States Weekly: April 30, 2025

Big News: Maharashtra approves the Maharashtra Code on Wages Rules, 2025, and the Maharashtra Industrial Relations Code Rules, 2025 to align with the national labor codes framework; Madhya Pradesh launches the Scheme for Implementation of Biofuel Projects offering up to $24 million in subsidies to promote clean energy and rural income; Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh revise solar tariffs to support small and decentralized energy projects; Delhi releases the Heat Action Plan 2025 proposing cold water ATMs and shaded shelters; and more.

Health 

Haryana launches the “SARTHAK” (Systematic Assessment and Resilient Transformation in Health Accountability and Knowledge) initiative. The initiative aims to create a structured assessment and monitoring framework, designed to ensure accountability, improve quality and enhance service delivery across healthcare facilities in the state. Under the initiative, dedicated teams from the State National Health Mission will visit district health facilities for evaluation and also assess staff performance. Source: The Statesman

Maharashtra sets up the State Health Policy and Technical Advisory Committee. The 27 member permanent committee will act as an advisory body for policies on health and technology related to the sector. Source: Free Press Journal

Odisha approves an allocation of $280.88 million till 2027-28 for the implementation of the second phase of Emergency Medical Ambulance Services (EMAS) scheme in the state. Source: New Indian Express

Climate Change and Energy

Telangana Electricity Regulatory Commission (TGERC) issues an Order approving the procurement of 4,000 MW of decentralized, ground-mounted solar power under Component-A of the PM-KUSUM scheme. In response to the petition raised by the Northern and the Southern Telangana Power Distribution Companies, TGERC maintained the $0.037/kWh tariff, citing procurement progress, and emphasized careful grid integration, consumer safeguards, and financial prudence in execution. Source: Solar Quarter; In detail: TGERC order

Delhi unveils the Heat Action Plan 2025. The plan activates the disaster management machinery in the state, and proposes 3,000 cold water ATMs among other measures to offer relief from the heat. Additionally, it also proposes deploying 1,800 National and Delhi Disaster Response volunteers known as “Aapda Mitras”. The plan also includes the establishment of shaded cooling shelters and the installation of 3,000–4,000 large drinking water units attached to the boundary walls of Delhi government schools and office buildings to dispense cold water round-the-clock, benefiting approximately 500,000 citizens. Source: DD News

Karnataka Electricity Regulatory Commission (KERC) issues the Terms and Conditions for Open Access Regulations, 2025 following a Karnataka High Court directive to reframe rules aligned with national policies. The regulations set clear eligibility for high-tension and low-tension consumers with loads above 100 kW, establish a streamlined process for granting short-term and long-term open access, and formalize charges for transmission, wheeling, cross-subsidy, and banking. Short-term underutilization penalties, monthly banking settlement, and standby power arrangements are also detailed to ensure grid efficiency and cost recovery. Source: Mercom; In detail: KERC (Terms and Conditions for Open Access) Regulations, 2025

Uttar Pradesh Electricity Regulatory Commission (UPERC) issues the draft Multi-Year Tariff (MYT) Regulations, 2025 for the transmission sector. The new regulations are designed to streamline the tariff determination process for transmission utilities operating within the state. The regulations will come into effect from April 1, 2025, and will remain applicable for five years unless amended or extended earlier. Source: Solar Quarter; In detail: Uttar Pradesh Electricity Regulatory Commission (Multi Year Tariff for Distribution) Regulations, 2025

Madhya Pradesh launches the Scheme for Implementation of Biofuel Projects to promote clean energy and rural income generation. The scheme offers capital subsidies of up to $24 million for bio-CNG, biodiesel, and bio-coal plants, infrastructure grants of up to $600,000, and additional support for Zero Liquid Discharge (ZLD) systems. Government land is available at concessional rates, and biomass aggregators will be appointed at the block level to streamline feedstock supply. Electricity duty, energy development cess, and stamp duty rebates are provided for 10 years, with custom incentive packages for mega projects exceeding $60 million. An integrated IT portal will monitor feedstock flow, project progress, and stakeholder linkages. Source: Economic Times; In detail: Scheme for implementation of Biofuel Projects in Madhya Pradesh

Chhattisgarh Electricity Regulatory Commission (CSERC) issues an Order approving the use of ~$0.0409/kWh as the standard tariff for the selected solar projects under PM-KUSUM Component-C. The order comes after a petition filed by the Chhattisgarh State Power Distribution Company Limited (CSPDCL for approval of bid documents and adoption of tariff for purchasing solar power under the PM-KUSUM Component-C scheme. Source: Solar Quarter; In detail: CSERC order

