Growing Centralisation of Social Sector Policies in India

Social sector policies in India are increasingly being steered by the central government. The labyrinth of centrally sponsored and assisted schemes and their rising share in the centre's support for the plan through gross budgetary support are important factors. The element of discretion in centre-state transfers and the bypassing of state machinery in the flow of funds add to the complexity in this sphere. This paper deliberates on the recommendations of the Planning Commission's 2011 Chaturvedi Committee on restructuring of centrally sponsored schemes and discusses some of the larger issues that emerge from centralisation of social sector expenditure.