Special Category Status of States

Special Category Status (SCS) is a classification given by the Centre to assist in the development of those states that face geographical and socio-economic disadvantages.

  • There is no provision of SCS in the Constitution.

Parameters (based on the Gadgil formula)

  • Hilly Terrain;
  • Low Population Density and/or Sizeable Share of Tribal Population;
  • Strategic Location along Borders with Neighbouring Countries;
  • Economic and Infrastructure Backwardness; and
  • Non-viable Nature of State finances.

As per the NITI Aayog, 10 states (Jammu and Kashmir was removed) are accorded special category status –

  1. Arunachal Pradesh
  2. Assam
  3. Himachal Pradesh
  4. Manipur
  5. Meghalaya
  6. Mizoram
  7. Nagaland
  8. Sikkim
  9. Tripura
  10. Uttarakhand

Important Points

  • SCS was first introduced in 1969 as a classification given by ....
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Indian Polity And Governance