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Chhattisgarh withdraws from center’s Ayushman Bharat health insurance program; Maharashtra raises taxes on power sales for industrial and commercial consumers in Mumbai; Sikkim opens India’s second-largest healthcare facility; Jammu and Kashmir to issue state bonds to raise $490.7 million to pay off the state’s mounting power purchase bill; Uttar Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, and Jharkhand announce they will reserve 10 percent of state government jobs and seats in universities; and more. 

Center – State relations

The Japan International Cooperation Agency signed loan agreements with the government of India on January 18, 2019, to provide $479.2 million in loans under Japan’s Official Development Assistance Loan Program. Source: Jagran Josh In detail: Press Release

The Central Electricity Regulatory Commission has proposed a new set of generic tariffs for the purchase of electricity from renewable energy generation sources during financial year 2019-2020. The proposed tariffs are open to comments until February 10, 2019. Source: Mercom In detail: Tariff details

The Union Cabinet has approved $510 million to establish 13 new central universities in Bihar, Gujarat, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Kerala, Orissa, Punjab, Rajasthan, and Tamil Nadu. Two universities will be established in Jammu and Kashmir, while the other states will host one university. Source: The Hindu Business Line In detail: Press Release

Andhra Pradesh

Nothing critical to report this week.

Bihar

The Bihar cabinet increased the Pollution Under Control (PUC) fees for two and three-wheelers, who must receive a PUC certificate to be on the road. The fee for motorcycles has been increased from $0.70 to $1.12, while the fee for three-wheelers has been increased from $1.12 to $1.40. Source: Business Standard

New Delhi

In an effort to upgrade the city’s power network, Delhi Electricity Regulatory Commission released the Draft DERC (Power System Development Fund) Regulations, outlining how it will collect funds to strengthen the transmission system of operative importance within Delhi and relieve network congestion in inter-state transmission systems. Source: Times of India In detail: Draft DERC (Power System Development Fund) Regulations

Gujarat

Gujarat chief minister Vijay Rupani said 28,360 memoranda of understanding (MOUs) were signed during the Vibrant Gujarat Global Summit 2019, which are expected to generate over 2.1 million jobs. Source: Business Today

Haryana

The ratio of boys to girls in Haryana has improved markedly from 832 girls for every 1,000 boys in 2012, to 924 by December 31, 2018, according to figures released by the state government. Source: Times of India In detail: Press Release

Karnataka

The Karnataka Renewable Energy Development Limited has awarded 100 megawatts (MW) of grid-connected solar projects to be developed across five talukas, or counties, of the state. Think Energy Partners and Shapoorji Pallonji Infrastructure Capital Company were chosen through a reverse auction process. Source: Mercom In detail: Tender details

Madhya Pradesh

Madhya Pradesh chief minister Kamal Nath launched his government’s $7 billion farm debt-waiver scheme named ‘Jai Kisan Rin Mukti Yojana,’ which will benefit 5.5 million small and marginal farmers. Source: Economic Times

The Madhya Pradesh government amended the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Development Policy, 2017 to mandate that 70 percent of jobs would be reserved for permanent residents of the state.  Source: Indian Express In detail: Madhya Pradesh Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Development Policy, 2017 (in Hindi)

Maharashtra

The Maharashtra government announced a slew of concessions for the Other Backward Classes, ranging from scholarships and hostels for students. The cost of implementing these concessions will be $103.1 million. Source: India Today

The United Kingdom-India Business Council and the government of Maharashtra signed an MOU to increase connections between UK businesses and the state, that will increase investments and economic growth, as well as create jobs. Source: FnB news

The Maharashtra government raised the tax on power sales for industrial and commercial consumers in Mumbai. The tax will earn an additional revenue of $90 million a month after this tax hike for the state. Source: Times of India

The Maharashtra Electricity Regulatory Commission granted the Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company Limited leeway in the timeline for paying the dues to wind power generators. While the power purchase agreements require the distribution company (discom) to pay wind power generators within 45 days after invoices are raised, the regulator has allowed it to make the payments according to a schedule proposed by the discom that is less restrictive.  Source: Financial Express

Rajasthan

The Rajasthan Electricity Regulatory Commission has issued a fifth amendment to its regulations for renewable energy obligation (RPO), reducing the renewable purchase obligation for financial year (FY) 2018-19 from 6.75 percent to 4.75 percent. The revised RPO for FY 2018-19 will be applied retroactively from April 1, 2018. Source: Mercom In detail: Rajasthan Electricity Regulatory Commission (Renewable Energy Obligation)(Fifth Amendment) Regulations, 2018

The Rajasthan cabinet approved two amendments to the Rajasthan Panchayati Raj Bill and the Rajasthan Municipalities Bill in order to remove minimum educational qualification conditions for candidates wishing to contest local body elections. Source: NDTV

Rajasthan chief minister Ashok Gehlot announced that the state cabinet decided to pass a resolution seeking to reserve 33 percent of seats in the state’s legislative assembly for women. Source: Times of India

Tamil Nadu

The Tamil Nadu government released a new start-up and innovation policy, setting targets to to create around 5,000 start-ups and 100,000 high-skilled jobs in the start-up ecosystem by 2023. The Tamil Nadu government also announced the creation of a $35 million fund to support start-ups. Source: Financial Express In detail: Press Release

