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Big News: Madhya Pradesh promulgates the Madhya Pradesh Facilitation of Establishment and Operation of Industries Ordinance-2023, allowing industries to operate without approvals for 3 years; Bihar approves planning areas for 10 districts, paving the way for urban master plans in the areas; Andhra Pradesh announces decision to implement Revamped Distribution Sector Scheme (RDSS) to strengthen the state’s power distribution system; Ministry of New & Renewable Energy announced increase in the Central Financial Assistance (CFA) for residential rooftop solar installations; and more.

Industrial Policy & Business Regulations

Madhya Pradesh promulgates the Madhya Pradesh Facilitation of Establishment and Operation of Industries Ordinance-2023, exempting industrial units from taking approvals for three years during which no inspection will be carried out. The ordinance, first announced during the Global Investors’ Summit, will apply to all industrial areas, MSME and IT clusters.

Source: Times of India; In detail: Madhya Pradesh Facilitation of Establishment and Operation of Industries Ordinance-2023

Uttar Pradesh cabinet promulgates the Uttar Pradesh Excise Policy 2023–2024, aimed at generating higher government revenue to adequately fund significant government projects and to provide stability to the alcohol industry.

Source: Mint

Jammu and Kashmir government launches the UT Level Food Processing Programme for Development of Clusters for Specific Products of J&K targeted at maximizing farmer income and minimizing post-harvest losses through a $108 million investment.

Source: The Print

Tamil Nadu announces the Tamil Nadu Emerging Sector Seed Fund (TNESSF) aiming to provide investments for start-ups and companies in emerging sector such as aerospace and defense applications, AI, Web 3.0, climate tech and deep tech.

Source: Times of India; In detail: Press release (In Tamil)

Land Acquisition & Labor Regulations

Nothing Critical to report this week

Infrastructure & Governance

Bihar cabinet approves planning areas for 10 towns to support the creation of corresponding planning authorities and urbanization plans for future development. Each town will get a planning authority that will be responsible for creating a master plan.

Source: Times of India; In detail: Cabinet decisions

Delhi government releases the Delhi Air Pollution: Real-time Air Quality Index (AQI), aimed at getting real time information on air pollution in the city. Air pollution will be monitored using a mobile van that will collect pollution data in real time. The project is aimed at identifying factors responsible for increase in air pollution in different parts of the city.

Source: Hindustan Times; In detail: Delhi Air Pollution: Real-time Air Quality Index (AQI)

Oil & Gas

Nothing Critical to report this week

Water & Sanitation

Punjab government announces the Punjab Groundwater Extraction and Conservation Directions, 2023 under which it will levy charges for extracting groundwater from all non-exempted users, including industry, from February 1. The new directions do not cover groundwater use for agriculture, drinking and domestic purposes.

Source: India Today; In detail: Punjab Groundwater Extraction and Conservation Directions, 2023

Power & Renewable Energy

Andhra Pradesh government announces decision to implement Revamped Distribution Sector Scheme (RDSS) with an investment of ~$1.34 billion with the support of the Union government. The scheme would help in strengthening the power distribution system, reduce losses and enhance operational efficiency.

Source: Economic Times; In detail: Revamped Distribution Sector Scheme (RDSS)

Health

Manipur cabinet approves the upgradation of health centres and creating posts for legal officers of seven different departments.

Source: Imphal Free Press

Telangana registers a significant drop in the Maternal Mortality Ratio (MMR) from 92 in 2014 to 43 in 2018–20.

Source: Newstap; In detail: Health Minister’s Twitter (Video)

Center – State Relations

Nothing Critical to report this week

Any Other

Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) grants a one-time extension for implementing solar and solar-wind hybrid projects for companies whose bids were finalised before 9 March 2021. The extension has been granted till March 2024 due to construction hiatuses caused by Covid-19.

Source: Economic Times; In detail: Notification

Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) increases the Central Financial Assistance (CFA) for installation of Rooftop Solar (RTS) in the residential sector across India. For individual households, INR 14,588/kW will be provided up to 3kW, and INR 7,294/kW will be provided up to 10kW; whereas residential welfare associations or group housing societies will receive INR 7294/kW for common facilities up to 500kWp at 10kWp per house.

Source: SaurEnergy; In detail: Office Memorandum