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Big News:

First National e-Governance Service Delivery Index Assessment (NeSDA) 2019 rankings out; Aam Aadmi Party wins Delhi elections; Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank to provide $3 billion loan to Andhra Pradesh; Haryana launches a $210 million social security scheme; Union Cabinet approves setting up of country’s 13th major port in Maharashtra; Rajasthan hikes power tariff by up to 11 percent; Kerala passes budget, raising motor vehicle and land taxes.

Center – State relations

NeSDA 2019, the first survey that assesses state performance on public service delivery is out. Kerala tops the list. Haryana and West Bengal make it to the top six. Source: Economic Times In Detail: National e-Governance Service Delivery Assessment 2019

The Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulatory Board has proposed 44 new geographical areas for the upcoming round of bidding for city gas distribution. The current network covers 232 geographical areas in 27 states. Source: Financial Express

The Central Pollution Control Board issues show-cause notices to 14 thermal power plants for violating environment norms and causing air pollution. Source: Economic Times

Andhra Pradesh

The Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) offered to extend a $3 billion loan to Andhra Pradesh for construction of two new ports and other infrastructure projects. Source: Business Standard

Bihar

Nothing critical to report this week.

New Delhi

The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) won Delhi’s assembly election on Saturday, with 62 of 70 seats, while the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) secured the remaining eight. At 62.6 percent, voter turnout was the lowest since 1998, despite a fiercely contested campaign. Source: First Post In Detail: Delhi Election Results

Gujarat

The Gujarat Electricity Regulatory Commission (GERC) has invited public opinion on a draft paper discussing tariff determinations for wind projects. The deadline for comments is February 25, 2020, with the public hearing scheduled for February 28, 2020, at Gandhinagar. Source: Mercom In Detail: Discussion Paper

Gujarat has announced a 500 MW solar tender, with a ceiling tariff of 3 cents/kWh. The successful bidder will sign a 25-year power purchase agreement with the state’s distribution company. Source: Saur Energy

Haryana

Haryana chief minister Manohar Lal launched a new social security scheme, which provides annual financial assistance of $84 to families if their annual income is under $2,513 and they own less than 5 acres. Source: Economic Times In Detail: Press Release

Karnataka

Commercial flight operations begin at Bidar, Karnataka’s 8th airport, which was remodelled and developed at an estimated cost of $1.53 million. The flights open opportunities in Bidar, which is famous for handicrafts and a popular tourism destination. Source: News18 In Detail: Press Release

The Bangalore Electricity Supply Company is opening 80 electric vehicle charging stations next week. Once operational, it will be the “first of its kind” network of charging stations run by a public utility, officials said. Source: The Hindu

Madhya Pradesh

The Madhya Pradesh cabinet passed a resolution against the Citizenship Amendment Act 2019 and urged the Union government to revoke it. Madhya Pradesh became the fifth state to do so after Bengal, Kerala, Punjab, and Rajasthan. Source: India Today

The Madhya Pradesh Congress government has set up an exclusive Agriculture Advisory Council to improve the welfare of farmers in the state and work as a bridge between the government and farmers. Source: National Herald In Detail: Press Release

Maharashtra

The Union government has allotted $781.9 million for the Mumbai-Ahmedabad bullet train project for fiscal 2020-21. Apart from the center’s contribution, there is also a move to get $698.1 million from Maharashtra and Gujarat. Source: Live Mint In Detail: MAHSR Project Operational Plan

The Union Cabinet approved the setting up of the country’s 13th major port at Vadhavan in Maharashtra at a total cost of $9.1 billion. A special purpose vehicle, with 51 percent government ownership, will develop the port infrastructure. Source: Business Standard In Detail: Press Release

Rajasthan

The Rajasthan Electricity Regulatory Commission has increased power tariffs by 11 percent overall. This will generate $110.5 million revenue in the last two months (February and March) of the current fiscal year. Source: Business Standard In Detail: Tariff order

Tamil Nadu

Nothing critical to report this week.

Telangana

Nothing critical to report this week.

Uttar Pradesh

At DefExpo 2020 in Lucknow, more than 200 agreements were signed. Of these, 23 MOUs worth $6.98 billion were inked with the Uttar Pradesh government alone, providing employment to over 300,000 people. Source: Financial Express In Detail: Press Release

Uttar Pradesh’s industrial production fell by 3.8 percent in November 2019 compared to the corresponding period during the last fiscal year 2018-19. However, the month-on-month dip of 3.8 percent in the state’s industrial index is also a recovery of sorts considering it fell sharply by 9.6 percent in the preceding month of October 2019. Source: Business Standard

West Bengal

The West Bengal government has decided to switch to “lease model” for procuring new electric buses to overcome high initial capital expenditure, a senior official of the state transport department said. Source: Times of India

Best of the Rest

Arunachal Pradesh

State-owned BHEL said it has commissioned two units of Kameng Hydroelectric Project (HEP) in Arunachal Pradesh. Kameng HEP is a run-of-the river scheme which will utilise the flow from Bichom and Tenga rivers. Source: Telangana Today In Detail: Press Release

Goa

Goa chief minister Pramod Sawant presented the budget for financial year 2020 in the state assembly. The budget, which is projected at $2.94 billion, includes a 50 percent hike in the price of liquor. Source: Times of India In Detail: Goa Budget Speech 2020-21

Himachal Pradesh

The interim report of the 15th Finance Commission has recommended a revenue deficit grant of $1.6 billion to Himachal Pradesh for 2020-21, while also recommending grants worth $88.8 million to local bodies in the state and over $69.8 million for disaster risk mitigation. Source: Indian Express

Jammu and Kashmir

The central government has approved a nearly $837.8 million multi-purpose project to provide uninterrupted water for irrigation to farmers in Jammu and Kashmir’s Kathua district and to produce power, Union Minister Jitendra Singh said. Source: Live Mint In Detail: Press Release

Jammu & Kashmir Lieutenant Governor GC Murmu along with its Administrative Council approved the implementation of the Jal Jeevan Mission and the plan to achieve 100 per cent coverage of piped water supply by December 2021 across the region, aligning it to the country’s mission. The mission aims to provide Functional Household Tap Connections (FHTC) to every rural household Source: Republic World

Kerala

Kerala finance minister Thomas Issac presented the budget for 2020-21. The budget includes a tax increase on private vehicles, as well as a higher luxury tax on residential buildings, in an attempt to gain additional revenue. Source: Economic Times In Detail: Kerala Budget Documents

To achieve optimum energy efficiency and conserve power, Kerala will now ban the sale of compact fluorescent lamp and filament light bulbs across the state from November 1, announced Finance Minister Thomas Isaac in his budget speech. Source: The News Minute

Odisha

The Odisha cabinet approved the budget for 2020-21 which is likely to reach $21 billion. The cabinet also approved execution of five rural piped water supply projects to provide safe drinking water to five Blocks in Sundargarh district. Source: The Hindu

The Odisha government approved the amended policy for long-term ore linkage to industries through the Odisha Mining Corporation (OMC). The state government amended the policy to attract investment in mechanized ore evacuation system of the OMC. Source: Odisha TV

Punjab

Punjab is all set to reintroduce social security cess on the registration of sale deeds. A 1 percent cess will be imposed on registries in both rural and urban areas. The decision was taken by the government after a recent meeting of the resource mobilization committee. Source: The Tribune

The 15th Finance Commission headed by N K Singh has recommended a revenue deficit grant of $1.06 billion to cash-starved Punjab for the financial year 2020-21. After Kerala and Himachal Pradesh, Punjab placed third in terms of the amount of revenue deficit grant among 14 states. Source: Times of India