From 2005 to 2013, Bihar's Chief Minister Nitish Kumar led a campaign for special category status, collecting 1.25 crore signatures in support. Despite the government acknowledging Bihar's development deficits, the inter-ministerial group rejected the demand in 2012, prompting mass protests and further appeals for reconsideration. By early 2013, positive discussions arose regarding redefining backwardness criteria, reviving hope for Bihar's special category status.

1. CAMPAIGN FOR SPECIAL CATEGORY STATUS FOR BIHAR
2010 - 2013

2. CHIEF MINISTER NITISH KUMAR IS LEADING THE CAMPAIGN
FOR SPECIAL CATEGORY STATUS TO BIHAR
FOR
7 YEARS
INITATED THE DEMAND IN A LETTER TO PRIME MINISTER ON 9 DECEMBER
2005
7 YEARS LATER
CALLS PEOPLE FOR SUPPORT AT RAMLILA GROUNDS ON MARCH 17, 2013

4. May 14, 2010
Janata Dal (United) launches Bihar-wide Signature Campaign
JD(U) goes door to door and mile to
mile in Bihar to reach 1 Crore people
for support on Special Category Status

5. June , 2011
Strong mass support. 1.25 Crore people from across Bihar sign up
Janata Dal (United) Signature Campaign collects 1.25 Crore signatures of people
from Bihar showing strong support for the Special Category Status Demand.
Party compiles the signatures, readies to take the message to the Prime Minister

6. 10 July 2011
JD(U) Bihar President leads a delegation from Patna with 1.25 Cr Signatures
Delegation led by Janata Dal (United)
President Shri Bashishtha Narayan Singh
marches (by bus) to Delhi to meet the
Prime Minister to submit memorandum and
highlight the demand of people of Bihar.

7. 14 July 2011
Prime Minister Accepts the Memorandum
Prime Minister meets the delegation led by National JD (U) president Sharad Yadav.
Member of Parliament N.K Singh stated that the memorandum demanded two concessions:
• First, that the current formula of 70% loan and 30% grant be altered to 90% grant and 10%
loan like other special category States to Bihar as well. This would give Bihar financial
resources and greater headroom for borrowing for infrastructure and social sector projects.
• Second, that a fiscal package which comprised of tax holiday for Income tax, Corporate tax,
excise and customs duty be also be given in order to attract investment in a State where
industrializaton so far has been at its lowest point.

8. 8 September 2011
Government of India constitutes Inter-Ministerial Group (IMG) for Bihar’s Demand
Notification on September 8: IMG with
Member of Parliament, Member-secretary of Planning Commission
Shri N.K. Singh, raised the as its chairperson and secretary in the
issue in Rajyasabha department of expenditure, Ministry of
Finance, as member has been constituted.
The Group to submit its report in three
Minister of State, Planning, months to the panel
Ashwani Kumar replies:
"An Inter-Ministerial Group would
be constituted to look into the
demand for Special Category Status”

9. 18 December 2011
Nitish takes on the Finance Minister on ignoring Bihar’s rightful demands
Reacting to the news of large financial package offered to
West Bengal, the Chief Minister wrote to the Finance Minister
Dr. Pranab Mukherjee
“Repeated attempts by the State Government to Central Government and the Prime
Minister for according a Special Category Status to Bihar have not been accepted so far. In
the index of economic backwardness and industrial progress, Bihar remains significantly below
the national average. Bihar’s per capita income is 1/7th of the per capita income of National
Capital of Delhi and 1/3rd of the national average. ”

10. March 2012
Special Category Status to Bihar is Number One Pending Issue
Nitish writes to Deputy Chairman of Planning Commission Dr.
Montek Singh for consideration of several demands of Bihar
highlighting the key pending issues of the state.
Special Category Demand is first on the list.

11. May 2012
Inter-Ministerial Group Rejects Bihar’s Demand
IMG acknowledges Bihar’s Development Deficit and
backwardness, but Rejects Demand for Special Category
Status
“The Group comes to a finding that Bihar's case for a
special category state is not made out” says the IMG
Report

12. Nitish calls for the voice of People of Bihar to make the demand
Announces Adhikar Rally in Gandhi Maidan on 4th November
Takes Adhikar Yatra Across the State
People of Bihar rally behind in support
Demand for Special Category Status becomes a mass movement

13. “ November 4 is an important date
… it was on this day that the police
had lathicharged Loknayak
Jayprakash Narayan while he was
leading a protest to gherao the Bihar
ADHIKAR RALLY Assembly and legislators as part of
4th NOVEMBER the 1974 movement.
GANDHI MAIDAN The lathicharge had shaken the chair
of the then Prime Minister Indira
Gandhi...Sunday’s Adhikar rally is a
strong message to Prime Minister
Manmohan Singh and UPA
chairperson Sonia Gandhi to stop
discrimination against Bihar ”
“WE WILL FIGHT TILL BIHAR GETS SPECIAL STATUS”
Announces Rally at Ramlila Grounds in
March to address the nation

14. 24 December 2012
Bihar important state in the discussion for Special Category Status
Planning Commision member Abhijit Sen
talks positively about Special Category Status

15. 27 December 2012
Demands at NDC Meeting: Fresh thinking on Special Category Status Needed
At National Development Council meeting chaired by Prime Minister and calls for fresh
thinking on Special Category Status.
1. “IMG constituted by the prime minister did not consider the issues spelt out with due
seriousness and reached pre-ordained conclusions on parameters of special status”
2. Demands the constitution of an expert group to examine and recommend appropriate
policy measures to overcome development disabilities of Bihar.

16. 27 February 2013
Economic Survey of India
calls for a REVIEW of the criteria of
Special Category Status
News brings smiles and hope across Bihar

17. 28 February 2013
Signs Of Hope
"The finance minister has now acknowledged in the budget that there was a case for
revisiting the existing criteria so that new parameters were set for identifying backward
states like Bihar extending some policy support."
The center in principle has now accepted the view that the definition of backwardness needed to
be redefined for according special category status to Bihar.
"This is a big victory of the people of Bihar who have waging a relentless battle for the
special category status demand. It is a very positive development which will eventually
pave the way for according special category status to Bihar."