Big News: Center bans certain single-use plastics; Odisha provides electricity subsidy to cold stores; Odisha launches a smart health card; Haryana limits the age of operation for transport vehicles; Madhya Pradesh’s Indore is declared as India’s first “water plus” city; and more.

Industrial Policy & Business Regulations

Tamil Nadu announces its revised budget for the financial year (FY) 2021-22. The budget estimates the state’s total receipt and expenditure at $27.25 billion and $35.15 billion, respectively. Source: The Hindu; In detail: Budget speech

Odisha provides a 50 percent subsidy on electricity tariff to agricultural and horticultural cold stores. The subsidy is valid from FY 2021-22 to FY 2023-24. Source: New Indian Express

Land Acquisition & Labor Regulations

Nothing critical to report this week

Infrastructure & Governance

Haryana notifies draft rules to amend the Haryana Motor Vehicles Rules, 1993. The new rules limit the age of operation for various types of transport vehicles in the state. Source: Daily Pioneer; In detail: Press Release

Climate Change

Nothing critical to report this week

Oil & Gas

Nothing critical to report this week

Water & Sanitation

Madhya Pradesh’s Indore is declared as India’s first “water plus” city by the Swachh Survekshan(Cleanliness Survey), 2021. Swachh Survekshan is an annual survey of cleanliness, hygiene, and sanitation conducted under the Swachh Bharat Mission. Source: India Today; In detail: Swachh Suryekshan 2021

Power & Renewable Energy

Gujarat sets an additional surcharge of $0.002 per kilowatt-hour for consumers who procure open access power from sources other than the state’s power distribution companies. Source: Economic Times; In detail: Order

Uttarakhand issues a draft proposal to review the benchmark capital cost and generic tariff for solar photovoltaic (PV), solar thermal, grid-interactive rooftop solar, and small solar PV projects within the state. Source: Mercom; In detail: Order

Health

Odisha launches a smart health card that aims to benefit 35 million people within the state. Through this card, the beneficiaries can avail health treatment of up to $6,729 per annum. Source: Indian Express; In detail: Odisha CMO Tweet

Business Negative Reforms

Nothing critical to report this week

Any Other

Nothing critical to report this week

Center – State Relations

The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change notifies the Plastic Waste Management Amendment Rules, 2021. The rules prohibit manufacturing, importing, stocking, distributing, and selling of certain single-use plastics. Source: Mint; In detail: Notification

NITI Aayog releases a handbook to help state governments and local bodies frame policies for setting up electric vehicle charging infrastructure. Source: Business Standard; In detail: Handbook

The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy launches a loan interest subvention scheme for innovative “waste to energy” projects. Source: Economic Times; In detail: Guidelines