The major functions of the Forum for State Studies would include: 

(i) Promoting fiscal inclusion similar to financial inclusion by encouraging an understanding of burden-sharing and benefit-distribution of revenue, expenditure and debt.  

(ii) Maintaining a Digital Repository of data, studies and government committee reports on the Union-State relations and inter-State relations such as Commission to Examine and Review the Working of the Existing Arrangements between the Union and State in Regard to Powers, Functions and Responsibilities (Sarkaria Commission 1988);

(iii) Undertaking and promoting detailed analytical studies on the growth and development of individual States as well as the States in general; 

(iv) To collaborate and work closely with institutions in the States which share similar objectives, particularly, those relating to fiscal inclusion with a view to avoiding duplication of research work.  

(v) Encouraging the participation of groups and classes of people who have hitherto been underrepresented in discussions and decision-making on fiscal management of the Union and States, and public enterprises;

(vi) Learning from and disseminating information on international best practices on fiscal rules, fiscal compact and a fiscal council in a federation;

(vii) Conducting studies and holding discussions to strengthen the role of the Reserve Bank of India as fiscal advisor to both the Union and States, in view of the expertise built by the central bank on State and Union finances; 

(viii)  Examining the scope and limits of multi-level government keeping in view externalities and people’s participation and mobility in view of developments in technology; 

(ix) Providing a platform for conducting research on Union – State and inter-State cooperation, that would enable conflict resolution; 

(x) Providing a platform for discussion and dialogue among policy-makers and scholars, and between policy-makers and scholars for enabling the evolution of a cooperative and harmonious spirit in resolving Union-State and State-State matters; and 

More specifically, the areas of work of the Forum for State Studies will be:

a)  Policies:

(i) Compare and contrast features in economic policies;

(ii) Compare and contrast sectoral policies;

(iii) Provide a platform for exchange of information and experiences relating to public policy in general and interaction with the private sector, in particular; 

(iv) Study features in relation to incentives and disincentives for the private sector

(v) Study relationships between the public enterprises and governments at the State level, Union level and between Union and States.  

(vi) Relations between regulators at the State level, at the Union level, and their interactions.

(vii) Identifying various agreements / disagreements in particular with neighbouring States, other States, and with the Union Government.

b) Data:

(i) Creating and maintaining a detailed inventory of historic and current information and data on each of the States collected from authoritative sources and kept up to date in digital format.

(ii) Maintain high frequency data, particularly on factors relating to commodities sector, State-wise, (sourced from private agencies, State-wise).

(iii) Maintain high frequency data, particularly on factors relating to financial markets, State-wise.

c) Other aspects 

(i) Conduct studies on matters relating to inter-State migration and movement of people.

(ii) Learn from and disseminate information on international best practices on tackling climate change at sub-national level and mobilizing resources at the State level. 

(iii) Coordinate between research institutions of States and between States and Union Government.

The studies prepared by the Forum for State Studies will be disseminated in national languages; 

The Forum for State Studies will bring out a monthly multilingual newsletter listing out the developments in various States drawing upon the inputs from scholars in these States and covering other developments impinging on Union State relations. 

The Forum for State Studies will be essentially a virtual institution. It will have non-resident distinguished honorary faculty to carry out studies in furtherance of the objectives of the Trust. The distinguished faculty will also mentor non-resident adjunct honorary faculty to conduct research in the field of Union-State and State-State relations.  In addition, the Forum for State Studies will use mechanisms for multilingual presentation of publications on matters relating to fiscal inclusion.