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Big News: Telangana amends its Shops and Establishments Act to allow 24x7 business; Gujarat announces a tariff hike for sourcing electricity through open access; Delhi announces the extension of its power subsidy scheme till April 2024; Chhattisgarh introduces the State Women Entrepreneurship Policy 2023-28; and more.

Industrial Policy & Business Regulations

Telangana amends its Telangana Shops and Establishments Act, 1988, to allow shops to remain open 24×7 in the state. To be eligible for the exemption, shops must fulfil certain conditions including providing their employees ID cards, weekly holidays, overtime wages, and ensuring adequate safety of female employees, among others.

Source: Siasat; In detail: Government Order

Uttar Pradesh cabinet approves the Chief Minister Handloom and Powerloom Industry Development Scheme (General). The scheme is aimed at incentivizing powerloom and handloom weavers in the state to upgrade their facilities and increase youth participation in the industry.

Source: News18

Chhattisgarh implements the Rural and Cottage Industries Policy-2022, to invigorate small-scale industries in the state. This policy aims to provide employment to the rural population through small cottage industries in rural areas and increase their incomes.

Source: Times of India; In detail: Press release (in Hindi)

Maharashtra cabinet clears a new sand mining policy to crack down on the illegal extraction of sand. The policy has banned auctions, introduced tendering for sand extraction and capped sand price at $1.6 per metric ton on a pilot basis for a year to make it more affordable.

Source: Times of India

Land Acquisition & Labor Regulations

Haryana announces an increase in the employment generation subsidy under the Haryana Enterprises and Employment Policy (HEEP)-2020. The subsidy has been increased from $440 to $586 per employee per annum for 10 years.

Source: Millennium Post; In detail: Press Release

Chhattisgarh announces a new unemployment allowance for the youth in the state. Under the scheme, the educated unemployed youth in the state will receive INR 2500 (~$30.44) per month.

Source: The Week; In detail: Press release

Chhattisgarh introduces the State Women Entrepreneurship Policy 2023-28. The policy is aimed at providing financial assistance, incentives, and subsidies to enable women entrepreneurs to start and expand their businesses.

Source: Outlook India; In detail: CM’s Tweet, Press release (in Hindi)

Infrastructure & Governance

Maharashtra announces the provision of 1% reservation for orphans in education and government jobs. Under the resolution, the children who lost both parents before turning 18 will be eligible for the reservation.

Source: Times of India; In detail: Government Resolution (Marathi)

Goa announces a hike in the state-levied infrastructure tax. As per the announcement, all constructions higher than 101 square meters will need to pay a revised tax of $4.2/ sq. meter of built-up area from $2.4 in in coastal panchayat regions and five towns namely Panaji, Mapusa, Ponda, Margao and Mormugao.

Source: Free Press Journal; In detail: Gazette Notification

Oil & Gas

Nothing critical to report this week.

Water & Sanitation

Karnataka receives approval for a $363 million loan from the World Bank. The loan is aimed at providing clean drinking water supply to two million rural households in the state through door to door piped water connections.

Source: Business World; In detail: World Bank Press Release

Power & Renewable Energy

Delhi extends the Free Bijili Scheme till April 2024. Under the scheme, the government will provide free electricity to households consuming up to 200 units of electricity per month and will offer a 50% subsidy to households consuming between 201-400 units per month.

Source: Times Now; In detail: Delhi Power Minister’s tweet

Gujarat Electricity Regulatory Commission (GERC) approves an additional power surcharge of ~$0.0092/ kWh, which will apply to consumers availing power through open access from April 1, 2023, to September 30, 2023.

Source: Mercom; In detail: Tariff order

Climate Change

Telangana introduces the Cool Roof Policy 2023-2028, with the objective of making the state heat resilient and cutting down energy consumption. The policy will be effective from April 1, 2023.

Source: Telangana Today; In detail: Cool Roof Policy 2023-2028

Health

Andhra Pradesh launches the CM’s Family Doctor Program, under which the state will extend preventive healthcare in 10,032 village health clinics across the state.

Source: Indian Express; In detail: CM’s Family Doctor Program launch (Video)

Center-State Relations

Nothing critical to report this week.

Any Other

Haryana launches the Drone Imaging and Information Service of Haryana Limited (DRIISHYA) for surveying infrastructure projects, monitoring agriculture and horticulture crops, and surveilling sensitive areas for security purposes.

Source: Daily Pioneer; In detail: Press Release

Himachal Pradesh introduces the Himachal Pradesh Sukhasharya (Care, Protection and Self- Reliance of Children of State) Bill 2023. The bill is aimed at ensuring legal protection, care, development, and vocational training for children lodged at shelter homes in Himachal Pradesh.

Source: Millennium Post; In detail: Press release

Rajasthan approves a financial proposal of $90 million to provide farmers in the state interest-free crop loans. The proposal includes a grant of $68 million for farmers under the interest-free crop loan subsidy scheme and $21 million under the compensatory interest subsidy scheme.

Source: Business Standard; In detail: Press Release

Updates

Goa releases the draft Goa State Energy Vision 2050 with an aim to make Goa the first 100% renewable energy state in the country. The government aims to ensure that 50% of all ferries by 2025 are electric and 30% of all the new vehicles are electric vehicles (EVs) by 2030. The policy also aims to create 10,000 additional jobs.

Source: Herald; In detail: Goa State Energy Vision 2050