States Weekly: March 6, 2024

Big News: Haryana releases the Draft Haryana Green Hydrogen Policy 2024; Jammu and Kashmir launches the new Jammu & Kashmir Start-up Policy- 2024-27; Meghalaya approves the Draft Meghalaya Power Policy, 2024; Goa releases a revised Solid Waste Management (SWM) Policy 2022-2037; Karnataka Electricity Regulatory Commission (KERC) reduces the power tariff for consumers who use more than 100 units of electricity every month; and more.

Health 

Nothing critical to report this week.

Climate Change & Energy

Delhi Electricity Regulatory Commission (DERC) issues the DERC Peer to Peer Energy Transaction Guidelines, 2024 to promote peer-to-peer energy transactions, aiming to further encourage renewable energy use and generate additional income for consumers. The guidelines are aimed at allowing prosumers and eligible consumers to buy and sell electricity securely and reliably. Source: Solar quarter; In detail: DERC Peer to Peer Energy Transaction Guidelines, 2024

Haryana releases the Draft Haryana Green Hydrogen Policy 2024. The policy aims to enable the state to generate 250 kilo tonnes per annum (kTPA) of green hydrogen by 2030. As per the policy, the state govt will provide 100 percent exemptions on stamp duty, transmission charges, local body tax, non-agricultural tax, and electricity duty, and facilitate the creation of supporting infrastructure for the generation, storage, and transmission of the clean energy fuel. Source: Times of India; In detail: Draft Haryana Green Hydrogen Policy

Maharashtra Electricity Regulatory Commission (MERC) releases the MERC (Renewable Purchase Obligation, its Compliance, and Implementation of Renewable Energy Certificate Framework) (First Amendment) Regulations, 2024. These amendments come in line with the Electricity Act, 2003, and the Tariff Policy, 2016, and aim to promote renewable energy generation and ensure compliance with renewable purchase obligations. Source: Solar Quarter; In detail: MERC (Renewable Purchase Obligation, its Compliance and Implementation of Renewable Energy Certificate Framework) (First Amendment) Regulations, 2024

Arunachal Pradesh State Electricity Regulatory Commission (APSERC) releases the APSERC Terms and Conditions for Green Energy Open Access (GEOA) and Methodology for Calculation of Charges (1st Amendment) Regulations 2024 amending the methodology for calculating green energy charges in the state. Source: Solar Quarter; In detail: Draft notification

Karnataka Electricity Regulatory Commission (KERC) reduces the power tariff for consumers who use more than 100 units of electricity every month. The reduction in tariff, effective from April 1, 2024, is expected to translate into a monthly reduction of $3.01 to $3.62 for an average household of three to four people. Source: Indian Express; In detail: Tariff order

Chhattisgarh State Electricity Regulatory Commission (CSERC) releases the Chhattisgarh State Electricity Supply Code (Fourth Amendment) 2024, aiming to improve electricity distribution, and advance prepaid smart meter adoption in the state. Source: Solar Quarter; In detail: Chhattisgarh State Electricity Supply Code (Fourth Amendment) 2024

Jharkhand State Electricity Regulatory Commission (JSERC) increases the power tariff in the state by 7.66 percent. Under the new rates, domestic consumers in rural areas will pay $0.076 per unit, up from $0.07, while urban consumers will pay $0.08 per unit, up from $0.076. The revised tariff will take effect from March 1. Source: Economic Times; In detail: Tariff order

Meghalaya approves the Draft Meghalaya Power Policy, 2024, which seeks to develop power projects through hydro, thermal, pumped storage, solar, and wind energy. The policy also aimed at improving the efficiency for the operations of the existing generation, transmission, and distribution network in the state, and make them more consumer friendly. Source: Syllad

Finance

Delhi presents the State Budget 2024-25 with an outlay of $9.17 billion. The state has proposed an allocation of $1.97 billion for the education sector. Source: Hindustan Times; In detail: Budget Speech 2024-25

