Chief Minister Nitish Kumar demands special status for Bihar

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Friday reiterated demand to provide special category status for state of Bihar. Nitish Kumar, who joined BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) in 2014, raised his demand at Eastern Zonal Council meeting held in Odisha's Bhubaneswar. 

Indian Constitution provides special category status to certain disadvantd states to provide preferential treatment in form of central assistance.  Centre pays 90 per cent of funds for all centrally-sponsored schemes in a state-granted special status, against  70 per cent payout provided to or states.

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States that were provided special category status

In 1969, Jammu and Kashmir, Assam and Nagaland were granted special category status. Eight more states were added to list in following years, including Arunachal Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Sikkim, Tripura and Uttarakhand.

parameters required for a state to be granted special category include hilly and difficult terrain, low population density or sizable share of tribal population, strategic location along borders with neighbouring countries, ecomic and infrastructure backwardness and n-viable state finances.

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How does Bihar fare on se parameters? 

Bihar has highest number of backward districts as compared to or states, with 36 out of 38 districts ranked as backwards according to a report by Inter Ministry Task Group (IMGT) in 2005.

Nitish Kumar has argued that since state is land-locked and is least-developed in country, its demand is justified since such states are "internationally eligible for special and differential treatment". Moreover, Kumar said that state is below national aver on multiple parameters of development.

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However, an inter-ministerial group formed in 2011 by n Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had rejected state's demands after examining its plea on basis of se five parameters. CM Nitish Kumar had n stated that group had reached 'pre-ordained' conclusions and that he would continue his demand.

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