States Weekly: October 21, 2026

Big News: Haryana releases Mental Healthcare (State Mental Health Authority) Regulations, 2026; Bihar passes the Ease of Doing Business Act, 2026; Bihar releases the Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSME) Policy 2026; Delhi approves an Industrial Policy, 2026; Tamil Nadu launches the Tamil Nadu Semiconductor Ecosystem Scheme 2026; Meghalaya approves the Meghalaya Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (Facilitation and Establishment of Operations) Ordinance 2026; Ladakh announces the formation of Sankoo as a district; and more.

Health 

Haryana releases a seven-point action plan to make the state drug-free. The seven-point plan aims to rid every police jurisdiction and district of drugs and traffickers, and to stop chemists from selling narcotic pills. It also focuses on family involvement, hospital-based treatment, and awareness and counselling in schools.

Source:Times of India

Haryana releases Mental Healthcare (State Mental Health Authority) Regulations, 2026. The six-category regulatory framework enforces standards on registration, patient safety, staffing, and treatment protocols.

Source: Times of India

Mizoram launches their SUMAN Roadmap 2030. The roadmap aims to reduce preventable maternal and newborn deaths and ensure timely and quality healthcare for women during pregnancy and childbirth. The roadmap is part of the Union governments 'Surakshit Matritva Aashwasan' (Assurance of Safe Motherhood) (SUMAN) initiative.

Source: India Today

Climate Change and Energy

Haryana amends HERC's Procedure for Grant of Connectivity and Green Energy Open Access. The amendments, approved by the Haryana Electricity Regulatory Commission (HERC), set out a formal process for extending deadlines on dedicated evacuation systems (the transmission lines that carry power from a project to the grid).

Source: Solar Quarter

In detail: HERC Order

Finance

Nothing critical to report this week.

Industrial Policy and Business Regulations Industrial Policy & Business Regulations  

Bihar passes the Ease of Doing Business Act, 2026. The Act lets enterprises begin operations through self-declaration, guarantees time-bound approvals, and creates a single authority for investment clearances.

Source: Economic Times

In detail: Bihar Ease of Doing Business Act, 2026

Bihar releases the Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSME) Policy 2026. The new policy requires that 25–40 percent of government procurement come from goods made in Bihar, which gives local industries a larger market.

Source: KNN

Delhi approves an Industrial Policy, 2026. The policy presents a ten-year plan to make the capital a clean, technology-driven industrial hub. It offers tailored incentives for 10 priority sectors, including IT/ITES, GCCs, and healthcare. It also sets aside $105.09 million (INR 1,000 crore) over five years under the 'Mukhyamantri Udyamshree Yojana' (Chief Minister’s Enterprise Scheme) to promote new industries and create jobs.

Source: Daily Pioneer

Tamil Nadu launches the Tamil Nadu Semiconductor Ecosystem Scheme 2026. The scheme aims to make Tamil Nadu one of India’s leading hubs for semiconductor and advanced electronics manufacturing, and to draw new investment into the semiconductor sector.

Source: The Hindu

In detail: Tamil Nadu Semiconductor Ecosystem Scheme 2026

Goa extends Exit Support Scheme to revive idle industrial plots. The scheme, under the Goa Industrial Development Corporation (Goa - IDC) has been extended by three months to facilitate the transfer of non-functional industrial units and unlock underutilized industrial plots. The extension is effective from September 9, 2026.

Source: Press Trust of India

In detail: Goa-IDC Exit Support Scheme

Meghalaya approves the Meghalaya Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (Facilitation and Establishment of Operations) Ordinance 2026. The ordinance covers white-category units, which are low-pollution industries that need no Consent to Establish or Consent to Operate. It lets them apply for several approvals at the same time, including clearances from the Meghalaya Urban Development Authority (MUDA) and municipal bodies.

Source: Meghalaya Express

Land Acquisition and Labor Regulations

Karnataka enacts the Karnataka Apartment (Ownership and Management) Act, 2026. The Act brings ownership, maintenance charges, common areas, builder obligations and resident disputes under a single legal framework and applies to new and existing projects with more than eight flats.

Source: Deccan Herald

In detail: Karnataka Apartment (Ownership and Management) Act, 2026

Madhya Pradesh announces new State Industrial Land and Building Management Rules 2026. Under the new rules, plot-based residential development, row housing, independent residential plots and subdivision of plots will not be permitted in industrial areas. Existing schemes and ongoing construction will not be affected.

Source: Bhaskar

In detail: Madhya Pradesh State Industrial Land and Building Management Rules 2026

Maharashtra amends the Maharashtra Land Revenue (Disposal of Government Land) Rules, 1971. The amendments raise the size limit for small, unusable, inaccessible or landlocked government plots that can go to adjacent plot holders. Under an earlier August 2025 policy, which applies only in municipal corporation and municipal council areas, such land can be transferred if it does not exceed 10 percent of the adjacent plot’s total area. The new limit is 25 percent.

Source: Times of India

Infrastructure and Governance

Andhra Pradesh releases the Andhra Pradesh Panchayat Raj (Reservation of Seats and Offices of Gram Panchayats, Mandal Praja Parishads, and Zilla Praja Parishads) Rules, 2026. Under these rules, Andhra Pradesh reserves half of the state’s 28 'Zilla Parishad' (District Council) Chairperson posts for women. The posts are divided as follows: six for Backward Classes, five for Scheduled Castes, three for Scheduled Tribes, seven for general-category women and seven unreserved.

Source: ETV

In detail: Andhra Pradesh Panchayat Raj (Reservation of Seats and Offices of Gram Panchayats, Mandal Praja Parishads and Zilla Praja Parishads) Rules, 2026

Haryana announces concessional loans for Antyodaya families earning up to $1891.73 (INR 1.80 lakh) annually to purchase buffaloes. The scheme comes with an incentive of $0.10 (INR 10) per liter of milk to help repay the loans. Antyodaya families refer to India’s poorest households.

Source: Tribune

Meghalaya approves the Meghalaya School Education (School Complex) Rules, 2026. The rules link primary schools with nearby secondary and higher secondary schools. The rules aim to make transitions between school levels smoother, so students do not have to repeat admissions at each stage.

Source: India Today

Odisha approves plan for free textbooks. The proposal will provide free textbooks to all Class IX and X students studying in government and government-aided schools from the current academic year.

Source: Times of India

Odisha approves the Odisha Secondary Education (Method of Recruitment and Conditions of Service) Rules, 2026. The new rules aim to remove promotion bottlenecks, standardize recruitment qualifications, and create a uniform state-level cadre structure for secondary education staff.

Source: Pragativadi

Ladakh announces the formation of Sankoo as a district. Sankoo was earlier apart of Kargil district and is now the Union Territory’s eighth district.

Source: Times of India

In detail: Notification

Water and Sanitation

Nothing critical to report this week.

Center – State Relations

The Union government amends Ladakh Hill Council Rules; caps elected seats at 24 per Council. Under the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Councils (Amendment) Regulation, 2026 the Ladakh administration sets the number of elected seats in each council, between seven and 24. It can also nominate up to four members to represent women and communities that have no other representation, subject to conditions in the regulation.

Source: Outlook India

In detail: The Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Councils (Amendment) Regulation, 2026

Any Other

Nothing critical to report this week.