| What issue was identified as a common concern regarding the NDRF? | the cumbersome processes and delays in the assessment of relief assistance from the NDRF | They suggested that the Commission recommend an expansion in the scope of assistance from the NDRF to include all items of expenditure for post-disaster management, including response, relief, rehabilitation and reconstruction. A common concern was the cumbersome processes and delays in the assessment of relief assistance from the NDRF. They suggested that funds be released in a transparent and predictable manner to enable States to plan, execute and spend on reconstruction and rehabilitation. | 249 | definition | 1.000 | A common concern was the cumbersome processes and delays in the assessment of relief assistance from the NDRF. | 141 | page=141,block=2 | 0.850 | valid |
| What factors determine the support provided under the SSA initiative? | based on target population, assessment of infrastructure requirement and teacher's adequacy ratio | 11.50 The SSA is a key initiative of the Government of India for achieving the goal of universalisation of elementary education in a time-bound manner and is being implemented in partnership with State Governments to cover the entire country. The SSA support is based on target population, assessment of infrastructure requirement and teacher's adequacy ratio. It has yielded visible progress, especially in the area of enrolment and retention. | 262 | definition | 1.000 | The SSA support is based on target population, assessment of infrastructure requirement and teacher's adequacy ratio. | 166 | page=166,block=7 | 0.850 | valid |
| What were recommendations made about regarding the Inter-State Council? | made on the structure and composition of the Council, its secretariat and functions | 12.40 The report of the Sarkaria Commission suggested the setting up of the Inter-State Council charged with duties embracing the entire gamut of clauses (b) and (c) of Article 263, other than socio-economic planning and development. Detailed recommendations were made on the structure and composition of the Council, its secretariat and functions. The Commission recommended that the separate identity of the NDC should be formalised and duties reaffirmed through a Presidential Order passed under Article 263, and the NDC be renamed as the National Economic and Development Council (NEDC). | 264 | definition | 1.000 | Detailed recommendations were made on the structure and composition of the Council, its secretariat and functions. | 181 | page=181,block=2 | 0.850 | valid |
| What kind of fiscal environment is the Commission responsible for maintaining? | a stable and sustainable fiscal environment consistent with equitable growth | The Commission shall review the state of the finances, deficit and debt levels of the Union and the States, keeping in view, in particular, the fiscal consolidation roadmap recommended by the Thirteenth Finance Commission, and suggest measures for maintaining a stable and sustainable fiscal environment consistent with equitable growth including suggestions to amend the Fiscal Responsibility and Budget Management Acts currently in force and while doing so, the Commission may consider the effect of the receipts and expenditure in the form of grants for creation of capital assets on the deficits; and the Commission shall also consider and recommend incentives and disincentives for States for observing the obligations laid down in the Fiscal Responsibility and Budget Management Acts. | 260 | definition | 1.000 | The Commission shall review the state of the finances, deficit and debt levels of the Union and the States, keeping in view, in particular, the fiscal consolidation roadmap recommended by the Thirteenth Finance Commission, and suggest measures for maintaining a stable and sustainable fiscal environment consistent with equitable growth including suggestions to amend the Fiscal Responsibility and Budget Management Acts currently in force and while doing so, the Commission may consider the effect of the receipts and expenditure in the form of grants for creation of capital assets on the |
| What was the purpose of commissioning studies for every State? | to obtain an overview of State finances in the 2002-2012 decade from local experts | We made a courtesy call on the Union Finance Minister on 20 June 2014. This provided us with an opportunity to exchange views on several issues before us. Earlier, we also had a meeting with the Deputy Chairman and Members of the Planning Commission on 23 April 2014. Several aspects of the ToR were discussed, including financing arrangements for various Plan Schemes. We acknowledge our gratitude for the valuable insights we got in these meetings. Studies 1. In order to obtain an overview of State finances in the 2002-2012 decade from local experts, we commissioned studies for every State, generally through universities and institutions located in those States. Barring one State, we could obtain studies on the economy of all the States. | 471 | definition | 1.000 | In order to obtain an overview of State finances in the 2002-2012 decade from local experts, we commissioned studies for every State, generally through universities and institutions located in those States. | 21 | page=21,block=1 | 0.700 | valid |
