States Weekly: May 7, 2025

Big News: Maharashtra launches Maha InvIT, India’s first state-level Infrastructure Investment Trust to fund roads and bridges; Tamil Nadu notifies the Electronics Components Manufacturing Scheme; Andhra Pradesh issues the Comprehensive Guidelines on Utilization of Municipal Funds to provide direction on spending priorities for urban local bodies; Maharashtra approves the Electric Vehicle (EV) Policy, 2025; and more.

Health 

Delhi releases the “Ayushman Vay Vandana” Scheme, offering free medical treatment worth up to $11,820 for citizens aged 70 years and above. Under this initiative, eligible seniors will receive free medical assistance of $5,910 annually. Additionally, $5,910 coverage will be provided under a separate Delhi government scheme, doubling the health protection to a total of $11,820. Source: India TV; In detail: Press Release

Andhra Pradesh announces the Andhra Pradesh Heatwave Action Plan 2025 in the wake of the India Meteorological Department forecast, noting the possibility of excessive heatwaves and high temperatures continuing till June. The plan includes setting up cooling centres such as public buildings, schools, and malls, as well as temporary shelters for supporting people without adequate housing or access to water. Source: New Indian Express

Climate Change and Energy

Andhra Pradesh Electricity Regulatory Commission (APERC) waives the application fees and net metering charges for domestic consumers installing rooftop solar systems of up to 10 kW under the “Pradhan Mantri Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana”. This decision follows a formal request from the Andhra Pradesh Eastern Power Distribution Company, supported by inputs from the Andhra Pradesh Southern Power Distribution Company and Andhra Pradesh Central Power Distribution Corporation, aiming to ease the financial burden on households willing to switch to solar. Source: Mercom; In detail: APERC Notification

Maharashtra approves the Electric Vehicle (EV) Policy, 2025, earmarking $239.7 million to accelerate EV adoption and manufacturing in the state through 2030. The policy offers 10 percent purchase subsidies for electric two-, three-, and four-wheelers, buses under state and municipal bodies, and 15 percent subsidies for electric tractors and goods vehicles. It waives registration fees and provides toll exemptions on key expressways (Mumbai-Pune, Atal Setu, Samruddhi Mahamarg), with a 50 percent toll concession on other highways. The policy also mandates EV charging stations every 25 km along national highways and supports a Clean Mobility Transition Model to reduce air pollution. Source: Entrackr

Goa announces a co-financing model for electric vehicle (EV) charging stations, with the state government bearing 50 percent of the cost and the remaining to be covered by developers. Additionally, the cabinet also approved transitioning the Goa Energy Development Agency (GEDA) from a society to a company to improve operational efficiency in promoting renewable energy. Source: Economic Times

Jharkhand State Electricity Regulatory Commission (JSERC) increases the power tariff in the state by 6.34 percent. Under the new rates, domestic consumers in rural areas will pay $0.079 per unit, up from $0.074, while urban consumers will pay $0.080 per unit, up from $0.078. The revised tariff will come into effect from May 1. Source: Economic Times; In detail: Tariff Order

Meghalaya announces the Vehicle Scrappage Policy, 2025 to curb rising vehicular pollution, targeting the removal of 13,000 unfit vehicles—5,000 government vehicles over 15 years old and 8,000 private vehicles over 35 years old. The policy aims to reduce emissions, cut fuel imports, and promote material recycling, with implementation beginning in Shillong, Tura, and Jowai—urban centres with the highest vehicle concentration. Source: Northeast Today

Finance

Nothing critical to report this week.

Industrial Policy and Business Regulations  

Chandigarh announces the Startup Policy, 2025 to support local entrepreneurship with financial incentives from idea to seed stage. The policy provides benefits for startups up to 10 years old or with annual turnover below $12 million, and outlines grievance mechanisms for cases of fraud or misrepresentation. Source: Hindustan Times; In detail: Chandigarh Startup Policy 2025

Maharashtra approves the Aggregator Cabs Policy, 2025 to regulate app-based ride-hailing services. The policy caps surge pricing at 1.5x the base fare and allows up to 25 percent discounts during off-peak hours. Cancellation penalties are standardized at $1.2 or 10 percent of the fare if cancelled by drivers, and $0.6 or 50 percent of the fare if cancelled by passengers—whichever is lower. GPS tracking and police verification have been made mandatory, and women-only carpooling is permitted. Drivers will retain 80 percent of fares, while aggregators must set up local offices and offer training, welfare benefits, and insurance support. Source: India Today

Tamil Nadu launches the Electronics Components Manufacturing Scheme to promote large-scale value-added manufacturing in the state. The scheme complements the Tamil Nadu Semiconductor and Advanced Electronics Policy, 2024 and aims to attract companies eligible under the central Electronics Component Manufacturing Scheme by matching Union-level subsidies. The state expects to mobilize $3.6 billion in investments and generate 60,000 jobs through this initiative. Source: Business Standard; In detail: Press Release

