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Gujarat introduces special category tariff for electric vehicle charging infrastructure; Karnataka goes in to election in May; Telangana allows private entities to set up universities; Asian Development Bank approves $80 million loan for vocation and technical education in Himachal Pradesh; NITI Aayog launches ranking for 115 districts from 28 states; and more.

Center - State Relations

The central govermment approved construction of an additional 321,000 affordable houses for the urban poor under its Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana initiative across 14 states. Source: Financial Express

NITI Aayog launched the baseline ranking and real-time monitoring dashboard for 115 aspirational districts from 28 states based on 49 indicators across five sectors that include health and nutrition, education, agriculture and water resources, financial inclusion and skill development, and basic infrastructure. Source: Economic Times In Detail: Transformation of Aspirational District 2018

Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh chief minister Chandrababu Naidu signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Germany-based Shivom to use their blockchain-based global DNA ecosystem to enable predictive medicine for state's citizens. Source: Tech Observer

Andhra Pradesh did not introduce any direct or indirect increase in retail electricity tariff for any category of consumers in Andhra Pradesh for 2018-2019. Source: The Hindu In Detail: Tariff Order

Bihar

The Bihar state legislative assembly passed its new electricity duty bill, which removes any duty on the sale of electricity. The assembly also passed a higher education council bill to regulate the growth of higher education. Source: India Today

New Delhi

The Delhi Electricity Regulatory Commission has reduced electricity tariffs for consumers across all categories in the state by up to 32 percent. Source: Economic Times In Detail: Tariff Order

BSES Rajdhani and Yamuna announced a sale offer of energy efficient fans at approximately $17, which is 40 percent cheaper than conventional fans. Tata Power Delhi Distribution Limited also announced its own efficient ceiling fans at a 40 percent discount for consumers. Source: Business Standard, Economic Times

Ultra-clean Euro-VI grade petrol and diesel is expected to be available for sale starting early April. Source: Times of India

Gujarat

According to a comptroller and auditor general (CAG) report, Gujarat's state debt has increased by 46 percent in the last five years and stands at $37.3 billion as of end of March 31, 2017. Source: Business Standard

Bharat Heavy Electricals Ltd (BHEL) won its largest solar photovoltaic project of 75 megawatts (MW) to be set up in Gujarat. ** Source:** Live Mint In Detail: Press Release

The Gujarat Electricity Regulatory Commission did not change its electricity tariff unchanged for majority of its consumers for 2018-2019. However, it did announce a special tariff category for exclusive electric vehicle charging facilities with a fixed charge of 38 cents per month for each installation and energy charges of 6.3 and six cents per unit for low for high tension consumers. Source: Daily News Analysis In Detail: Tariff Order

Haryana

Nothing critical to report this week

Karnataka

The election commission of India announced that the Karnataka state legislative assembly elections will be held on May 12 with the results out on May 15. Source: The Hindu In Detail: Election Commission – Press note

Madhya Pradesh

The Madhya Pradesh government increased the retirement age of state government employees from 60 to 62 years. Source: News 18

The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) awarded Dilip Buildcon, an infrastructure company, a $154 million contract for construction of a road tunnel in Madhya Pradesh. Source : Economic Times

Madhya Pradesh officials met with a delegation United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) to discuss promotion of concentrated solar thermal-based technologies in the state. Source: Energy Infra Post

Maharashtra

The Maharashtra government approved a ban on hookah smoking parlours in the state under the Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products (Prohibition of Advertisement and Regulation of Trade and Commerce, Production, Supply, and Distribution) Act. Source: Indian Express

The Maharashtra government has launched 30 health and wellness centers in Palghar and Malegaon districts with a proposal of upgrading to 1,270 centers run by the public health department. Source: Indian Express

Rajasthan

Nothing critical to report this week

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu's power regulatory body has proposed restricting banking excess generation of wind energy with power distribution companies by limiting generation to the annual average consumption needed. Source: Business Standard

Tamil Nadu's transport department signed a MOU with U.K.-based C-40 Cities Climate Leadership Group to design the roadmap and set up the required infrastructure to introduce electric buses in the state. Source: New Indian Express

Telangana

A recent CAG reported that Telangana overstated its revenue surplus by $1 billion due to irregular accounting, as of March 2017. Source: The Hindu In Detail: CAG Report - State Finances Telangana

A CAG report stated that the Southern Power Distribution Company of Telangana Limited (TSSPDCL) violated ceiling limits set by the Electricity Regulatory Commission (ERC) resulting in a cost of $895 million over the last five years. Source: The Hindu In Detail: CAG Report – Public Sector Undertakings

The Telangana state assembly passed a bill to allow private entities to set up autonomous universities in the state. Source: The Hindu Business Line

The NHAI has awarded four road projects with an investment of $690 million for Telangana. Source: Money Control

Uttar Pradesh

Nothing critical to report this week

West Bengal

West Bengal's power department has decided to introduce underground cable system for power supply in 77 urban townships across the state estimated to cost $739 million. Source: Millennium Post

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Himachal Pradesh

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) approved a $80 million loan for Himachal Pradesh to fund modernisation of technical and vocational education and training (TVET) institutions. Source: Financial Express In Detail: Press Release

Chhattisgarh

BHEL won its first lake purification order to work on the Telibandha lake in Raipur, Chhattisgarh. Source: Economic Times

Jharkhand

The Jharkhand government signed a MOU with the Airport Authority of India (AAI) and Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), for expansion of the Deoghar airstrip into a modern airport. Source: Hindustan Times