States Weekly: October 9, 2024

Big News: Haryana and Jammu & Kashmir announce state legislative assembly elections’ results; Uttarakhand introduces time-of-day power tariffs; Rajasthan approves the Rajasthan Investment Promotion Scheme-2024; Ministry of Home Affairs releases $697 million to 14 flood-affected states; and more.

Health 

Gujarat amends the Gujarat Brown Field Medical College Policy to facilitate converting seven district hospitals into medical colleges in the state. The state government had introduced the original policy in 2016 with an aim to start medical colleges at the district-level government hospitals. Currently, there are seven brownfield medical colleges functional in the state. Source: Indian Express

Climate Change & Energy

Gujarat Electricity Regulatory Commission (GERC) releases the draft Procurement of Energy from Renewable Sources Regulations, 2024 for accelerating energy procurement. The regulations aim to align the state’s renewable energy targets with national goals and promote sustainable energy development. Source: Mercom; In detail: Gujarat Draft Regulations on (Procurement of Energy from Renewable Sources) Regulations,2024

Karnataka Electricity Regulatory Commission (KERC) issues the draftIntra-State Deviation Settlement Mechanism and Related Matters Regulations, 2024 to balance power generation and consumption and minimize deviations from scheduled generation and consumption patterns. As per the draft regulations, the tariff under the availability-based tariff (ABT) and deviation settlement mechanism will have three components: the fixed/capacity charge, the energy/variable charge, and the deviation charges. Source: Mercom; In detail: KERC (Intra-State Deviation Settlement Mechanism and Related Matters) Regulations, 2024

Rajasthan Electricity Regulatory Commission (RERC) releases the draftTerms and Conditions for Green Energy Open Access Regulations, 2024 to promote renewable energy adoption and streamline green energy open access in the state. The RERC has invited stakeholders to submit suggestions and comments on the draft regulations by October 18, 2024. Source: Mercom; In detail: Draft RERC (Terms and Conditions for Green Energy Open Access) Regulations, 2024

Uttarakhand introduces time-of-day power tariffs for its 1.587 million electricity consumers. The decision is aimed at improving energy efficiency. The state is the first one in the country to implement time-of-day-power tariffs. Source: New Indian Express; In detail: Public Notice

Finance

Nothing critical to report this week.

Industrial Policy & Business Regulations  

Maharashtra approves a new policy to strengthen the Mega Project Initiative for High Technology, aiming to promote more high-value projects across the state. The initiative allows mega projects with investments of $1.19 billion or more, regardless of sector classification, to receive industrial incentives. These incentives will be based on at least 100% of fixed capital investment for collective schemes and 11% for investments exceeding $2.28 billion. Source: Free Press Journal; In detail: Cabinet decisions(in Marathi)

Rajasthan approves the Rajasthan Investment Promotion Scheme-2024. The scheme introduces a slew of measures for investment promotion including a reduction in the investment limits for being eligible for incentives from $6 million to $3 million. Source: Business Standard; In detail: Press release (in Hindi)

Land Acquisition & Labor Regulations  

Nothing critical to report this week.

Infrastructure & Governance

Haryana announces state legislative assembly election results. Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) emerges as the single largest party with 48 seats in the 90-seat assembly. Indian National Congress (INC) was the second largest party with 37 seats. Source: Indian Express; In detail: Press release

Jammu and Kashmir announces state legislative assembly election results. Jammu & Kashmir National Conference emerges as the single largest party with 42 seats in the 90-seat assembly. BJP was the second largest party with 29 seats. Source: The Hindu; In detail: Press release

Andhra Pradesh announces the Andhra Pradesh Excise Policy 2024-26, allowing private entities, to sell liquor through 3,396 shops from October 12 up to September 30, 2026. Source: Economic Times; In detail: Excise Policy 2024-26

Water & Sanitation

Maharashtra approves the establishment of the State Water Information Center (SWIC) modelled after the National Water Information Center (NWIC) to provide value-added products and services to all stakeholders for management and sustainable development of water resources. The 9-member SWIC will be headed by the state chief secretary comprising secretaries of the various departments and water sector experts. Source: The Hans India; In detail: Cabinet decisions (in Marathi)

Meghalaya launches the MegARISE initiative to address the vulnerability of the crucial water source in the state capital. The project focuses on fostering improved water availability and security through scientifically driven participatory strategies for catchment protection and community forest management and will be implemented with a financial outlay of $40.9 million. Source: India Today; In detail: Portal

Center – State Relations 

Ministry of Home Affairs releases $697 million from the State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF) and the National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF) to 14 flood-affected states. Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh were the largest beneficiaries with $177.5 million and $123.2 million respectively. Other beneficiary states include Assam ($85.2 million), Bihar ($78 million), Gujarat ($71.4 million) and Himachal Pradesh ($22.5 million). Source: Hindustan Times; In detail: Press release

Any Other

Nothing critical to report this week.

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Akshat Singh
Associate Fellow, Chair on India and Emerging Asia Economics