Kelkar to head 13th Finance CommissionBS Reporter / New Delhi November 14, 2007The government today announced the formation of the 13th Finance Commission. Vijay L Kelkar, former union finance secretary and adviser to the finance minister has been appointed chairman, while Indira Rajaraman, professor emeritus, National Institute of Public Finance and Policy, Abusaleh Shariff, chief economist, National Council of Applied Economic Research, Atul Sarma, former vice-chancellor, Rajiv Gandhi University (formerly Arunachal University) shall be the full time members of the Commission. Sumit Bose will be the secretary to the commission, while B K Chaturvedi, member, Planning Commission will be a part-time member.The 13th Finance Commission will also take into consideration the likely impact of the proposed implementation of Goods and Services Act (GST) with effect from April 1, 2010, including its impact on foreign trade. The commission has also been asked to consider the need to improve the quality of public expenditure to obtain better outputs and outcomes.The need to manage ecology, environment and climate change consistent with sustainable development, which is an issue of national concern, will also be taken into account by the commission.The recommendations of the commission will cover the period of five years from April 1, 2010 to March 31, 2015. The commission
