Lok Sabha Question No. 166 (STARRED), answered on 2015-07-31
Subject: Special Packages to States
Ministry: PLANNING
Asked by: BHEEMRAO BASWANTHRAO PATIL, VISHNU DAYAL RAM

**GOVERNMENT OF INDIA**

**MINISTRY OF PLANNING**

**LOK SABHA**

**STARRED QUESTION NO. *166**

**TO BE ANSWERED ON 31.07.2015**

**SPECIAL PACKAGES TO STATES**

*166.  SHRI BHEEMRAO B. PATIL

SHRI VISHNU DAYAL RAM:

Will the Minister of PLANNING be pleased to state:

1. the facilities and incentives granted to Special Category States;

1. whether some of the States have desired special package for the socio-economic 	development of backward, tribal and hilly areas, if so, the details thereof and the 	action taken thereon, State/UT-wise;

1. whether States have also sought Special Economic Packages (SEPs) for the overall 	accelerated growth and development and if so, the details thereof, State/UT-wise; 	and

1. if so, the funds allocated, released under special package and utilized during the 	last three years and the current year, State/UT-wise?
## 1 
## 2 ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) FOR MINISTRY OF PLANNING AND MINISTER OF STATE FOR DEFENCE
(RAO INDERJIT SINGH)
    1. to (d):   A Statement is laid on the Table of the House.
**Statement referred to in reply to Part (a) to (d) of Lok Sabha  Starred Question No. *166 by Shri Bheemrao B. Pati &  Shri Vishnu Dayal Ram regarding ‘Special Packages to States’  to be answered on 31.07.2015**
    1. The facilities and incentives granted to Special Category States are –
    1. The major portion of the Normal Central Assistance (56.25%) was distributed to eleven Special Category States and the remaining (43.75%) among eighteen General Category States till Financial Year 2014-15.
    2. Only Special Category States were provided Special Plan Assistance (for projects) (90% grant) and Special Central Assistance grants (untied) (100% grant) till Financial Year 2014-15. The amounts were on a need basis subject to availability of funds within the overall Gross Budgetary Support (GBS).
    3. Assistance for Externally Aided Projects (EAPs) flows to Special Category States as 90 per cent grant whereas for General Category States, it flows as back-to-back loans.
    4. The State share in Centrally Sponsored Schemes (CSS) is usually lower for Special Category States, especially the States of North Eastern region as compared to General Category States.(b)  & (c): 	Funds were provided to States for their Socio-Economic Development including development of backward, tribal and hilly areas under different schemes namely, Backward Region Grant Funds (BRGF), Hill Area Development Programmes (HADP), Special Central Assistance to Tribal Sub-Plan, Assistance for schemes under Proviso (i) to Article 275 (1) of the Constitution, Integrated Action Plan to develop Tribal and backward Districts in LWE Areas, etc.  In addition, the funds were also provided under Normal Central Assistance to all States and Special Central Assistance to Special Category States which were untied in nature and States could use these funds as per their requirement for their overall Socio-Economic Development. Special Plan Assistance meant for Special Category States and Additional Central Assistance for other Projects meant for General Category States were also provided. However, as a result of higher devolution of taxes to States from 32% to 42% as per the 14 th Finance Commission, which provides 10% more untied funds to States, these schemes have been discontinued in Union Budget w.e.f. Financial Year 2015-16 except Special Central Assistance to Tribal Sub-Plan and Assistance for schemes under Proviso (i) to Article 275 (1) of the Constitution.
Special packages for different sectors have been sought by some States in past. In 2015-16, Bihar & Odisha have sought Special Package for their overall Socio-Economic development for different sectors.
(d): 	The States & UTs - wise funds allocated and released under different special packages during the last three years are tabulated below. There is no budget provision for Special Package in Financial Year 2015-16.
Rs. Crore
| **Sl. No.**                                                                                                  | **States Name & Special Packages**               | **2012-13**    |              | **2013-14**    |              | **2014-15**    |              |
|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------------|----------------|--------------|----------------|--------------|----------------|--------------|
|                                                                                                              |                                                      | **Allocation** | **Releases** | **Allocation** | **Releases** | **Allocation** | **Releases** |
| 1                                                                                                            | Bihar - Special Plan                                 | 1500.00        | 800.43       | 2500.00        | 2052.98      | 2000.00        | 864.37       |
| 2                                                                                                            | Madhya Pradesh - Special Plan for Bundelkhand Region | 625.09         | 455.23       | 375.00         | 288.51       | 375.00         | 8.00         |
| 3                                                                                                            | Odisha - Special Plan for KBK Districts              | 250.00         | 250.00       | 250.00         | 250.00       | 250.00         | 187.50       |
| 4                                                                                                            | Uttar Pradesh - Special Plan for Bundelkhand Region  | 1405.91        | 207.04       | 625.00         | 250.17       | 640.00         | 95.22        |
| 5                                                                                                            | West Bengal - Special Plan                           | 2000.00        | 1465.30      | 1250.00        | 627.36       | 1000.00        | 393.75       |
| 6                                                                                                            | Assam – Prime Minister Package                       | --             | 300.00       | --             | --           | --             | --           |
| 7.                                                                                                           | Sikkim – Earthquake Package                          | 200.00         | 200.00       | 300.00         | 300.00       | 300.00         | 300.00       |
| 8.                                                                                                           | Meghalaya – Special Package announced in the Budget  | --             | 18.84        | --             | --           | --             | --           |
| 9.                                                                                                           | Jammu & Kashmir – PMRP                               | 700.00         | 171.23       | 600.00         | 244.10       | --             | 45.61        |
| 10.                                                                                                          | Andhra Pradesh – Special Development Package         | --             | --           | --             | --           | --             | 350.00       |
| 11.                                                                                                          | Jammu & Kashmir – Flood Relief                       | --             | --           | --             | --           | --             | 1000.00      |
| ***Source: Allocation as per Scheme of Financing and releases as per subject matter Division, NITI Aayog.*** |                                                      |                |              |                |              |                |              |
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