<h1>Terms of Reference require wide-ranging intergovernmental consultations and expert analysis to inform the Finance Commission's assessment.</h1> The Commission commenced work on the Terms of Reference, resolved to conduct wide-ranging consultations with Union Ministries, State Governments, local bodies, panchayats and state political parties, and mandated analytical papers and inputs from research organisations, academics and think tanks to inform its assessments, while approving establishment of its Secretariat office in New Delhi.