States Weekly: August 20, 2025

Big News: Andhra Pradesh approves Gratuity Payments for ASHAs, Goa launches Pricing Policy for Innovative Lifesaving Therapies (PPILT), Andhra Pradesh eases industrial Parking Requirements, Tamil Nadu sanctions Semiconductor Design Promotion Scheme, Uttar Pradesh notifies MSME Industrial Estate Management Policy, 2025; and more.

Health 

Andhra Pradesh approves Gratuity Payments for ASHAs. The ASHAs (Accredited Social Health Activists) will be paid $57.25 (INR 5,000) per year of service, with a maximum gratuity of USD 1757.50 (INR 1.5 lakh) at retirement.

Source: South First

Goa launches Pricing Policy for Innovative Lifesaving Therapies (PPILT). The policy aims at making next-generation treatments for cancer and complex diseases affordable and accessible. Under the PPILT, Goa will enter confidential, outcome-linked pricing agreements with medical device and pharmaceutical companies to bring treatments for conditions like cancer within the public healthcare budget and help alleviate the existing heavy costs away from patients.

Source: Times of India

In detail: Pricing Policy for Innovative and Life Saving Therapies

Jharkhand launches Chief Minister’s Serious Illness Treatment Scheme. The scheme will offer beneficiaries free treatment up to $17,139 (INR 15 lakh) under the ‘Abua’ (our) Health Security Scheme. The Abua Scheme provides free insurance and treatment to underprivileged families in Jharkhand.

Source: Indian Master Minds

Kerala renews the Medisep Health Insurance Scheme. The scheme, designed for state employees and pensioners, increases coverage for major surgeries. For example, beneficiaries can now claim up to $20,567 (INR 18 lakhs) for liver transplants. The scheme’s basic insurance coverage increases from the present $3435 (INR 3 lakh) to $5725 (INR 5 lakh).

Source: Onmanorama

In detail: Cabinet decisions

Climate Change and Energy

Andhra Pradesh clarifies APERC (Andhra Pradesh Electricity Regulatory Commission) Regulations. The order clarifies the applicability and operational details of Regulation No. 3 of 2017, which governs power evacuation from captive generation, cogeneration, and renewable energy source power plants. APERC clarifies that “captive generating plant,” as defined under Section 2(8) of the Act, covers all such plants irrespective of whether they use renewable energy or non-renewable energy resources.

Source: Solar Quarter

In detail: APERC order

Arunachal Pradesh issues draft APSERC (Andhra Pradesh State Electricity Regulatory Commission) Notification for the Third Obligation (RPO) and its Compliance Regulations, 2025. The draft outlines the minimum share of consumption of renewable energy from non-fossil sources that design distribution licensees, open access consumers, and captive users must meet.

Source: Energetica

In detail: Draft APSERC (Renewable Purchase Obligation and its Compliance) Regulation (Third Amendment) 2025

Arunachal Pradesh issues draft APSERC (Arunachal Pradesh State Electricity Regulatory Commission) State Grid Code Regulations, 2025. These regulations repeal earlier 2018 regulations and set out the rules, guidelines, and standards to be followed by all users of the State Transmission System. It aims to improve grid stability, standardize operational practices, and facilitate clear communication and data sharing between utilities.

Source: Solar Quarter

In detail: Draft APSERC (State Grid Code) Regulations, 2025

Jharkhand issues draft JSERC (Jharkhand State Electricity Regulatory Commission) Terms and Conditions for Determination of Generation Tariff Regulations, 2025. The regulations set out rules for determining tariffs for electricity generation in the state. The regulations seek to promote efficiency, drive optimal investments, and enable fair cost recovery, while ensuring transparency and accountability in tariff determination.

Source: Solar Quarter

In detail: Draft JSERC (Terms and Conditions for Determination of Generation Tariff) Regulations, 2025

Kerala approves KSEBL (Kerala State Electricity Board) Battery Energy Storage System (BESS). The proposal, under the KSERC (Kerala State Electricity Regulatory Commission), sets up a 125 MW/500 MWh battery energy storage system (BESS) at four substations: Sreekantapuram (40 MW/160 MWh), Mulleria (15 MW/60 MWh), Areacode (30 MW/120 MWh), and Pothencode (40 MW/160 MWh).

Source: Mercom

In detail: KSERC order

Tripura launches Rooftop Solar Program. The program aims to scale up renewable energy generation by utilizing the rooftops of government buildings across the state. TREDA (Tripura Renewable Energy Development Agency) plans to install solar panels on 2,000 government facilities, with the goal of generating around 70 MW of clean electricity.

Source: Solar Quarter

Finance

Nothing critical to report this week

Industrial Policy and Business Regulations

Andhra Pradesh eases industrial Parking Requirements. The state halves the parking mandate for industrial areas from 20 percent to 10 percent. For layouts approved by the Andhra Pradesh Industrial Infrastructure Corporation (APIIC), parking will be provided through common pooled facilities at the planning stage, eliminating the need for individual units to create separate parking if shared capacity is adequate.

