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Big News:

Union Cabinet allocates 30 percent of north eastern council’s budget for developing deprived areas; Indian Oil Corporation to invest $1.94 billion for expanding Barauni refinery’s capacity; Delhi discom signs an MOU with France’s Schneider Electric; Madhya Pradesh Electricity Regulatory Commission amends regulations related to renewable energy sources; Telangana announces setting up sanitation hubs; West Bengal introduces government receipt portal system; Jharkhand establishes regulations for renewable purchase obligation; and more

Center – State relations

The Ministry for New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) issued a clarification regarding the second phase of the solar rooftop program, for which it provides Central Financial Assistance. Source: Economic Times In detail: MNRE Notice

The states of Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh have rejected NITI Aayog’s proposal to handover the district hospitals to private players and earn on a public-private partnership model. Source: News Click

The Union Cabinet allocated 30 percent of the North-Eastern Council’s (NEC’s) budget for developing deprived areas and integrating them with the mainstream. The move, seen as part of the government’s Act East policy, will benefit marginalized and vulnerable groups of people in backward and neglected areas of North-eastern states. Source: Live Mint In detail: Press Release

The finance ministry has allocated $4.18 billion in Budget 2020-21 to the states, even as it accepted the recommendation of 15th Finance Commission (FFC) on revenue deficit grants, which had set aside $10.3 billion. Source: Live Mint

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Saturday urged states and Union territories to replace conventional electricity meters with prepaid smart meters in three years, with the aim of cutting distribution losses. Source: Live Mint

Andhra Pradesh

The expert committee headed by G.N. Rao, which the YS Jagan Mohan Reddy government in Andhra Pradesh used as justification for three capitals, categorically stated that any major new governance activity at Visakhapatnam was neither required nor desirable owing to serious constraints. Last week, the Reddy government passed an assembly resolution to have decentralized governance and development by having three capitals — legislative at Amaravati, executive at Visakhapatnam and judicial at Kurnool. Source: Economic Times

Bihar

Indian Oil Corporation will invest $1.94 billion to expand the capacity of its Barauni refinery in eastern Bihar state by 50 per cent to 180,000 barrels per day by April 2023. Source: Business Standard In Detail: IOC Project List

Bihar deputy chief minister Sushil Kumar Modi said of the $56.8 million allocated by the 15th Finance Commission for Patna Municipal Corporation, $28.4 million would be spent on improving air quality in the city. Source: Times of India

New Delhi

Delhi distribution company BSES Yamuna Power Ltd (BYPL) announced it has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with France’s Schneider Electric designed to make electricity usage safer, smarter, and sustainable. A BSES release said the MOU will be realized through two programs and by working closely with resident welfare associations, industrial welfare associations, and nominated local electricians in east and central Delhi under BYPL jurisdiction. Source: Economic Times

Gujarat

Rural Gujarat pays the least for treatment at public hospitals, according to a Union government report, “Key Indicators of Social Consumption in India: Health.” The report, however, says rural residents place more faith in small private clinics or private hospitals than in public health facilities. Source: Times of India In detail: Key Indicators of Social Consumption in India: Health

Haryana

The budget session of the Haryana assembly will commence on February 17. A decision in this regard was taken in the meeting of state cabinet held in New Delhi. Source: Times of India

A proposal to reserve 75 percent of private sector jobs in Haryana for the youth of the state was discussed in a state cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar. Source: NDTV

Karnataka

The eighth population census process along with the National Population Register will begin in Karnataka in April 2020. Source: Times of India

Madhya Pradesh

The Kamal Nath-led government in Madhya Pradesh is launching a revised version of its Yuva Swabhiman Yojana, a scheme for the unemployed, with an increased monthly stipend and promise of 365 working days, compared to the earlier 100 days. Source: The Logical Indian

The Madhya Pradesh Electricity Regulatory Commission (MPERC) has amended regulations for co-generation and generation of electricity from renewable energy sources. As part of the amendment, MPERC has defined “captive renewable energy generation source” as a project set up by any person to generate electricity primarily for his own use and includes a project set up by any co-operative society or association. Source: Mercom In detail: Amendment details

Madhya Pradesh farmers will now be able to irrigate their fields with solar energy. Solar panels will be installed at places by giving subsidies to farmers. Source: DB Post

Maharashtra

Shiv Sena, which has so far taken an ambiguous stand on the Citizenship Amendment Act, said the party was not opposed to the new law but was against the National Register of Citizens. Source: Economic Times

Rajasthan

Nothing critical to report this week.

