States Update: April 8, 2020

Big News: Reserve Bank of India increases ways and means limit by 30 percent for all states/UTs; India implements clean petrol/diesel emission norms; Karnataka aims measures at protecting local aerospace and defence manufacturers; Andhra Pradesh drafts bail-out plan for power utilities; Tamil Nadu offers incentives for manufacturing COVID equipment; and more

Center – State relations

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) unveiled three fresh measures to ease conditions for exporters, state governments and banks amid the lockdown. The measures include increasing the ways and means advances (WMA) limit by 30 percent from the existing limit. Source: Financial Express In detail: Press Release

India switches to Bharat Stage-VI emission norms. With this implementation, India joins a select group of countries that retail the world’s cleanest petrol and diesel. Source: Bloomberg Quint In detail: Press Release

The government cuts the domestic natural gas price by 26 percent to $ 2.39/MMBTU on Gross Calorific Value (GCV) basis, for the April-September 2020 period. Source: Economic Times In detail: Notice

The World Bank has approved $1 billion fund to aid India’s COVID-19 response. This is the largest ever health sector support from the World Bank to India. Source: Mint In detail: Press Release

Andhra Pradesh

The state government is extending guarantees to secure a $457.5 million loan from Power Finance Corporation Limited to meet the working capital requirement of power utilities amidst the COVID-19 crisis. Source: Business Line

Bihar

Nothing critical to report

New Delhi

Nothing critical to report

Gujarat

Gujarat Electricity Regulatory Commission (GERC) keeps power tariffs unchanged for the 2020-21 fiscal. Source: Times of India In detail: Tariff notice

Haryana

Nothing critical to report

Karnataka

The Karnataka government exempts local aerospace and defence (A&D) manufacturers from the nationwide Covid-19 lockdown Source: Business Standard

Madhya Pradesh

Nothing critical to report this week

Maharashtra

The Maharashtra government announced an average of 8 percent electricity tariff cut for the next five years to help businesses and people tide over the Covid-19 crisis. Source: Economic Times In detail: Tariff order

Rajasthan

Nothing critical to report this week

Tamil Nadu

The state government has offered incentives to promote production of equipment to combat Covid-19. The incentives include 30 percent capital subsidy, subject to a ceiling of $2.6 million. Source: Business Standard In detail: Press release (Tamil)

Telangana

Nothing critical to report this week

Uttar Pradesh

Nothing critical to report this week

West Bengal

Nothing critical to report this week

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Himachal Pradesh

The World Bank approves $82 million project to support Himachal Pradesh strengthen its transport and road safety institutions by improving state road network infrastructure Source: Construction week online In detail: Press Release

Jammu and Kashmir

The Ministry for Home Affairs (MHA) issues orders to make domiciles of Jammu & Kashmir (J&K) eligible for all government jobs in J&K. Source: Economic Times In detail: Gazette Notification