{"id":2880,"date":"2026-02-04T11:32:07","date_gmt":"2026-02-04T11:32:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/iasquest.com\/?p=2880"},"modified":"2026-02-04T11:32:08","modified_gmt":"2026-02-04T11:32:08","slug":"16th-finance-commission-menstrual-poverty","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/kingmakersiasacademy.com\/current-affairs\/16th-finance-commission-menstrual-poverty\/","title":{"rendered":"16th Finance Commission &amp; Menstrual poverty"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-color has-link-color has-medium-font-size wp-elements-1\" style=\"color:#ff0000\"><strong>1. Discuss the major changes introduced by the 16th Finance Commission in India\u2019s fiscal transfer mechanism. Analyse their implications for fiscal federalism and regional equity.<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-background has-link-color\" style=\"background-color:#f7da92\"><tbody><tr><td><strong>Syllabus:<\/strong> <br><strong>General Studies \u2013 II: Functions and responsibilities of the Union and the States, issues and challenges pertaining to the federal structure, devolution of powers and finance up to local levels challenges therein.<\/strong><\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-2 wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>IN NEWS:<\/strong> The Report of the 16th Finance Commission (Chair: Dr. Arvind Panagariya) was tabled in Parliament on February 1, 2026. The recommendations will apply for the five-year period between 2026-27 and 2030-31.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-3 wp-block-paragraph\">The <strong>Finance Commission<\/strong>, a constitutional body under <strong>Article 280<\/strong>, is central to managing India\u2019s fiscal federalism by balancing <strong>equity, efficiency, and macroeconomic stability<\/strong> in inter-governmental transfers. The <strong>16th Finance Commission (2026\u201331)<\/strong> introduces notable changes in tax devolution criteria, grant architecture, and fiscal discipline norms, reflecting a shift towards <strong>performance-oriented yet redistributive fiscal governance<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-4 wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Major Changes Introduced<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-5 wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>1. Tax Devolution Framework<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-block-list wp-elements-6\">\n<li><strong>States\u2019 share in the divisible pool retained at 41%<\/strong>, ensuring continuity and predictability.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Income Distance (42.5%)<\/strong> remains the highest-weighted criterion, reinforcing <strong>horizontal equity<\/strong>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>New criterion: Contribution to National GDP (10%)<\/strong>, replacing <em>tax and fiscal effort<\/em>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Example<\/strong>: Economically advanced states contributing more to GDP receive recognition for growth contribution.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-7 wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>2. Rationalisation of Criteria<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-block-list wp-elements-8\">\n<li><strong>Area weight reduced<\/strong> from 15% (15th FC) to <strong>10%<\/strong>, limiting geographical advantage.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Forest criterion expanded<\/strong> to include <em>open forests and increase in forest cover<\/em>, incentivising ecological conservation beyond dense forests.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-9 wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>3. Grants-in-Aid Reforms<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-block-list wp-elements-10\">\n<li>Total grants: <strong>\u20b99.47 lakh crore (2026\u201331)<\/strong>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Discontinuation of revenue deficit and sector-specific grants<\/strong>, encouraging states to strengthen own revenues.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Performance-linked grants<\/strong> to local bodies introduced.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Data: \u20b91.45 lakh crore linked to performance.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Urbanisation premium<\/strong> (\u20b910,000 crore) and <strong>special infrastructure component<\/strong> (\u20b956,100 crore) target wastewater management and rural-urban transition.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Disaster management grants: <strong>\u20b91.56 lakh crore<\/strong>, reflecting climate vulnerability.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-11 wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>4. Fiscal Discipline Roadmap<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-block-list wp-elements-12\">\n<li>Centre\u2019s fiscal deficit target: <strong>3.5% of GDP by 2030\u201331<\/strong>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>States\u2019 fiscal deficit capped at <strong>3% of GSDP<\/strong>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Off-budget borrowings to be discontinued and fully accounted<\/strong>, improving fiscal transparency.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-13 wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Implications for Fiscal Federalism and Regional Equity<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-14 wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Positive Implications<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-block-list wp-elements-15\">\n<li><strong>Equity preserved<\/strong> through high weight to income distance, benefiting poorer states.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Efficiency promoted<\/strong> by recognising GDP contribution and performance-linked grants.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Transparency strengthened<\/strong> via inclusion of off-budget liabilities.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Local governance empowered<\/strong> through conditional grants.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-16 wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Concerns and Challenges<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-block-list wp-elements-17\">\n<li>GDP contribution criterion may <strong>favour richer states<\/strong>, risking dilution of redistributive justice.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Removal of revenue deficit grants could <strong>strain fiscally weak states<\/strong>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Performance-linked grants may disadvantage states with <strong>low administrative capacity<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-18 wp-block-paragraph\">The 16th Finance Commission marks a <strong>calibrated shift<\/strong> from pure redistribution to <strong>performance-oriented fiscal federalism<\/strong>, while retaining equity safeguards. Its success will depend on <strong>capacity building, cooperative federalism, and complementary state reforms<\/strong> to ensure balanced regional development.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-background has-link-color\" style=\"background-color:#f7da92\"><tbody><tr><td><strong>PYQ REFERENCE<\/strong> <br>Q. How have the recommendations of the 14th Finance Commission of India enabled the states to improve their fiscal position? (2021)<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-19 wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"color:#0004ff\"><strong>Source:<\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/prsindia.org\/files\/budget\/budget_parliament\/2026\/Union_Budget_Analysis-2026-27.