Big News

The electronic e-way bill for intra-state movement of goods rolled out in the first five states; Andhra Pradesh moves to build a DNA database of its citizens; Delhi discom BRPL enters into a strategic partnership with EESL which will cover technologies such as solar, smart meters, and electric vehicles; IKEA signs agreement with Gujarat to set up stores in the state; "sufferers" of the Emergency in Haryana will receive a monthly pension; and more.

Center – State Relations

Public sector undertaking Indian Oil Corporation will distribute new liquefied petroleum gas connections to poor women beneficiaries across 6,741 villages to 655,000 families in the northeast, as part of the center's initiative to make households smokeless.

Source: North East Today

On April 15, the electronic e-way bill requirement for intra-state movement of goods launchedt in the first 5 states: Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana and Kerala. The e-way bill for inter-state movement of goods valued over $766 was rolled out on April 1.

Source: Financial Express

Andhra Pradesh

The government of Andhra Pradesh enlisted a private firm, the German company Shivom, to build a blockchain-based DNA database of its 50 million citizens.

Source: Scroll.in

Bihar

Union Minister R K Singh inaugurated an assembly and distribution center for solar study lamps at Mahuli village in Arrah and also laid the foundation (remotely) for a photovoltaic module manufacturing plant in Sherghati block of the Gaya district. A self-help group of local women will assemble solar study lamps in the center and distribute them to underprivileged students who do not have access to electricity.

Source: Business Standard

New Delhi

In a move to promote energy efficiency and the use of renewable energy in the capital, Delhi distribution company (discom) BSES Rajdhani Power Ltd (BRPL) has entered into a strategic partnership with state-run Energy Efficiency Serviced Ltd (EESL). The partnership will cover developing technologies such as rooftop solar, smart meters, electric vehicles (EVs), EV charging stations, solar irrigation pumps, and energy storage solutions. Source: Business Standard

Energy Efficiency Services Ltd (EESL) signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) for EESL to replace 75,000 conventional electricity meters with smart meters in Delhi.

Source: The Hindu Business Line

Gujarat

IKEA signed an MOU with the Gujarat government to set up its retail stores in the state. The company has identified Ahmedabad and Surat as possible locations for its first stores in the state and has started scouting for space, and it intends to invest between $306 to $460 million long-term. Source: Times of India

Haryana

Haryana chief minister Manohar Lal inaugurated the innovation and startup hub of HARTRON set up with the assistance of NASSCOM in village Dundahera of Gurugram. Up to six centers will be started in this hub, linked with incubation centers in the state universities.

Source: Daily Pioneer

The BJP government in Haryana will give a monthly pension of $153 to those residents of the state who were "sufferers" and were imprisoned during the days of Emergency between June 1975 to March 1977, the state cabinet decided. Source: News 18

Karnataka

The Karnataka Renewable Energy Development Limited (KREDL) has retendered 650 megawatts (MW) of solar capacity at the Pavagada Solar Park. ESCOMs of Karnataka will sign 25-year power purchase agreements (PPAs) for the solar generation from these plants.

Source: PV- Tech

Madhya Pradesh

The Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) has approved a $140 million loan, co-financed with the World Bank, for enhancing rural connectivity in Madhya Pradesh by improving the rural road connectivity and management and thereby aiming to benefit around 1.5 million rural residents through improved livelihood, education, and mobility.

Source: Business Standard

The Madhya Pradesh government approved a policy allowing for the renewal of lease of land, including residential plots which are now being used for commercial purposes. The move will benefit 500,000 people in the state.

Source: Economic Times

Maharashtra

Saudi Aramco, the state-owned oil company of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, has signed a pact with a consortium of Indian oil companies to jointly develop and build a mega integrated refinery and petrochemicals complex, Ratnagiri Refinery & Petrochemicals Ltd. (RRPCL), in Maharashtra, which will reportedly be the largest single-location refinery complex in the world.

Source: Business Today

The Maharashtra government has lifted the ban on small-size (less than 0.5 liter plastic bottles, and extended the deadline for manufacturers and sellers for disposal or recycling of banned plastic items. Source: Financial Express

The ruling BJP won the highest number of seats – 49 out of 115 – in elections to six municipal councils in Maharashtra. The BJP is in the position to gain the control of municipal councils at Devrukh and Ajra, and in Jamner council it made a clean sweep by winning all 24 seats.

Source: Times of India

Rajasthan

Nothing critical to report this week.

Tamil Nadu

Infrastructure conglomerate GMR group announced plans to set up an aerospace and defense manufacturing hub at its special investment region located at Hosur in Krishnagiri district of Tamil Nadu. Source: Economic Times

Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami launched a door-to-door health program under which paramedics will visit the public at their residence and record the basic health parameters related to non-communicable diseases, in an effort to reduce cases of diabetes and high blood pressure.

Source: Deccan Chronicle

Telangana

Cisco has partnered with the government of Telangana to launch a variety of initiatives in the areas of digitization, education, entrepreneurship, and technology, such as the Internet of Things Innovation Hub and a Living Lab.

Source: Telangana Today

The Telangana government will issue a unique identification number for each of the 5.5 million children in government, private, and corporate schools and also madrasas in the coming academic year, to track children out of schools. Source: The Hindu

Uttar Pradesh

The Noida Power Company Ltd (NPCL), which supplies power to Greater Noida, has signed an agreement with Power Trading Corporation of India Ltd to purchase 100 MW electricity per year to provide round-the-clock electricity to Greater Noida from December of this year.

Source: Times of India

West Bengal

Nothing critical to report this week.

Best of the Rest

Meghalaya

The Meghalaya New and Renewable Energy Development Agency (MNREDA), with the support of National Institute of Wind Energy (NIWE), is undertaking a wind mapping program to augment power generation in the state.

Source: The Shillong Times

Nagaland

The government of Nagaland is providing free Wi-Fi services in the capital and four university/college campuses, as announced by the advisor for Information and Technology, Science and Technology, and New and Renewable Energy Mmhonlumo Kikon during the inaugural session of the Nagaland Innovation Expo (NIE) 2018.

Source: Eastern Morning Herald

Punjab

The Punjab government approved a $1 billion bio-compressed natural gas (CNG) project, which will utilize about 100,000 tons of paddy straw annually, create a local supply chain, generate employment resources in rural areas, and strive to curtail the negative effects of burning the paddy straw. The project will be set up by Verbio India Private Limited, which is a subsidiary of its German parent company and thus has 100 percent foreign direct investment.

Source: Business Standard