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The central government announces a North East Gas grid project affecting numerous states; Madhya Pradesh unveils plan to improve MSME landscape; Kerala hosts investor summit with big commitment from Abu Dhabi Investment Authority; Rajasthan backs down from issuing liquor licenses; Meghalaya inaugurates its first Smart City project; Jammu & Kashmir boosts small business procurement; Telangana and Rajasthan to work together on e-mobility charging infrastructure; and more.

Center – State Relations

Haryana, Karnataka, and Kerala have topped the State Energy Efficiency Index 2019. This index tracks the progress of Energy Efficiency (EE) initiatives in 36 states and union territories based on 97 significant indicators, an official statement said. Source: The Hindu Business Line In detail: State Energy Efficiency Index 2019

The central government will provide $782.6 million towards the construction of the North East Gas Grid project across the states of Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Sikkim, and Tripura. Source: Live Mint In detail: Press Release

The Union Steel Ministry launched “Mission Purvodaya” which aims at accelerated development of eastern India through an integrated steel hub. Source: Business Standard In detail: Press Release

The International Energy Agency (IEA) suggested the Indian government adopt a long-term energy plan for the country. “The draft National Energy Policy by NITI Aayog, currently under consultation, is an excellent framework and should be adopted swiftly to guide policy making, implementation, and enforcement across central and state governments,” IEA said in its India Report 2020 release. Source: Economic Times In detail: Press Release

Andhra Pradesh

Nothing critical to report this week.

Bihar

Nothing critical to report this week.

New Delhi

Nothing critical to report this week.

Gujarat

The Gujarat assembly passed a resolution supporting the Citizenship Amendment Act with a majority. Source: Times of India

Haryana

The Haryana government has reported that the sex ratio in the state has increased from 871 girls for every 1,000 boys, in 2014 to 923 girls in 2019. Source: Times of India In Detail: Press Release

Karnataka

Nothing critical to report this week.

Madhya Pradesh

Chief Minister Kamal Nath has altered the new Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) Development and Start-up policies- 2019 in an attempt to boost MSMEs. The policy will now offer a raft of incentives to improve ease of doing business in the state. Source: KNN In detail: MSME Development Policy 2019

Maharashtra

On December 11, the Maharashtra legislature unanimously ratified the Constitution (126th) Amendment Bill, which proposes to extend quota to scheduled castes / scheduled tribes in the Lok Sabha and state assemblies by another 10 years. Source: News 18

The Maharashtra Electricity Regulatory Commission approved a new tariff allowing the Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company to procure 500 megawatts from Intra-State solar power projects for meeting the Solar Renewable Purchase Obligations (RPO). Source: Sau energy In detail: Order details

Rajasthan

Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot said the Rajasthan government has withdrawn its decision taken last week to give temporary bar licenses to hotels and restaurants in view of “public sentiment” after activists slammed the move as encouraging liquor consumption. Source: Daily Pioneer

Tamil Nadu

Nothing critical to report this week.

Telangana

Under the central government’s FAME scheme, the Telangana State Renewable Energy Development Corporation Limited and Rajasthan Electronics & Instruments Limited have signed a memorandum of understanding for creating electric vehicle charging infrastructure in the state. Source: Telangana Today

Uttar Pradesh

The Uttar Pradesh Regulatory Commission has directed the Uttar Pradesh Power Corporation Limited (UPPCL) to create a separate RPO Regulatory Fund. The commission has asked UPPCL to deposit an amount of $103.3 million (₹7.37 billion). Source: Mercom

West Bengal

Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee organized a protest march against the Citizenship Amendment Act and the National Register of Citizens in Madhyamgram. Source: NDTV

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Arunachal Pradesh

Arunachal Pradesh chief minister Pema Khandu clarified that the state will be out of the purview of the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, as it was protected under the provisions of the Inner Line Permit system of the Bengal Eastern Frontier Regulation, 1873. Source: Times of India

Arunachal Pradesh’s four-day Assembly Session passed the Arunachal Pradesh Goods and Service Tax (Amendment) Bill, 2020, on January 10. Source: All India Radio

Assam

The center’s decision to notify the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) on Friday night has led anti-CAA protesters to intensify their movement against the act with renewed vigor. Source: Times of India

Jammu and Kashmir

The Jammu and Kashmir administration has directed its departments, public sector undertakings and aided institutions to procure certain goods and services from MSMEs, a move aimed at boosting the economic activities of small entrepreneurs. Source: The Week In Detail: Press release

Kerala

Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said Kerala has lined up several policy measures to attract investors to the state, including wage subsidies, relaxation of land acquisition, and labor-related restrictions. Source: Business Standard

The Kerala government has received investment intentions to the tune of around $14 billion during the ASCEND 2020 Global Investors Meet. The largest commitment was by Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, which committed around 66 percent of the total investment.

Source: Business Standard In Detail: Press release, ASCEND 2020 website

Kerala’s finance minister announced shortfalls in the state’s public borrowing, pushing it towards financial crisis. Kerala should have received around $1.4 billion of public borrowing in the last quarter, but has received only $267.5 million. Source: The News Minute

Meghalaya

Meghalaya began the implementation of its Smart City project worth $22.5 million in Shillong, which is one of the 99 cities chosen under the Indian Smart City Mission. Source: Business World

Odisha

The Odisha cabinet unanimously demanded the center include a Socio-Economic Caste Enumeration as part of the General Census in 2021. Source: India Today

Punjab

The Punjab government has decided to subsidize the purchase of vehicles to facilitate self-employment for jobless individuals in the state. The government will chip in with 15% of total ‘on road’ cost of the vehicle and the beneficiaries will contribute 15% . The remaining amount will be financed by the Punjab State Cooperative Bank. Source: Times of India

Sikkim

Greenko will purchase part of Teesta Stage III in Sikkim, the largest private hydroelectric project in Asia, sources said. The transaction will increase the operating renewable portfolio of Greenko to 6.2 gigawatts and give an exit to the project’s original investors, who spent $425 million to bankroll this high-profile venture in 2010. Source: Economic Times