The Narendra Modi-led NDA government has denied the request to grant Special Category Status to Bihar. This decision follows a 2012 report by the Inter-Ministerial Group (IMG), which found that Bihar did not meet the criteria set by the National Development Council (NDC) for such status.
Union Minister of State for Finance, Pankaj Chaudhary, confirmed this in a written response to Jhanjharpur Lok Sabha MP Ramprit Mandal. He explained that Special Category Status was previously granted to states based on several criteria, including challenging terrain, low population density, strategic border locations, economic backwardness, and unsustainable state finances. However, the IMG’s 2012 report concluded that Bihar did not meet these criteria for Special Category Status.
The JD(U) has long pushed for this designation, arguing that it would provide much-needed financial aid and development support for the state. The party renewed its demand during an all-party meeting held before the current Parliament session.
Currently, the BJP holds 240 seats in the Lok Sabha, falling short of the majority mark of 272. To govern effectively, the party relies on the support of JD(U) and the Telugu Desam Party (TDP), which together hold 28 seats.
In addition to Bihar, the TDP, led by Chandrababu Naidu, has also been advocating for Special Category Status for Andhra Pradesh, which was bifurcated in 2014 to create the new state of Telangana