The government has appointed former vice-chairman of NITI Aayog and Columbia University professor, Arvind Panagariya, as the chairman of the 16th Finance Commission. This announcement comes approximately a month after the government outlined the terms of reference (ToR) for the commission on November 29.
The 16th Finance Commission has a crucial role in recommending the devolution formulated for tax revenues between the Centre and states. According to an official order, the commission, under Panagariya’s leadership, is expected to submit its report by October 31, 2025, covering a five-year period from April 1, 2026.
Arvind Panagariya, currently a professor of economics and the Jagdish Bhagwati Professor of Indian political economy at Columbia University, previously served as the first chairman of NITI Aayog from January 2015 to August 2017. During this period, he was also appointed as India’s G20 Sherpa.
The terms of reference for the 16th Finance Commission include a comprehensive review of the distribution of net proceeds of taxes between the Union and the States, in accordance with Chapter I, Part XII of the Constitution. Additionally, the commission is tasked with outlining the principles governing grants-in-aid of revenues for the States from the Consolidated Fund of India.
Furthermore, the commission is expected to propose measures to augment the consolidated fund of a state, supplementing resources for panchayats and municipalities based on recommendations from respective state finance commissions.
A notable aspect of the ToR is the commission’s potential review of present arrangements concerning the financing of Disaster Management initiatives. This includes a scrutiny of funds constituted under the Disaster Management Act, 2005 (53 of 2005), with the aim of making appropriate recommendations in this regard.
The appointment of Ritvik Ranjanam Pandey as the secretary to the Commission was also announced. Pandey, a 1998-batch IAS officer, previously served as a joint secretary in the department of revenue and was appointed as officer on special duty (OSD) for the advance cell of the 16th Finance Commission on November 6.
The 16th Finance Commission, under the leadership of Arvind Panagariya, is poised to play a crucial role in shaping fiscal policies, promoting financial devolution, and addressing critical issues such as disaster management financing. The outcomes of its recommendations are anticipated to have a far-reaching impact on the economic landscape of the country.