Media Release

Panaji, Dec 4: There is no request made officially by the state government for granting special category, the fact ehich was revealed in an answer given by union minister of state planning, parliamentary affairs, personnel, public grievances and pension V Narayanasamy to MP Shantaram Naik in a written reply to his question.

Minister has mentioned only states, namely Orissa, Chattisgarh, Rajasthan and Bihar have made requests for inclusion in special category.

Naik informed that there are 11 states at present which have been granted special category namely Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Sikkim, Tripura and Uttrakhand.

The issue of Special Category Status (SCS) first came up when the Gadgil Formula of fund allocation was originally approved by the National Development Council at its meeting held in April, 1969. Assam, Jammu & Kashmir and Nagaland were included for providing Central Assistance in the form of 90% grant and 10% loan.

The various other states were accorded Special Category Status whenever they attaned Statehood viz, Himachal Pradesh in 1970-71, Manipur, Meghalaya and Tripura in 1971-72; Sikkim in 1975-76 and Arunachal Pradesh and Mizoram in 1986-87 and Uttarakhand in 2001-02, minister said.

 Narayanasami further informed Naik that the category into which a state falls ( that is, special category or non-special category) is used for deciding the loan-grant ration that is applicable for the Normal Central Assistance (NCA) provided to the states. Special Category Status results in the Normal Central Assistance and Assistance for Externally Aided Projects (EAP) being calculated as 90 % grant and 10 % loan. Non-Special Category Status results in the Normal Central Assistance being calculated as 30 % grant and 70 % loan.

Special Category states are also provided Special Plan Assistance for projects of special importance to the state. Special Central Assistance untied to projects has also been provided to Special Category States because of their difficult financial situation, minister said.

The decision to grant Special Category Status to any state is taken by National Development Council, which is the sole body competent to do so.  There are no separate constitutional provisions, legislation or executive orders for the same, minister clarified.

MP Nail in a statement issued stated that he has given three memorandums to the Prime Minister, a few months back, making three separate demands , namely, Special Category, Special Provisions under Constitution to protect Goa’s land  and separate Cadre for All India Services and,  has given the copies of my memorandum to the Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa.

However, if the state government itself does not place a particular demand with the centre, it means and implies that there is no demand from the state, which is why,  Goa is not mentioned among the list of States who have demanded Special Category.