The School of Social Sciences (SSS) organized a national level seminar on Fiscal Federalism: Challenges before the Sixteenth Finance Commission (XVI — FC) on 20^th January 2024 at Hotel Taj West End, Race Course Road, Bangalore.

Shri. Siddaramaiah, Hon’ble Chief Minister, Govt. of Karnataka was the chief guest for the event. Hon’ble Chief Minister of Karnataka highlighted the key fiscal issues faced by the Karnataka in his inaugural address and also appreciated M S Ramaiah University of Applied Sciences for organising this seminar which is timely and most relevant.

The seminar was jointly organized by the SSS, and the Finance Department, Government of Karnataka. The seminar sought to bring to the public discourse the issues that the XVI — FC will need to consider while it engages in the tasks that it is mandated to undertake, keeping in mind the concerns of the states, in particular the Southern states. 

Seminar consisted of two technical sessions along with inaugural and valedictory sessions (a) Fiscal Autonomy of the States- way forward in the context of the 16^th Finance Commission and (b) GST and its implications for state finances.

Prominent speakers in the seminar included Padma Vibushan Dr. Vijay Kelkar, Chairman, XIII Finance Commission; Prof. Govind Rao, Member, XIV Finance Commission; Prof. D. Narayana, Former Director, Gulati Institute of Finance and Taxation; Sri. Haseeb Drabu, Former Finance Minister, Jammu & Kashmir; Prof. V K Natraj, Former Director, Madras Institute of Development Studies; Prof. Narendar Pani, Professor, NIAS and Prof. Vinod Vyasulu, Founder, CBPS.

Sri. C. Narayanaswamy, Chairman, 5^th State Finance Commission chaired the valedictory session; Sri. Basavraj Rayareddy, Economic Adviser to Chief Minister of Karnataka chaired the second technical session on GST and Sri. Krishna Byregowda, Hon’ble Revenue Minister, Government of Karnataka delivered the valedictory address.