Regional structure of development and growth in India / edited by G. P. Mishra, A. Joshi v.2; c.2

The Centre can play a crucial role in reducing inter-regional disparities through the transfer of resources from the Centre to the States, by establishing public sector projects and through promotion of industrial activity in backward areas. Of these, the process of Centre-State transfer of resources is possibly the most important method whereby the gap between inter-regional disparities can be reduced.

This volume consits of studies prima rily biased towards the strategy of Centre-State transfers of resources and funds and their evaluation from the very beginning of economic plan ning in India. The rationale of appro ach, principle and various criteria adopted by the Finance Commission and the Planning Commission are thoroughly analysed. Most of the studies indicate that the state dis parities, instead of reducing, have shown a tendency of divergence in spite of incessent rising trend in resource transfers from Centre to States during successive plans. It also has studies concerning inter-State variations in the levels of public ser vices and infra-structure facilities which invariably need to be tackled for promoting growth of the economy. On the whole the volume is of inte rest not only to academics but policy makers as well to whom the sugges tions indicated might well provide the solution whereby tax devolution and public investment can be made a really effective instrument for redu cing inter-regional disparities.