View source for Composite Development Index (for backwardness of states)

==COMPOSITE DEVELOPMENT INDEX ==
===The new CRITERIA will INCLUDE ===
Education

Health 

Poverty rate 

Monthly per capita consumption 

Female literacy 

Share of SCs & STs in total population 

Rate of urbanization 

Financial inclusion 

Connectivity 

Household amenities 

===Current classification===
Under the '''current classification,''' Bihar and many other Bimaru states (a club of underdeveloped north Indian states) don’t qualify to be treated as backward and, hence, deserving of special assistance that accrues to the seven northeastern states, Sikkim, J&K, Himachal and Uttarakhand. 

The proposed index will be the basis for the new system of special assistance running into thousands of crores to certain states and will replace the existing method based on geographical factors and terrain.