NO SPECIAL STATUS FOR BIHAR

• The Planning Commission has ruled out special category status for Bihar, arguing that doing so would require changes in guidelines.
• Bihar demanded special category status saying it was subject to floods.

 CHARACTERSTICS OF SPECIAL CATEGORY STATES:

• Special category states have some distinct characteristics. They have international boundaries, hilly terrain and have distinctly different socio-economic developmental parameters, according to a study undertaken for the 13th Finance Commission. The study said these states also have geographical disadvantages in their effort for infrastructural development. 
• Public expenditure plays a significant role in the gross State Domestic Product of the states

• The Centre sanctions 90% in the form of grants in plan assistance to states in special category. 

 SPECIAL CATEGORY STATES:

• Special category states are Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Sikkim, Tripura and Uttarakhand.