States Weekly: July 24, 2024

Big News: Bihar approves the Bihar Film Promotion Policy; Maharashtra releases the Maharashtra Tourism Policy; Chhattisgarh approves amendments to the Chhattisgarh Agricultural Produce Market Act; Ministry of New and Renewable Energy announces guidelines for operationalizing the incentives for power distribution companies under the PM Surya Ghar Yojana; and more.

Health 

Nothing critical to report this week.

Climate Change & Energy

Rajasthan issues an order mandating that domestic electricity consumers in the state must now pay their electricity bills monthly, with effect from this month’s bill. According to the order, domestic consumers who previously received their bills every two months will now receive them every month. Agricultural consumers are excluded from this order. Source: Times of India

Tamil Nadu Electricity Regulatory Commission revises the power tariffs for different sections of consumers as part of the measures to offset financial losses incurred over the year. The tariffs will increase between INR 5- INR 40 (~$0.06-0.48) per unit for different categories of domestic consumers. The government will continue providing free electricity up to 100 units for domestic consumers. Source: Economic Times; In detail: Tariff order

Finance

Nothing critical to report this week

Industrial Policy & Business Regulations  

Bihar approves the Bihar Film Promotion Policy2024, aiming to provide institutional support to film makers. The policy seeks to incentivize films in regional languages through measures such as financial grants of up to INR 4 crores (~$478,000). Source: Times of India; In detail:  Bihar Film Promotion Policy 2024

Karnataka announces the launch of the Rajiv Gandhi Entrepreneurship Programme (RGEP), aimed at cultivating innovation and fostering entrepreneurship among young graduates. In its first phase, the program will support 30 innovators with a monthly stipend of INR 25,000 (~$300) for 12 months. Source: Zeebiz; In detail: Rajiv Gandhi Entrepreneurship Programme Guidelines

Madhya Pradesh approves the Madhya Pradesh Cloud Policy-2024 to create a framework for streamlining the use of cloud services in government departments. The cloud services will be made available to the departments through the Madhya Pradesh State Electronics Development Corporation (MPSEDC). Source: Daily Pioneer; In detail: Press release

Maharashtra releases the Maharashtra Tourism Policy-2024. The policy includes the concept of “workcation” and focuses on promoting rural life, films, caravans, and medical tourism. The policy aims to attract $11.9 billion in investment and generate 1.8 million jobs over the next decade. Source: Hindustan Times

Land Acquisition &Labor Regulations  

Nothing critical to report this week.

Infrastructure & Governance

Andhra Pradesh issues a government order repealing the Sand and Mines Policy - 2019 and the Better Sand Policy -2021 to provide free sand to the people till the government sets up the Free Sand Mechanism -2024. Source: Deccan Chronicle; In detail: Notification

Haryana increases the creamy layer ceiling for Other Backward Classes (OBCs) from an annual income of $7,164 to $9,552 and introduced a 5 percent quota for the OBC-B category in Panchayati Raj Institutions and municipalities. Haryana will hold state legislative assembly elections later in 2024. Source: The Hindu; In detail: Press release

Maharashtra announces the “Laadla Bhai Yojna” under which male students who have graduated from grade 12 will receive $71.6 per month. Additionally, students with undergraduate diplomas will receive $95.5 per month, and those with graduate degrees will receive $120. Source: Business Today; In detail: Cabinet decisions

Maharashtra reduces the penalty for under payment of stamp duty from two percent to one percent. The government has also increased the period within which buyers can claim reimbursement of stamp duty paid on cancelled deeds for flats. The move is aimed at generating a revenue of $23.8 million. Source: Hindustan Times

Telangana establishes the Hyderabad Disaster Response and Asset Protection Agency (HYDRAA) for the Telangana Core Urban Region (TCUR). HYDRAA will work on disaster management, and asset protection in the region. Source: Economic Times; In detail: HYDRAA Guidelines

Uttar Pradesh notifies the formation of the State Capital Region (SCR) on the lines of the National Capital Region (NCR) around New Delhi. Additionally, the state also established the Uttar Pradesh State Capital Region Development Authority (UP-SCRDA). The newly formed Uttar Pradesh State Capital Region includes Lucknow and the adjoining districts of Hardoi, Sitapur, Unnao, Rae Bareli and Barabanki. Source: Business Standard

Chhattisgarh approves amendments to the Chhattisgarh Agricultural Produce Market Act. The amendment allows market boards, traders, and processors from other states to purchase and sell notified agricultural produce through the e-NAM portal (National Agriculture Market) operated by the govt of India without registration. Source: Times of India; In detail: Cabinet decisions

Water & Sanitation

Nothing critical to report this week

Center – State Relations 

Union Government releases the Budget 2024-25 with an outlay of ~$575 billion. The budget focuses on key areas including education, employment, skilling and industry 4.0, and the middle class. The budget also includes specific measures for the development of the eastern states including Bihar, Jharkhand, Odisha, West Bengal, and Andhra Pradesh. Source: The Hindu; In detail: Budget 2024-25

Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) issues the operational guidelines to implement the “PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana” for the component “Incentive to Power Distribution Companies (DISCOMs)”. The financial outlay for the incentive program is INR 49.5 billion (~$591.69 million). The activities covered under the program’s scope include information, education, communication, branding activities, and creating conducive regulatory and administrative mechanisms to ensure timely approvals. Source: Mercom; In detail: Operational Guidelines

Any Other

Nothing critical to report this week.