMG) which submitted its Report on 30th March 2012. The IMG came to the finding that based on existing NDC criteria, the case for Special Category Status for Bihar is not made out," the minister said.

The Congress-led UPA was in power at the time.

What is a Special Category Status (SCS)? 

A Special Category Status (SCS) is a categorization provided by the Centre to states that confront physical and socioeconomic challenges such as steep terrains, critical international borders, economic & infrastructural backwardness, and non-viable state finances in order to help them grow.

JD(U) leader Sanjay Kumar Jha had voiced his party's demand for the status at an all-party meeting on Sunday. The Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas), also a BJP ally, and the opposition RJD echoed the same demand at the meeting.

The JD(U), though, has already conveyed to the Centre that it is willing to settle for a special financial package in case the status cannot be granted to the state.
 

Will Get Special Status By Hook or Crook, RJD Reacts 

RJD leader Manoj Jha said that the Centre is unwilling to give special status to Bihar and Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has failed to get the status.  

The BJD and the YSR Congress had made the same demand for Odisha and Andhra Pradesh respectively in the meeting.

The government has in the past also argued that the 14th Finance Commission report has ruled out the possibility of any more states being granted the status, which includes tax relief and higher central funding for the beneficiary states.