States Weekly: July 31, 2024

Big News: Bihar and Andhra Pradesh get special financial assistance under the Union Budget 2024-25; Telangana, Arunachal Pradesh, and Odisha, release State Budgets 2024-25; Andhra Pradesh releases the Land Titling Repeal Bill 2024; Maharashtra issues an order for the implementation of the Chief Minister Baliraja Free Electricity Scheme 2024 providing free electricity to agricultural pump consumers; and more.

Health 

Jharkhand launches a comprehensive health insurance scheme for state government employees. This initiative aims to provide health coverage of up to $5,971 for state government employees. Source: Town Post

Meghalaya launches the Safe Motherhood Scheme, to enhance maternal and infant health care in the state. The scheme includes over 80 transit homes for safe accommodation of mothers and infants and has allotted over 150 vehicles dedicated to transporting high-risk pregnant and expectant mothers. Source: India Today; In detail: Notification

Climate Change & Energy

Haryana Electricity Regulatory Commission releases the Electricity Supply Code (Fourth Amendment) Regulation, 2024. The amendment is aimed at providing no-fee replacement and repair of electricity transformers for farmers in the state. Source: Economic Times; In detail: Notification

Maharashtra issues an order for the implementation of the Chief Minister Baliraja Free Electricity Scheme 2024. This initiative will provide free electricity to agricultural pump customers with up to 7.5 HP capacity, starting from April 2024, with retrospective effect. Source: Hindu Businessline; In detail: Maharashtra Chief Minister Baliraja Free Electricity Scheme-2024 (in Marathi)

Goa launches the “Goem Vinamulya Vij Yevja” initiative aligned with the Prime Minister’s rooftop solar scheme. This new scheme is designed to enhance solar rooftop capacity and empower residential households in Goa to generate their own electricity. Source: The Goan; In detail: Press release

Kerala State Electricity Regulatory Commission releases the Kerala Electricity Supply (Fifth Amendment) Code, 2024, simplifying procedures including those related to new electricity connections, and single point supply. The amendment requires the distribution licensees to provide electricity connections within seven days from the date of receipt of the application, and within one month in certain designated areas. Source: The Hindu; In detail: Kerala Electricity Supply (Fifth Amendment) Code, 2024

Chhattisgarh State Electricity Regulatory Commission releases the Electricity Supply Code (Fifth Amendment) 2024. The amendments specify the minimum and maximum contract demands for various supply voltages. For 230 volts, the minimum contract demand is set at 5 kW, with no specified maximum. For 440 volts, the maximum contract demand is up to 200 HP or 150 kW. Higher voltage levels, such as 11 KV, 33 KV, 132 KV, and 220 KV, have their own specified minimum and maximum contract demands, ensuring clarity and structure in electricity supply. Source: Solar Quarter; In detail: Chhattisgarh State Electricity Supply Code (Fifth Amendment) 2024

Finance

Nothing critical to report this week.

Industrial Policy & Business Regulations  

Madhya Pradesh amends the Information Technology, Information Technology Enabled Services, and Electronics System Design and Manufacturing Investment Promotion Policy, 2023 to encourage investment in the sectors. As per the amendment, eligible investor units will be able to get single window clearance, assistance in capital expenditure and rent, land at affordable rates, exemption on stamp duty and registry, and assistance in marketing and quality control. Source: Times of India; In detail: Cabinet decisions

Land Acquisition & Labor Regulations  

Andhra Pradesh releases the Andhra Pradesh Land Titling Repeal Bill 2024. The Land Titling Bill was targeted by Chief Minister during the election campaign for its role in complicating land acquisition. Source: Deccan Chronicle; In detail: Andhra Pradesh Land Titling Repeal Bill 2024

Kerala amends the StateLand Disposal Regulations governing industrial land allocation in the state. The amendments aim to ease land acquisition in the state through measures such as increasing the lease period from 30 years to 60 years across the board. Source: Economic Times; In detail: Press release

Manipur revises the minimum wages across various employee categories in the state. The daily wages for unskilled laborers has been increased from $2.68 to $4.77 per day. Daily wages for semi-skilled laborers has increased to $5.25 per day from $2.96, and skilled laborers will receive $5.73 per day, up from $3.26. Source: India Today

Infrastructure & Governance

Telangana releases the State Budget 2024-25 with an outlay of $34.7 billion. The total revenue expenditure is expected to be $26.39 billion and capital expenditure is pegged at $3.99 billion. Source: Hindustan Times; In detail: Budget Speech

Arunachal Pradesh releases the State Budget 2024-25 with an outlay of $4.28 billion. The budget focuses on infrastructure, urban development and human resource development, and has a $118.6 million deficit. Source: Economic Times; In detail: Budget 2024-25

Odisha releases the State Budget 2024-25 with an outlay of $31.6 billion, laying emphasis on agriculture and women empowerment. Source: Business Standard; In detail: Budget Highlights

Water & Sanitation

Nothing critical to report this week.

Center – State Relations 

Union Ministry of Finance presents Union Budget 2024-25. This is the first budget under the Modi 3.0 government. The budget includes increased standard deduction and revised tax rates for salaried individuals under the new tax regime. Source: Mint; In detail: Budget Speech

Union Ministry of Finance announces a special package of $1.79 billion for Andhra Pradesh in the Union Budget. The package is aimed at developing Amaravati, the state’s capital city. Source: Indian Express; In detail: Budget Speech

Union Ministry of Finance announces a comprehensive development package of $3.1 billion for Bihar in the Union Budget. The package is aimed at supporting Bihar’s infrastructural development. Source: Business Standard; In detail: Budget Speech

Any Other

Nothing critical to report this week.