Source: The Hindu

Andhra Pradesh introduces Bar Policy 2025–28. The new policy reforms the process of allotment of bar licenses. Replacing the earlier auction-based system of 2022–25, the state adopts a lottery-based mechanism to ensure fairness, accountability, and financial stability in the sector.

Source: Hans India

Tamil Nadu sanctions Semiconductor Design Promotion Scheme. The scheme offers subsidies and prototyping grants to fabless design firms and aims to promote skill development programs and the manufacturing of semiconductor machinery. The scheme is part of the $57.13 million (INR 500 crore) Tamil Nadu Semiconductor Mission 2030, announced during the presentation of the state’s 2025 budget.

Source: Business Standard

Uttar Pradesh notifies MSME Industrial Estate Management Policy, 2025. The policy aims to revamp decade-old MSME industrial estates and turn them into productive, revenue generating assets. The policy also introduces a streamlined system for plot allocation via e-auction, standard pricing, and time-bound payment mechanisms.

Source: Economic Times

Odisha amends Odisha Apparel and Technical Textiles Policy, 2022. The amendments extend greater incentives to new industrial units in the sector through an enhanced employment cost subsidy. New industrial units will now be eligible for a monthly incentive of $79.36 (INR 7000) per female worker and $68.45 (INR 6000) per male worker for a period of five years. Earlier, the subsidy was fixed at $68.45 (INR 6000) for female workers and $57.04 (INR 5000) for male workers.

Source: Apparel resource

Land Acquisition & Labor Regulations

Karnataka passes key legislation. The Karnataka Land Reforms and Certain Other Law (Amendment) Bill, 2025 permits the use of up to two acres of agricultural land for new micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) without the need for a formal conversion process. The Registration (Karnataka Amendment) Bill, 2025 aims at simplifying the property registration process, while also allowing digital signatures to approve property registrations.

Source: Business Standard

In detail: Karnataka Land Reforms and Certain Other Law (Amendment) Act, 2025

Registration (Karnataka Amendment) Act, 2025

Punjab withdraws Land Pooling Policy, 2025. The policy aimed to acquire fertile agricultural land across Punjab for development purposes, without conducting any Social Impact Assessment (SIA) or Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) studies.

Source: India Today

Infrastructure and Governance

Gujarat announces Financial Assistance Scheme. The scheme aims to improve the infrastructure of schools across the state. Under the scheme, the state will bear 80 percent of the sanctioned project cost with the school management contributing the remaining 20 percent.

Source: Times of India

Tamil Nadu launches ‘Thayumanavar Thittam’ (Supporting Elderly Welfare) Scheme. The scheme aims to deliver ration products at the doorsteps of over 2.17 million elderly citizens over the age of 70 and disabled persons across the state. The scheme mandates that ration products be delivered on the second Saturday and Sunday of every month.

Source: The Hindu

In detail: Press release (in Tamil)

Tamil Nadu announces key policy Initiatives for Sanitation Workers. The key initiatives include treatment for skin diseases common among sanitation workers, additional insurance coverage of $5725 (INR 5 lakh), raising the total death benefit to $11,450 (INR 10 lakh), and a 33 percent financial subsidy for workers or their families to start businesses, along with a 6 percent interest discount for timely payments. A total of $1.1 million (INR 10 crore) has been allocated for this scheme.

Source: India Today

In detail: Press release (in Tamil)

Assam announces new Co-Districts. The 10 new co-districts raise the total number of these administrative blocs to 49 in the state. The initiative creates smaller administrative units below the district level, facilitating quicker access to government services and improving overall administrative efficiency through decentralization. The newly created co-districts will be Boko-Chhaygaon and Palashbari in Kamrup District, Borsola and Rangapara in Sonitpur District, Mariani and Teok in Jorhat District, Makum and Digboi in Tinsukia District, Dholai in Cachar and Dudhnoi in Goalpara District.

Source: The Hindu

Assam approves several Policy Measures. The policy changes aim to simplify construction norms to promote inclusive development. The Assam Unified Building Construction (Regulation) Bye-Laws, 2022 will enable smaller land plots to benefit from the Transit Oriented Development (TOD) Policy, promote eco-friendly buildings, and enhance housing availability for Economically Weaker Sections (EWS) of society. The state also approves, under Mission Basundhara 3.0, eight proposals for the reclassification and transfer of land for non-agricultural purposes in Dhubri and Biswanath Districts, paving the way for regulated development projects.

Source: India Today

Water and Sanitation

Nothing critical to report this week

Center – State Relations

Nothing critical to report this week

Any Other

Delhi announces Atal Canteens. The 100 new canteens serve food for $0.057 (INR 5) to workers and laborers across the city.

Source: Economic Times