NITI Aayog bats for halving number of CSS to 30 from 72

NITI Aayog’s subgroup of chief ministers on Saturday arrived at a broad consensus on cutting down the number of centrally sponsored schemes (CSS) to 30 from the current 72.

This is expected to be finalised by July 5 when the final report will be submitted to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who heads NITI Aayog as its chairperson.

“There is a broad consensus on reducing number of CSS and having two types of schemes,” the panel’s convenor and Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan said after the meeting of the sub-group.

At present there are 72 CSS, including the six new schemes introduced by the NDA government. During the UPA regime, the number of CSS were reduced from 147 to 66.

The rationalisation of CSS is important as the Centre has decided to raise state share in taxes to 42 per cent from 32 per cent. The schemes will be classified into core and non-core schemes based on their priority. Core schemes will includes schemes like MNREGA, Swachh Bharat and mid-day meal scheme that comprise the national development agenda. Priority will be given to poverty alleviation, drinking water, rural electrification, women and child health nutrition, and Housing for All schemes, the meeting agreed.

The social inclusion schemes will be be classified into the second category called optional schemes or non-core schemes. For core schemes, the revenue-sharing mechanism will be 60:40 between the Centre and the states. Under the optional schemes, the funding will be shared equally.

Leeway for special states

For the 11 special category states, Central and state sharing will be in the ratio of 90:10 per cent for core schemes, and 80:20 per cent for optional schemes.

Kerala Chief Minister Oommen Chandy, who was present at the meeting, raised objections to the allocations made for CSS this year and said state share must be raised.