Guwahati, July 2: Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma met Dr. Arvind Panagariya, Chairman of the 16th Finance Commission, in New Delhi on Wednesday to push for a more equitable share of central funds, citing Assam’s unique developmental challenges and strategic importance.
During the 40-minute meeting at Bhawan Annexe, 1 Tolstoy Marg, CM Sarma outlined a range of issues affecting the state — from its complex geography and vulnerability to climate change to its proximity to international borders and ongoing demographic changes.
Sarma emphasized that Assam’s challenges are distinct and require customized financial strategies. “To bridge regional disparities and move toward a Vikshit Bharat (developed India), states like Assam need tailored solutions and equitable resource allocation,” he said.
Despite these constraints, Sarma highlighted Assam’s strong performance across key sectors such as health, education, infrastructure, local governance, power, drinking water, and disaster management — driven by increased capital expenditure under the current administration.
He reaffirmed Assam’s commitment to becoming a net contributor to India’s growth, aligning with the national goal of becoming the world’s third-largest economy. The Chief Minister also made strategic submissions to the Finance Commission aimed at deepening cooperative federalism and addressing vertical and horizontal imbalances in fund distribution.
Senior officials including KK Dwivedi, Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister, and Jayant Narlikar, Commissioner and Secretary of the Assam Finance Department, also attended the meeting.
Afterward, CM Sarma posted on X (formerly Twitter): “It is always insightful to meet @APanagariya Ji, the Chairman of the 16th Finance Commission. We discussed aspects unique to Assam with regards to devolution of funds.”
This was Sarma’s second key engagement with the Finance Commission. During their visit to Assam in September last year, he had urged the panel to increase the state’s horizontal devolution share and allocate 10% of central tax revenues collectively to the North Eastern states, recognizing the region as a strategic growth engine.
The 16th Finance Commission, chaired by Dr. Panagariya and constituted on December 31, 2023, is tasked with submitting its recommendations by October 31, 2025. The award period will cover five years starting from April 1, 2026.
