Chandigarh, June 29 -- The Haryana government has constituted the seventh state finance commission, a constitutional entity, to examine and recommend distribution of financial resources between the state government and local self-governing bodies. A notification to this effect was issued on June 27 by chief secretary, Anurag Rastogi. Former Haryana chief secretary Sanjeev Kaushal has been appointed as the chairman of the commission and IAS officer Anshaj Singh will serve as its member secretary. The commission which has been constituted under the provisions of Articles 243-I and 243-Y of the Constitution shall make its report available to the governor by March 31, 2026. The report shall cover a period of five years from 2026-27 to 2030-31. An action taken report pertaining to recommendations will be tabled in the state assembly by the state government. The objective of the commission is to make recommendations on key fiscal matters concerning Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) and Urban Local Bodies (ULBs), thereby improving decentralised governance and financial autonomy at the grassroots level. Its mandate included recommending principles for the distribution of net proceeds of taxes, duties, tolls, and fees levied by the state between the government and the PRIs-namely, zila parishads, panchayat samitis and gram panchayats. It will also advise on the taxes and fees that may be assigned to or appropriated by these rural local bodies, along with grants-in-aid to them from the consolidated fund of the state. The commission will also suggest measures to strengthen the financial health and revenue-generating capacity of PRIs. The commission will make recommendations regarding the urban local bodies including the distribution of state tax proceeds between government and municipal bodies, taxes that may be assigned to municipal bodies, structure of grants-in-aid to them and the steps needed to bolster their financial sustainability. While making recommendations, the panel will take into account several aspects to ensure fiscal responsibility and equity. These included the need to maintain a balance between state's receipts and expenditures and to generate sufficient surplus for capital investments....