"The proposal to accord special category status to Andhra Pradesh is still under consideration," the Commission's official spokesperson said, adding that no decision has been taken on this yet.
Earlier in March, the Union Cabinet, headed by then Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had directed the Commission to accord the special category status to successor of Andhra Pradesh (Seemandhra) for five years.
Singh had even announced in the Rajya Sabha on February 21 that special category status would be extended to Seemandhra for five years.
The special category status to various states is accorded by the NDC based on consideration of a set criteria.
The criteria include hilly and difficult terrain; low population density and or sizeable share of tribal population; strategic location along borders with neighbouring countries; economic and infrastructure backwardness and non-viable nature of state finances.
About according special category status to Seemandhra, the Commission had recently pointed out in the presentation that any such proposal would have to be endorsed by the country's apex planning body National Development Council (NDC) headed by the Prime Minister with Cabinet ministers and all chief ministers on its board.
In case of Bihar, an inter-ministerial group had said that the state is not eligible to get special status based on existing criteria. However, the government is yet to take a a decision on Bihar's demand.
The Commission, however, has intimated to Rajasthan, Odisha and Jharkhand that they are not eligible for getting special status as per the criteria.
As per the Gadgil-Mukherjee formula for devolution of central assistance for state plans, 30 per cent of the total funds is earmarked for special category states.