Nagaland notifies the Nagaland Film Policy, 2024 to develop a full-fledged film ecosystem in the state. The policy aims to attract national and international productions by streamlining permissions, developing infrastructure like studios and animation labs, and offering security assurances for crews. It also envisions training institutes, film festivals, anti-piracy measures, and local content archiving. The policy complements cultural events like the Hornbill Festival, leveraging Nagaland’s tribal heritage and scenic landscapes to boost cinematic tourism and creative sector investment. Source: Northeast News; In detail: Press Release

Land Acquisition and Labor Regulations  

Telangana releases the draft Telangana Gig and Platform Workers (Registration, Social Security and Welfare) Bill, 2025, becoming the first Indian state to enact a comprehensive law ensuring social security, employment conditions, and grievance redress for platform-based workers. The law applies to all aggregators operating in Telangana and mandates worker registration, platform accountability, and a dedicated social security fund. The legislation includes provisions for a grievance officer, seven-day termination notice, insurance coverage, and a 1–2 percent welfare fee on aggregator payouts. The government has invited suggestions and comments on the draft by May 18, 2025. Source: Times of India; In detail: Draft Telangana Gig and Platform Workers (Registration, Social Security and Welfare) Act, 2025

Andaman and Nicobar issues a Government Order revising factory workday spread-over limit. The order aimed at improving the ease of doing business environment in the union territory, increases the daily spread-over limit for adult workers in factories from 10.5 hours to 12 hours, inclusive of rest intervals. This change, issued under Section 56 of the Factories Act, 1948, aligns with the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade’s March 2025 directive to ease compliance and enhance industrial productivity. The revised limit came into effect on April 17, 2025. Source: Legality Simplified; In detail: Government Order

Infrastructure and Governance

Maharashtra approves the establishment of the Maha Infrastructure Investment Trust (Maha InvIT), becoming the first state in India to create such a platform to mobilize private and public capital for roads, bridges, and related infrastructure. The trust will operate under SEBI guidelines, with assets from the Public Works Department, Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation, and Maharashtra Infrastructure Development Corporation transferred to the InvIT. The state has also cleared in-principle approval for a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) to manage the trust, aiming to attract long-term investments, reduce debt dependency, and reinvest revenues into new infrastructure development. Source: Free Press Journal

Andhra Pradesh issues the Comprehensive Guidelines on Utilization of Municipal Funds to boost urban local body (ULB) efficiency and align with the state’s 2047 development goals. The guidelines detail capital allocation mandates and service delivery benchmarks for ULBs. Municipalities must now allocate 20–30 percent of revenue receipts to capital expenditure based on their grade and earmark 30 percent of non-grant income for public health. ULBs are also mandated to ensure core service delivery—100 percent door-to-door waste collection, leak-proof water supply, pothole-free roads, and functional street lighting. A minimum 40 percent of net municipal funds must go to slum development and livelihoods. A dashboard-linked ERP system will support fortnightly and monthly monitoring. Source: Elets

Tamil Nadu passes the Money Lending Entities (Prevention of Coercive Actions) Bill, 2025, aimed at protecting vulnerable borrowers from unethical and aggressive debt recovery methods used by loan sharks. The bill criminalizes coercive recovery tactics and holds lenders accountable under abetment to suicide provisions if their actions lead to borrower suicides. Source: Hindustan Times

Chhattisgarh approves the “Mukhyamantri Gramin Bus Suvidha Yojana” to provide accessible transport services to the public in remote and rural areas of the state lacking passenger transport facilities. The scheme will enable light and medium transport vehicles (18–42 seats) to operate on newly identified rural routes. Permits will be prioritized for local residents, especially scheduled tribes, scheduled castes, OBCs, women, and Maoist-affected individuals. Beneficiaries will receive a full monthly tax waiver for three years and financial support of $0.31/km in Year 1, $0.29/km in Year 2, and $0.26/km in Year 3. The scheme also offers full fare exemption for persons with disabilities, HIV/AIDS patients, and seniors aged 80+, with Maoist-affected persons eligible for a 50 percent fare concession. Source: Newsriveting

Water and Sanitation

Goa releases a notification withdrawing its flagship free water supply scheme, effective May 1, 2025. Launched in 2021, the scheme exempted households consuming under 16 cubic meters per month from paying water bills—benefiting nearly 60 percent of households. Source: Herald Goa

Center – State Relations 

Nothing critical to report this week.

Any Other

Delhi approves the draft Delhi School Education (Transparency in Fixation and Regulation of Fees) Bill, 2025 to regulate fees in private and government schools The bill, once passed by the Assembly, will establish the city’s first legal framework for school fee regulation and create a three-tier committee to oversee fee increases. Source: Business Standard