Himachal Pradesh Electricity Regulatory Commission issues an Order setting levelized tariffs for small solar photovoltaic (PV) projects (up to 5 MW) for FY 2025–26. The final capital cost was revised upwards to $403,835–$424,035 per MW depending on project size, with an added $9,036 per MW for urban and industrial areas. Tariffs are fixed at $0.0416/kWh (up to 1 MW), $0.0407/kWh (1–3 MW), and $0.0400/kWh (3–5 MW), with slightly higher rates for urban areas. A $0.0006 per unit royalty is also mandated for projects above 1 MW. Source: Solar Quarter; In detail: HPERC order

Punjab releases the draft Green Hydrogen Policy aiming to achieve green hydrogen and ammonia production capacity of 100 kilo tonnes per annum by 2030. The policy proposes extending incentives under the existing “Punjab Industrial and Business Development Policy 2022” to new green hydrogen and ammonia ventures and expanding the existing units, with benefits varying by project category. Source: Renewable Watch; In detail: Punjab Green Hydrogen Policy 2023

Finance

Nothing critical to report this week.

Industrial Policy and Business Regulations  

Goa extends the validity of the “Goa State Incentives to Encourage Investments Scheme, 2017” for an additional year, from April 1, 2025, to March 31, 2026. The scheme, also known as the “Umbrella Scheme,” provides financial assistance to enterprises in Goa to promote industrial growth and attract new investments. Source: Digital Goa; In detail: Goa State Incentives to Encourage Investments Scheme, 2017

Karnataka launches the Digital Advertising Guidelines 2024, becoming the first state in India to formalize digital media engagement for public communication. The guidelines mandate that all government digital advertisements be routed through the Department of Information and Public Relations (DIPR), covering platforms like YouTube, Meta, Amazon Prime, and Google. Digital media outlets must have at least 100,000 downloads and one year of consistent operations to qualify, while digital advertising agencies must be at least two years old and registered with the Ministry of Corporate Affairs. Applications for empanelment will be open until May 15, 2025. Source: Business Today; In detail: Digital Advertising Guidelines, 2024

Kerala releases the Foreign Liquor (5th Amendment) Rules, 2025 laying down the mechanism for issuing liquor serving licences to government and private IT parks. According to the amended rules, the licence for IT Parks will be issued for an annual fee of $11,710.9 under the name of the developer of the park. Source: New Indian Express; In detail: Kerala Government Notification

Land Acquisition and Labor Regulations  

Maharashtra approves the Maharashtra Code on Wages Rules, 2025, and the Maharashtra Industrial Relations Code Rules, 2025, aligning with the Central Government’s labour codes framework. These reforms, part of India's broader labour law consolidation, aim to simplify wage regulation and industrial relations. The rules will now be submitted to the Centre for final approval, marking a step toward uniform implementation across states. Source: Free Press Journal

Infrastructure and Governance

Andhra Pradesh launches a Price Support Scheme to procure Jowar at a Minimum Support Price (MSP) of $39.47 per quintal for the Rabi 2024–25 season. The nodal agency began procurement on April 20 and will continue until June 20, 2025, targeting an initial 10 percent of the estimated 2,77,080 metric tonnes of production. Depending on market conditions, procurement may scale up to 25 percent. Procurement will be carried out through government centres, with Aadhaar-based direct payment to farmers. Source: New Indian Express

Karnataka passes the Greater Bengaluru Governance Act, 2024. According to the act, the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) will cease to exist. The city will have a new apex body to play the role of a coordinator, and not more than seven city corporations within the Greater Bengaluru area, whose boundaries may extend beyond the current BBMP limits. Source: Deccan Herald; In detail: The Greater Bengaluru Governance Bill, 2024

Water and Sanitation

Nothing critical to report this week.

Centre – State Relations 

Manipur adopts the Central Government’s Child Care Leave (CCL) Policy, extending benefits to women employees and single male employees with minor children below 18 years of age. Eligible employees can now avail up to 730 days of CCL during their service to care for up to two eldest surviving children. Additionally, the state introduces a Special Maternity Leave (SML) of 60 days for female employees in the case of stillbirth or the death of a child soon after birth, following the central guidelines. Source: Sentinel

Any Other

Nothing critical to report this week.