Maharashtra presents the interim State Budget 2024-25 with an outlay of $72.47 billion and a revenue deficit of $1.17 billion. The budget proposes no new taxes. A supplementary budget will be presented after the general elections. Source: Business Standard; In detail: Budget Speech 2024-25

Jharkhand tables the State Budget 2024-25 with an outlay of $15.44 billion, announcing an increase in the limit under the farm loan waiver scheme to $24.13 billion and coverage of 500,000 additional beneficiaries under the state food security programme. Source: Economic Times; In detail: Budget at a glance

Manipur presents the State Budget 2024-25 with an outlay of $4.1 billion. The total revenue expenditure is estimated at $2.44 billion, and the capital outlay is estimated at $984.16 million. Source: India Today; In detail: Manipur budget at a glance

Mizoram presents the State Budget 2024-25 with an outlay of $1.74 billion. The outlay is $24.4 million higher than the budget estimate of 2023-24. Source: Economic Times; In detail: Budget Speech 2024-25

Nagaland presents the State Budget 2024-25 with an outlay of $2.86 billion. In the budget, the state has announced a fully funded universal life insurance scheme for residents. Source: Business Standard; In detail: Budget speech 2024-25

Sikkim presents the interim State Budget 2024-25 seeking funds worth $733 million comprising of $579.6 million on revenue account and $153.30 million on capital account for the smooth disbursal of government salaries and pensions in the state. Source: Sikkim Express; In detail: Press release

Tripura presents the State Budget 2024-25 with an outlay of $3.35 billion with a deficit of $49.56 million, laying emphasis on education, skill development and infrastructural development. Source: Hindustan Times; In detail: Budget speech

Uttarakhand presents the State Budget 2024-25 with an outlay of $10.74 billion, focusing on welfare of the poor, disaster mitigation, infrastructure development and improving air connectivity in all districts. Source: Economic Times; In detail: Budget at a glance

Goa waives off pre-Goods & Service Tax arrears amounting to $6 million thereby benefitting 16,400 traders under the one-time settlement (OTS) scheme. Source: Herald Goa; In detail: One Time Settlement Scheme

Industrial Policy & Business Regulations  

Jammu and Kashmir launches the new Jammu & Kashmir Start-up Policy- 2024-27 with an aim to establish 2,000 start-ups in the Union Territory by 2027. The policy aims to provide patent-related assistance, financial assistance for mentorship to recognised start-ups, facilitation for department for promotion of industry and internal trade (DPIIT) registration and additional need-based support to start-ups. Source: Business Standard; In detail: Start-up Policy 2024-27

Land Acquisition & Labor Regulations  

Gujarat passes the Gujarat Co-Operative Societies (Amendment) Bill, 2024. The bill has a provision to fix a ceiling on transfer fees charged by societies for the sale of property. The bill also reduces the minimum requirement of people for the registration of a housing society from 10 to 8. Source: Desh Gujarat; In detail: Gujarat Co-Operative Societies (Amendment) Bill, 2024 (In Gujarati)

Infrastructure & Governance

Andhra Pradesh increases the monthly pension for the landless poor in the Andhra Pradesh Capital Region Development Authority (APCRDA) region from the existing $30.17 to $60.34. Source: The News Minute

Assam and the World Bank announce the Assam Resilient Rural Bridges Programme with an outlay of $452 million to improve connectivity for over 1.8 million people living in rural areas, especially during extreme weather. The programme aims to strengthen the resilience and management of roads and bridges to help people living in 1,739 villages gain round-the-year access to wholesale markets, schools, hospitals, and places of work. Source: Assam Tribune; In detail: Press release

Goa releases a revised Solid Waste Management (SWM) Policy 2022-2037. The policy emphasizes recycling, reuse, recovery, and waste prevention while also improving infrastructure and providing support to authorized agencies and local governments. Source: Goemkarponn; In detail: Revised Solid Waste Management (SWM) Policy 2022-2037

Center – State Relations 

Nothing critical to report this week.