By
Posted on

Big News

NITI Aayog launches comprehensive ranking of states on health; Maharashtra announces its electric vehicle policy; Google India and Tata Trusts expand "Internet Saathi" program in Tamil Nadu; Andhra reaches 6,554 MW of renewable energy projects; DIPP and Startup India launch new framework to evaluate startup ecosystems in states; and more.

Center-State relations

NITI Aayog, India's government think tank, along with the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare and the World Bank released the "Healthy States" report ranking Indian states and union territories on their overall performance in healthcare. Kerala ranked top of the health index, while Uttar Pradesh, despite showing improvement, ranked lowest. Source: Live Mint In Detail: Healthy States, Progressive India - Report on the Ranks of States and Union Territories

India and the World Bank signed a $375 million loan agreement for developing the country's first modern inland waterway on the river Ganga which will spread across Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, and West Bengal. Source: Business Standard In Detail: Press Release

The center is expected to miss its fiscal deficit target. States are compressing their own capital expenditure to finance rising revenue spending and adhere to their deficit targets. Uttar Pradesh's and Punjab's capex fell by over 60 percent during April-December of fiscal year 2018. Source: Financial Express

India's Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion, and Startup India, published a 38-action-points framework to be used to rank states and union territories on their success in supporting a startup ecosystem. Source: Press Information Bureau In Detail: State/UT Startup Ranking Framework 2018

Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh released a detailed report to account for 6,554 megawatts (MW) of renewable energy projects commissioned as of January 2018. Source: PV Magazine In Detail: Status of Renewable Energy Projects Commissioned in Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh signed a memorandum of agreement (MOU) with the Emirates Group for an investment of $4.6 billion, which includes setting up of a system of maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO), an aviation training center, and a manufacturing unit of in-flight consumables. Source: The News Minute

The center released $197 million for Andhra Pradesh including a grant of $64.8 million for the Polavaram multipurpose project. Source: NDTV

Bihar

The Bihar state cabinet has approved the creation of the Bihar State Education Finance Corporation to disburse education loans under the student credit card (SCC) initiative. Source: The Hindu

New Delhi

Tata Power Delhi Distribution Ltd is implementing GPS mapping technology and Radio Frequency Identification Detector (RFID) Marker installation for quickly locating and resolving of faults in cable routes in Delhi. Source: Economic Times

Gujarat

Gujarat is inviting tenders to set up 500 MW of solar projects in the state under the reverse-auction mechanism, under which bidders who quote the lowest tariffs for selling power get to develop projects. Source: Financial Express

Haryana

The Haryana government has decided to withdraw all criminal cases registered in connection with the violence during February 2016 protests demanding quotas/reservation for the Jat community. Source: Outlook India

Karnataka

Nothing critical to report this week

Madhya Pradesh

Nothing critical to report this week

Maharashtra

The Maharashtra state cabinet approved policies for various sectors including aerospace and defense, coir, logistic parks, textile parks, and industrial parks for ready-made garments, gems and jewelry, micro-electronics, and engineering products. Source: Economic Times

Maharashtra announced its electric vehicle policy, which includes incentives such as various levels of subsidies for consumers, a 25 percent of subsidy on the first 250 charging stations, and incentives for component and battery makers, among others. Source: Bloomberg Quint

The Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company Limited has been approved to procure bagasse-based co-generation power through the competitive bidding process fixed at a maximum price of 7 cents per unit. Source: Nagpur Today

Rajasthan

Rajasthan chief minister Vasundhara Raje presented the state budget for 2018-2019. Source: Indian Express In Detail: Press Note , Rajasthan Budget 2018-2019

Rajasthan has launched an online smart electricity transmission operation management system in the state through which scheduling of generation and demand, deviation settlement, energy accounting and billing, approval of open access will be automated. Source: Times of India

The center has released $121.7 million for Rajasthan's four smart cities - Jaipur, Udaipur, Kota, and Ajmer. Source: Times of India

The National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) projects Rajasthan's credit potential to be $28.6 billion, 23 percent higher from the last fiscal which will increase the capital banks can lend to the state towards the priority sector. Source: Hindustan Times

Tamil Nadu

A report by the Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis suggests that Tamil Nadu should increase its wind capacity two-fold and its solar capacity six-fold instead of coal-fired power plants to avoid further debt and to take advantage of the competitive prices of renewable sources of power. Source: Live Mint In Detail: Electricity Sector Transformation in India: A Case Study of Tamil Nadu

Tangedco will replace all old thermal power units in Tamil Nadu with new super critical units to generate 5,700 MW over the next five year, estimated to cost $6 billion. Source: Energy Infra Post

Google India and Tata Trusts announced the expansion of its digital initiative program "Internet Saathi" in the state of Tamil Nadu. Source: Economic Times

Telangana

The Telangana government will provide a pension of $15.50 per month to filaria patients expected to support 47,000 suffering from the disease in the state. Source: The Hindu

Uttar Pradesh

NTPC has invited bids to procure 1,000 metric tons of agro residue-based fuel per day for the 2,650 MW Dadri power plant in Uttar Pradesh to provide farmers with an alternate to burning crop residues. Source: Economic Times In Detail: Press Release

Megha Engineering & Infrastructure Ltd (MEIL) is commissioning its $644.7 million major power transmission line for the Western Uttar Pradesh Power Transmission Company Ltd. Source: Hindu Business Line

West Bengal

Nothing critical to report this week

Best of the Rest

Jammu and Kashmir

Jammu and Kashmir has signed an agreement with Dubai Ports group to form a joint venture involving $233 million in foreign direct investment to set up inland logistic hubs in Jammu and Srinagar. Source: Greater Kashmir

Punjab

The Punjab government has decided to set up common facility centers for 20 industrial clusters to support modernization of micro, small and medium enterprises in the state. Now 10 percent of the costs will be invested by the industry and the rest borne by the central and state government. Source: Knn India

Chhattisgarh and Manipur

Chhattisgarh and Manipur release their annual budget for 2018-2019. Source: Economic Times, Telegraph India