Seven states, UTs write to President on finance panel terms of references

Addressing the meeting, Naidu said the 2011 population criteria would adversely affect the flow of funds to performing states

The governments of seven states and Union Territories have jointly written to President Ram Nath Kovind seeking amendments to some of the contentious terms of references of the 15th Finance Commission.

A memorandum, signed by the chief ministers or finance ministers of Andhra Pradesh, Puducherry, Karnataka, Delhi, West Bengal, Kerala and Punjab, said the terms were disruptive and a cause for concern.

Apart from the issue of the use of the 2011 census, the memorandum also asked that states not be judged on the basis of the National Democratic Alliance government’s ‘New India 2022’ development goals or on implementing central