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Big News: Delhi launches its draft Delhi Motor Vehicles Licensing of Aggregators Scheme 2022; Uttar Pradesh unveils its draft Uttar Pradesh Solar Policy 2022; Ladakh announces its Ladakh Electric Vehicle and Allied Infrastructure Policy 2022; Goa becomes first state under ‘Har Ghar Jal’ for 100% coverage of potable water supply; and more.

Industrial Policy & Business Regulations

Delhi launches its draft Delhi Motor Vehicles Licensing of Aggregators Scheme 2022 to provide premium app-based and web-based bus aggregator services for inter-city travel in the National Capital Region (NCR). The scheme aims to privatise inter-city bus transportation and permit private players to run air-conditioned electric and CNG buses in the region.

Source: Inc42; In detail: Draft policy

Maharashtra passes its Maharashtra Goods and Services Tax (Amendment) Act 2022. This aims to maintain uniformity with applicability of Central Goods and Services Tax Act 2017.

Source: The Hindu; In detail: Gazette Notification-Part V-A Ext. No. 23 (17th Aug. 2022) L. A. BILL No. XXII OF 2022.

Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, and Gujarat accounts for the highest share of private sector development projects sanctioned by banks and financial institutions in 2021-22, as per a Reserve Bank of India (RBI) report. The main types of projects covered in the study are power projects, transportation infrastructure, construction, and ports/ airports.

Source: New Indian Express; In detail: RBI document

Land Acquisition & Labor Regulations

Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA) places the proposed amendments to the Delhi Development Act 1957 on its website for public feedback and comments which include making land pooling mandatory in areas where a minimum of 70% of landowners agree to pool in their land parcels.

Source: The Hindu; In detail: Notification

Infrastructure & Governance

Uttar Pradesh approves setting up of an eco-tourism development board for the development and management of infrastructure facilities in forests and in outer areas of wildlife sanctuaries to attract international tourists.

Source: Hindustan Times; In detail: Cabinet decisions (Press conference video); UP Government Twitter

West Bengal approves setting up 18 industrial units and 5 new industrial parks in the state under its Scheme for Approved Industrial Park 2020.

Source: NDTV; In detail: Scheme Notification

Kerala inaugurates ‘Kerala Savaari’, the country’s first government-owned online auto-taxi service which shall compete in the online taxi service sector.

Source: India Today; In detail: CMO Twitter

Climate Change

Nothing critical to report this week

Oil & Gas

Nothing Critical to report this week

Water & Sanitation

Goa becomes first state to get certified under ‘Har Ghar Jal’ with 100% coverage to provide potable water supply to every rural household. All 263,000 households in both districts of the state have now been provided potable tap water connections, at a cost of over $25 million in the past three years.

Source: News18; In detail: Press release

Power & Renewable Energy

Uttar Pradesh unveils its draft Uttar Pradesh Solar Energy Policy 2022, which suggests that the state will target generating 16,000 Mega Watt of renewable power by 2026-27. The target shall be achieved by generating 4,000 MW from solar rooftop projects, 2,000 MW from distributed solar generation and the rest (10,000 MW) from utility/grid scale solar projects and solar parks.

Source: The Hindu; In detail: Solar Energy Policy 2022

West Bengal Electricity Regulatory Commission (WBERC) determines the net aggregate revenue requirement (ARR) for FY 2022-23 as ~$2.66 billion and directs open access consumers to pay ~$0.012/kWh as wheeling charges to West Bengal State Electricity Distribution Company (WBSEDCL) for the use of its distribution system during the financial year (FY) 2022-23.

Source: Mercom; In detail: Tariff order

Union Territory of Ladakh announces its Ladakh Electric Vehicle and Allied Infrastructure Policy 2022 which provides subsidies to encourage citizens to procure e-vehicles in order to create a carbon-neutral future. The policy entails a capital subsidy of 10 per cent on two-wheelers, three-wheelers, and four-wheelers.

Source: Economic Times; In detail: Ladakh Electric Vehicle and Allied Infrastructure Policy, 2022

Health

Nagaland launches ‘North East Health Services’ which is a one-stop solution for patients and includes a health benefit card. The card aims to facilitate a wide range of accessibility along with discounts on hospital bills, admission bills, health insurance including the database of previous records.

Source: Morung Express; In detail: Portal

Any Other

Maharashtra passes its Maharashtra Public Universities (Second Amendment) Act 2022. This aims to extend the time limit for granting letter of intent and subsequent approvals for opening new colleges and new courses in the academic year 2022-2023.

Source: The Hindu; In detail: Gazette Notification- Part V-A Ext. No. 22 (17-8-2022) L. A. BILL No. XXI OF 2022.

Center – State Relations

National Health Authority (NHA) announces fund allocation to states and union territories for implementation of ‘Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission’ (ABDM) based on their performance in recording data in Health Facility Registry (HFR) and Healthcare Professionals Registry (HPR).

Source: Orissa Diary; In detail: Notification; Press release

Union Cabinet approves proposal to enhance the limit of the ‘Emergency Credit Line Guarantee Scheme’ (ECLGS) by $6.25 billion to $62.5 billion. The additional amount will be earmarked exclusively for enterprises in hospitality and related sectors.

Source: NDTV; In detail: Press release

Union Cabinet approves restoration of interest subvention of 1.5% on short term agriculture loans up to $3,750 for all financial institutions for the financial year 2022-23 to 2024-25 to the farmers.

Source: Business Standard; In detail: Press Release