Tamil Nadu

Nothing critical to report this week.

Telangana

Municipal Administration and Urban Development Minister K T Rama Rao announced the setting up of Sanitation Hub, an incubator to promote start-ups and innovations in water, sanitation, sewage water management, and waste water recycling to make cities and towns liveable and healthy. A seed fund of Rs 25 crores ($3.5 million) will be earmarked for this initiative. Source: Telangana Today

In a big thumbs up to the Telangana government’s efforts for development and growth of the State, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) India announced that Telangana has emerged as the best-performing state in the country in promoting inclusive and sustainable growth and decent work for all in 2019. Source: Siasat Daily In Detail: Full Rankings

Uttar Pradesh

Nothing critical to report this week.

West Bengal

The state finance department has introduced the Government Receipt Portal System (GRIPS) – a mobile App designed as an online, user friendly, digital platform for making various tax and non-tax payments directly to the state government. Source: Times of India

Best of the Rest

Chhattisgarh

The budget session of Chhattisgarh Vidhan Sabha will begin from February 24. The session will have 22 sittings and will conclude on April 1. Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel, who holds the finance portfolio, will present the budget for fiscal 2020-21 during the session. Source: Times of India

The state cabinet passed a resolution opposing the Citizenship Amendment Act and urged the center to repeal it, citing protests across Chhattisgarh. During the budget session of the assembly, the state government is likely to table an anti-CAA resolution, parliamentary affairs minister Ravindra Choubey said. Source: Times of India

Himachal Pradesh

Himachal Pradesh chief minister Jai Ram Thakur announced a 5 percent Dearness Allowance hike for state government employees and the pensioners. The key allowance, which aids in offsetting the impact of inflation, would be raised effective July 7, 2019. Source: IndiaTV News

The budget session of Himachal Pradesh assembly will start on February 25. Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur will present his third budget on March 6. There will be 22 sittings and the budget session will conclude on April 1. As assembly speaker Rajeev Bindal has been elected as the state BJP president, election of a new speaker will be also be held on February 25. Source: Times of India

Jammu and Kashmir

The government has allocated $4.28 billion for the newly created Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir in the budget for 2020-21 presented by Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman. The government has provisioned $38.8 billion as the contribution to Union Territory Disaster Response Fund while $4.27 billion has been allocated for meeting its resource gap. Source: Economic Times

The Administrative Council has approved several Amendments in the Jammu and Kashmir Reservation Rules, 2005, aimed at rationalizing the current reservation policy and giving representation to Pahari speaking people. Source: The Kashmir Monitor

Jharkhand

The Jharkhand Electricity Regulatory Commission has come up with regulations for renewable purchase obligation for obligated entities within the state. The earlier regulations are set to expire in March 2020. These regulations will apply to distribution licensees, captive users, and open access consumers within the state. Source: Mercom In detail: JSERC (Renewable Energy Purchase Obligation and its Compliance) Regulations, 2020

Meghalaya

A dozen Meghalaya organizations have come together to renew their demand for implementation of an inner line permit system in the state. Source: North East Now

Odisha

Following in the footsteps of the Central Electricity Supply Utility for collection from defaulters, North Eastern Electricity Supply Company of Odisha Limited has decided to start a disconnection drive from February 18. The officials said the power distribution company will send notices to domestic and commercial consumers, asking them to deposit their arrears within 15 days. Source: Odisha bytes

Punjab

The Amarinder Singh-led Punjab government will present its budget for 2020-21 on February 25. The cabinet decided to summon the 11th session (Budget Session) of the 15th Punjab Vidhan Sabha from February 20 to 28, according to an official spokesperson. Source: Outlook India

Prices of domestic liquor, Indian-made foreign liquor, and beer in Punjab are set to increase from April 1, with the state government announcing an increase in excise duty at retail and wholesale stages. Source: The Tribune

Responding to Punjab chief minister Amarinder Singh’s request, the center has given approval for setting up a new government medical college at Hoshiarpur, in addition to upgrading the existing local civil hospital. Source: Times of India