The Narendra Modi government on Monday ruled out any plan to grant special category status to Bihar, citing a UPA-era inter-ministerial group report that said the eastern state doesn’t meet the criteria for such concession.

The rejection came in the form of a written reply to a specific question by JDU Lok Sabha member Ramprit Mandal, a day after the key ruling NDA partner had raised the demand during an all-party meeting called by the government.

“The Special Category Status for plan assistance was granted in the past by the National Development Council (NDC) to some States that were characterised by a number of features necessitating special consideration. These features included (i) hilly
and difficult terrain, (ii) low population density and/or sizeable share of tribal
population, (iii) strategic location along borders with neighbouring countries, (iv) economic and infrastructural backwardness and (v) non-viable nature of State finances,” junior finance minister Pankaj Chaudhary said in a written reply.

“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 reply added, rejecting the demand.

The JDU is the third largest constituent of the ruling NDA and with the BJP falling short of majority in the Lok Sabha, the support of the party’s 12 MPs is crucial for the stability of the Modi 3.0 government. Using this as an opportunity, the regional party has been pressing for the fulfillment of its long-standing demand to aid the development of backward Bihar.

JDU working president and Rajya Sabha member Sanjay Kumar Jha said: “Bihar should get the status of a special state, this has been the demand of our party since the beginning…. If the government feels that there is a problem in doing this (special status), then we have demanded a special package for Bihar.”

The government’s rejection came as an opportunity to the Opposition RJD in Bihar to take swipes at the JDU. “Nitish Kumar and JDU leaders must enjoy the fruits of power at the Centre and continue their drama politics on special status,” the RJD said on X.