| What is one broader issue noted in the review regarding Union and State roles? | the need for rebalancing the roles of Union and State in economic management in general, and fiscal management in particular | 2. We took note of the broader issues relating to the need for rebalancing the roles of Union and State in economic management in general, and fiscal management in particular. The issues raised by the States may be summarised as follows: First, there is greater focus by the States on their own development models. Second, the States have acquired capabilities of designing their strategies for development and have matured in terms of economic management, though there is considerable diversity among them in this regard. Third, there is considerable variation in the expectations of the people of different States about the level and nature of public services. Fourth, some States argued for the need to give State Governments greater policy space vis-à-vis the | 50 | definition | 1.000 | We took note of the broader issues relating to the need for rebalancing the roles of Union and State in economic management in general, and fiscal management in particular. | 26 | page=26,block=8 | 0.700 |
| What is the reasoning behind adopting nation-wide approaches to sectoral policies? | the need for the Union Government to provide guidance, incentives and disincentives to the States | They also explained the rationale for nation-wide approaches to sectoral policies and the need for the Union Government to provide guidance, incentives and disincentives to the States. They have also indicated that there is an increasing awareness among Union Government Ministries about the need to provide greater flexibility to the States in implementing CSS. 2. We were also made aware of the increasing international obligations that the Union Government is entering into, the discharge of which require the cooperation of the States, making a degree of centralisation inevitable. Further, the increasing economic integration with the global economy requires the Union Government to be empowered to manage global shocks, assure financial markets and to adopt counter-cyclical policies. | 86 | definition | 1.000 | They also explained the rationale for nation-wide approaches to sectoral policies and the need for the Union Government to provide guidance, incentives and disincentives to the States. | 27 | page=27,block=1 | 0.700 |
| What principles are reflected in the proposed institutional arrangement? | the principles of cooperative federalism | We recognise that there is a case for transfers from the Union to the States for specific sectors or areas, especially those with a high degree of externalities. Given the vast variation in systems and institutions, the involvement of States in the design of such schemes is critical for the desired outcomes. To this effect, we have proposed a new institutional arrangement embodying the principles of cooperative federalism. This suggested institutional arrangement should also serve as a platform for integrating economic and environmental concerns in decision making, in view of their externalities. 2. We have been particularly sensitive to the needs of local bodies and their role in providing public services as required by their respective statutes. We have emphasised the predominant role of States and, in particular, SFCs in empowering the local bodies. | 385 | definition | 1.000 | To this effect, we have proposed a new institutional arrangement embodying the principles of cooperative federalism. | 28 | page=28,block=2 | 0.700 | valid |
| What differentiation does the concept of effective revenue deficit introduce? | between the grants given to the States and implementing agencies for the creation of capital assets and grants for meeting revenue expenditures | The revenue deficit remained high at 3.3 per cent in 2013-14 (revised estimates) and is projected to decline marginally to 2.9 per cent in 2014-15 (BE). there was a slippage of 3.4 percentage points over the FC-XIII fiscal correction path of a revenue surplus target of 0.5 per cent of GDP in the terminal year. 3. The Union Government introduced the concept of effective revenue deficit through an amendment to the FRBM Act in 2012. Effective revenue deficit makes a distinction between the grants given to the States and implementing agencies for the creation of capital assets and grants for meeting revenue expenditures. We have noted that the concept of effective revenue deficit is not recognised in the standard government accounting process. 3. | 480 | definition | 1.000 | Effective revenue deficit makes a distinction between the grants given to the States and implementing agencies for the creation of capital assets and grants for meeting revenue expenditures. | 36 | page=36,block=2 | 0.700 |
| What does the ratio of revenue deficit to fiscal deficit measure? | the extent of borrowings used for revenue expenditure | Fourteenth Finance Commission 3. The ratio of revenue deficit to fiscal deficit broadly measures the extent of borrowings used for revenue expenditure. Table 3.1 also brings out this imbalance and shows that the ratio had improved from almost 71 per cent in 2001-02 to 41 per cent in 2007-08. this ratio almost doubled within a span of two years to over 81 per cent in 2009-10 and has since remained consistently above 70 per cent (with the exception of 2010-11), thereby reflecting the levels of persistent structural imbalance in Union Government expenditures. Sources of Fiscal Imbalance 3. Table 3.2 highlights the extent and sources of fiscal imbalance between 2007-08 and 2012-13. Between 2007-08 and 2012-13, the revenue receipts of the Union Government declined by about 2.2 percentage points to GDP, while net tax revenue fell by almost 1.5 percentage points. | 97 | definition | 1.000 | The ratio of revenue deficit to fiscal deficit broadly measures the extent of borrowings used for revenue expenditure. | 37 | page=37,block=1 | 0.700 | valid |