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>https:\/\/prsindia.org\/files\/budget\/budget_parliament\/2026\/Union_Budget_Analysis-2026-27.pdf<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-20 wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"color:#ff0000\"><strong>2. Lack of access to menstrual hygiene facilities violates the dignity, bodily autonomy, and equality of girl children. Examine the ethical issues involved in menstrual poverty. What ethical principles should guide State action in implementing the Supreme Court\u2019s directions?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-background has-link-color\" style=\"background-color:#85fed0\"><tbody><tr><td><strong>Syllabus:<\/strong> <br><strong>General Studies \u2013 IV: Strengthening of ethical and moral values in governance<\/strong><\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-21 wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>IN NEWS:<\/strong> A full stop &#8211; Making access to menstrual hygiene for girls a fundamental right is a big step<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-22 wp-block-paragraph\">The Supreme Court\u2019s judgment bringing <strong>menstrual health and hygiene within Article 21<\/strong> represents a transformative constitutional moment, reframing menstruation from a social taboo to a <strong>matter of dignity, autonomy, and educational equality<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-23 wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Significance of the Judgment<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-block-list wp-elements-24\">\n<li>Recognises <strong>menstrual health as a fundamental right<\/strong>, not charity.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Links <strong>education, health, dignity, and bodily autonomy<\/strong>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Shifts responsibility squarely onto the <strong>State<\/strong>, with penalties for non-compliance.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Addresses <strong>menstrual poverty<\/strong> as a structural injustice.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-25 wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Ground Reality &amp; Data<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-block-list wp-elements-26\">\n<li>NFHS-5: <strong>77.3%<\/strong> women (15\u201324 yrs) use hygienic methods \u2192 <strong>~25% still excluded<\/strong>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Inadequate toilets, water, disposal mechanisms in schools.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Stigma leads to absenteeism and dropout among adolescent girls.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-27 wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Challenges<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-block-list wp-elements-28\">\n<li>Patchy implementation of Swachh Bharat guidelines.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Project-based, fragmented interventions.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Deep-rooted cultural stigma and silence.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Weak monitoring in government and private schools.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-29 wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Way Forward<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-block-list wp-elements-30\">\n<li>Universal functional, gender-segregated toilets in schools.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Free and regular supply of menstrual products.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Budgetary prioritisation and outcome-based monitoring.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Curriculum-based menstrual health education.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Accountability mechanisms for States and school authorities.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-31 wp-block-paragraph\">By constitutionalising menstrual hygiene, the Court has reinforced that <strong>dignity is non-negotiable<\/strong>. Sustained policy commitment can ensure that a period ends a sentence, not a girl\u2019s education.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-background has-link-color\" style=\"background-color:#85fed0\"><tbody><tr><td><strong>PYQ REFERENCE<\/strong> <br>Q. We are witnessing increasing instances of sexual violence against women in the country. Despite existing legal provisions against it, the number of such incidences is on the rise. Suggest some innovative measures to tackle this menace. (2014)<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-32 wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"color:#0026ff\"><strong>Source:<\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thehindu.com\/opinion\/editorial\/a-full-stop-on-the-right-to-menstrual-health-and-hygiene\/article70583236.ece\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>https:\/\/www.thehindu.com\/opinion\/editorial\/a-full-stop-on-the-right-to-menstrual-health-and-hygiene\/article70583236.ece<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Discuss the major changes introduced by the 16th Finance Commission in India\u2019s fiscal transfer mechanism. Analyse their implications for [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":2881,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"","ast-site-content-layout":"default","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","ast-disable-related-posts":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"default","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"footnotes":""},"categories":[1,68,140,84,25,33,138,12,150],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2880","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-blog","category-daily-current-affairs","category-ethical-issues-in-governance","category-functions-and-responsibilities-of-the-union-and-the-states","category-gs-2","category-gs-4","category-issues-and-challenges-pertaining-to-the-federal-structure","category-mains","category-moral-and-ethical-dilemmas"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/kingmakersiasacademy.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2880","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/kingmakersiasacademy.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/kingmakersiasacademy.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kingmakersiasacademy.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kingmakersiasacademy.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2880"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/kingmakersiasacademy.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2880\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2882,"href":"https:\/\/kingmakersiasacademy.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2880\/revisions\/2882"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kingmakersiasacademy.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2881"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/kingmakersiasacademy.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2880"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kingmakersiasacademy.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2880"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kingmakersiasacademy.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2880"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}