Financial allocations to states – whether tax devolution or funds from welfare schemes sponsored by the central government – are based on uniform guidelines that leave no room for discrimination, Finance Secretary TV Somanathan told NDTV Tuesday afternoon in an exclusive interview.

Mr Somanathan’s comments come a day after Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and Congress MP Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury sparred over allegations non-BJP states are “deprived of (financial) dues.

Mr Somanathan today underlined what the Finance Minister said, explaining, “In the operation of the Finance Ministry as regards funding to states, we go by formulae that have been laid down by the Finance Commission… we have not discriminated, for or against, any state government.”

“I won’t go into the political aspects but I don’t think there is any conscious discrimination.”

He said sharing of tax revenue – distribution of GST has been a contentious issue for years, with Bengal and Punjab among states frequently claiming withholding dues – is based on percentages laid down by the Finance Commission and audited by the Comptroller and Auditor General.

These, he stressed, could not be changed and funds were distributed as per the guidelines; Ms Sitharaman made the same point yesterday, adding she could not alter them “as per my whims”.

Distribution of funds for schemes sponsored by the centre are also based on fixed percentages – 60-40 in case of “mainstream” states and 90-10 for north-eastern or hill states – Mr Somanathan said.

“We release funds as per percentages… so as long as the previous instalment was spent, the money will be released. So I can clearly say the Finance Ministry does not discriminate. Some states may have grievances over percentages set by the Finance Commission but that I can’t comment on.”

“But we have not deviated from Finance Commission recommendations,” Mr Somanathan said.

On a question about the face-off between Bengal’s ruling Trinamool Congress and the centre – Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee last week held a protest event demanding the state’s “dues” – the Finance Secretary told NDTV the Prime Minister’s Office had stressed that Bengal get its share.

READ | On 48-hour Dharna Over Bengal’s Dues, Mamata Banerjee’s Big 2024 Hint

“… but the state has to meet prescribed guidelines, and there are audit issues to be addressed.”

Mr Somanathan also spoke on various other topics, including the government’s handling of the fiscal deficit, which has been revised to 5.8 per cent for the financial year 2024.

He also spoke about the government continuing to offer food subsidies, which, he stressed, remains a fiscally sustainable proposition, even if it will end up costing the exchequer more than Rs 2 lakh crore.

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Rajya Sabha Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar’s remark on a Congress leader during an uproar by opposition members over the skipping of a question prompted a strong retort from Samajwadi Party MP Jaya Bachchan, who said that the members would have understood if the issue was explained to them and that they are “not schoolchildren”. She also said that the MPs should be treated with respect. 

When a question on aviation was skipped during the Question Hour on Tuesday, Ms Bachchan, Deepinder Singh Hooda of the Congress and other members of the opposition stood up and asked Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman Harivansh why that had happened. 

Amid the uproar, Vice President and Rajya Sabha Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar asked the opposition members to take their seats and said he would return to the question. When Mr Hooda continued to protest, Mr Dhankhar said, “You are not her (Ms Bachchan’s) spokesperson. She herself is a very senior member. No, you don’t have to support her, she is a very senior member.”

Seeking to defuse the situation a little later, Mr Dhankhar said he had indicated that question number 18, which had been skipped, would be taken up after the reply to question number 19 was complete.

“It will be taken up in a composed manner (and) try to find a way out. Jaya Bachchan ji is a very senior member and if she has a sentiment, then it is bound to be serious with me,” she said.

When Ms Bachchan got up to speak, the chairman interrupted her and said, “I would request Jaya Bachchan ji… Jaya ji you are a very senior member. Even otherwise in the country, whatever you say is well-regarded.  You will cheer us, all of us, and I am sure a great actor like you must have taken many retakes also (sic).”

Ms Bachchan interjected, saying she should be allowed to speak and emphasised that she has huge respect for the deputy chairman.

“If you or the deputy chairman ask us to sit, we will, but we won’t do so when another member gestures at us and tells us to sit. It is our right to question. You tell us you can’t take up a question or that there is a problem and it will be taken up later, we understand, we are not schoolchildren. But treat us respectfully,” she said. 

Striking a conciliatory note, Mr Dhankhar said, “Point made. I think no one will disagree with the sentiment. The House is under the control of rules and the person presiding, and I am sure everyone will follow… everything has to be through the Chair. 

The Lok Sabha on Tuesday passed an ‘anti-cheating’ bill to check fraudulent practices – such as leaking of exam papers – in government recruitment exams.

The Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Bill will now be tabled in the Rajya Sabha and, when cleared, presented to President Droupadi Murmu for her assent before it becomes law.

Under this bill, students who take competitive exams in good faith (i.e., they do not knowingly seek to profit from cheating) will not be targeted. However, those who leak exam papers or tamper with answer sheets, by colluding with officials will face up to 10 years in jail and a fine of Rs 1 crore.

Significantly, all offences under this bill shall be cognisable, non-bailable, and non-compoundable, meaning police will be empowered to act on its own (and arrest suspects without a warrant), the accused will not be entitled to bail, and the alleged offences cannot be settled via compromise.

Tabled in the Lower House by junior Personnel Minister Jitendra Singh, the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Bill references “leakage of question paper, or answer key” and “directly or indirectly assisting the candidate in any (unauthorised) manner” as some of the offences.

Others include “creation of fake website(s) to cheat or for monetary gain” and the conduct of fake examinations or issuing of fake admit cards and/or offer letters for similar ends.

READ | Bill In Lok Sabha To Curb Cheating, Paper Leaks In Recruitment Exams

“Any exam wants to test the real level, the knowledge and mental capability, of all candidates. If there is an unfair advantage to any one person, or group of people, this is not good for the growth of the nation,” Rajkumar Ranjan Singh, the junior Union Education Minister, told NDTV this week.

“He, or she, may pass with a high score… but he, or she, may not be able to contribute anything to the growth of the country. So, in the long run, we want capable citizens by 2047,” he said, “So we have to have this bill… to prohibit unfair advantage…”

NDTV Explains | 10 Year Jail Term, 1 Crore Fine: Centre’s New Anti-Cheating Bill

Under the bill, any person or group found guilty of leaking a paper, or tampering with answer sheets will receive a minimum three-year jail term. This can be extended to five years with a fine up to Rs 10 lakh.

Service providers who do not report a possible offence can be fined up to Rs 1 crore, and senior managers of such firms may be jailed for up to 10 years and/or receive a similar fine.

Finally, those found guilty of the “organised crime of paper leak” may receive jail terms of five to 10 years, and have to pay fines of up to Rs 1 crore.

An officer not below the rank of Deputy Superintendent of Police, or Assistant Commissioner of Police, will be tasked with investigating any complaints.

The bill covers recruitment examinations conducted by the Union Public Service Commission, Staff Selection Commission, Railway Recruitment Board, Institute of Banking Personnel Selection, and the National Testing Agency, among others.

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