The Tamil Nadu cabinet has approved of investment proposals worth $9.11 billion, which are expected to be signed at the upcoming Global Investors Meeting in the state. Source: Business Standard

The Tamil Nadu state cabinet announced new prerequisites for the establishment of private universities, mandating that institutions own 100 acres of land and a corpus of $7 million. Source: The Hindu

Telangana

State-owned power equipment company Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited announced it has won an order worth $79.2 million from the Singareni Collieries Company to establish 129 MW of solar photovoltaic (PV) power plants in Telangana.  Source: Economic Times In detail: Press Release

Uttar Pradesh

The Uttar Pradesh government announced a tender for 500 MW of grid-connected solar projects with an upper tariff ceiling of  $0.043/kilowatt-hour (kWh). The deadline to submit bids is February 14, 2019. Source: Mercom In detail: List of  substations (In Hindi)

The Uttar Pradesh government approved a policy to reserve 10 percent of jobs and seats in educational institutions for economically backward citizens among upper castes. Uttar Pradesh became the third state after Gujarat and Jharkhand to approve this legislation. Source: Hindustan Times

The Uttar Pradesh government announced that the government would offer a pension to Hindu seers, or “sadhus” above the age of 60. Source: Times Now

The Uttar Pradesh government has imposed a special 20 percent tax on Indian-made foreign liquor and beer and will use the proceeds to fund shelter homes for stray cows, grazing grounds and other cattle protection-related activities in the state. Source: News 18

West Bengal

Vikram Solar, a Kolkata-based solar energy company, announced it commissioned two 10 MW solar projects for West Bengal State Electricity Distribution Company. Source: Economic Times In detail: Press Release

Best of the Rest

Assam

Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal inaugurated the Assam Start Up – the Nest initiative, which is aimed at improving the business environment for start-ups help them accelerate their growth. Source: Economic Times In detail: Assam Start Up – The Next Website

The Assam government approved a capacity expansion plan for Numaligarh Refinery from the existing 3 million metric tons per annum (MMTPA) to 9 MMTPA at an estimated cost of $3.16 billion. Source: Economic Times In detail: Press Release

Chhattisgarh

The Chhattisgarh government announced it will withdraw from the center’s flagship universal healthcare scheme, the Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PMJAY) or Ayushman Bharat. The government announced that it is planning to devise its own universal healthcare scheme to replace the PMJAY. Source: Economic Times

Himachal Pradesh

The Himachal Pradesh cabinet announced it will reserve 10 percent of state government jobs and seats at universities for the economically weaker sections of the general category. Source: Times of India

The Himachal Pradesh Planning Board approved the annual plan size of $995.5 million for the year 2019-20, a hike of 12.7 percent than the last year’s annual plan. The sectors that have been given added priority in the annual plan are social services sector, transport and communication, agriculture, and others. Source: Times of India

State-owned National Thermal Power Corporation has invited solar power developers to develop 15 MW floating solar PV capacity at its Koldam Hydroelectric Power Project in Bilaspur district of Himachal Pradesh. Source: Energy Infra Post

Jharkhand

The Jharkhand cabinet approved the creation of a State Commission for scheduled tribes (STs). The commission will be tasked with advising in the planning of socio-economic development programmes for STs and to evaluate the progress of their development. Source: Hindustan Times

The Jharkhand government announced a bonus subsidy of $2.10 per quintal on paddy, which would be added to the center’s offered minimum support price of $24.50 for Kharif, or autumn, crops for 2018-19. Source: Devdiscourse

The Jharkhand government has decided to reserve 10 percent of state government jobs for the economically weaker section of the General category. Source: Times Now

Jammu and Kashmir

The Jammu and Kashmir government announced a decision to raise $490.7 million by issuing state bonds to overcome mounting liabilities from the state’s mounting power purchase bill. Source: Daily Excelsior

PowerGrid and the Jammu and Kashmir power department switched on the Alusteng-Alunday stretch of the 217 mile Srinagar-Kargil-Leh transmission line, powering inhospitable terrain such as the frontier districts of Ladakh and Kargil, which are separated from the Kashmir Valley by the Himalayas. Source: Times of India    

Kerala

The Kerala State Industrial Development Corporation signed a lease deed with the Kollam Corporation to establish a waste-to-energy plant in Kollam. The plant, which will come up in seven acres of land at Kureepuzha, will have capacity to treat 200 tons of solid waste daily. Source: The Hindu

Nagaland

Nagaland chief minister Neiphiu Rio announced that the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill 2016 will not applicable to Nagaland since the state is protected under the provisions of Article 371(A), which provides special status to Nagaland and give the state the authority to block the implementation of any laws passed by Parliament. Source: NDTV

Odisha

Healthcare multinational company Abbott announced it will provide one million rapid diagnostic testing kits and $840,000 funding over three years to support the goal of eliminating malaria. The funding will support capacity building, including training workers on the ground to screen and report cases into the state’s surveillance system. Source: The Hindu Business Line

Puducherry

The Puducherry government announced a ban on the sale and use of plastic products in the union territory from March 1, 2019. Source: Business Standard

Punjab

Hero Cycles Ltd. announced it will establish a manufacturing unit in Industrial Cycle Valley in Punjab with an overall capacity of 10 million bikes a year. The project is expected to create employment for up to 1,000 people in the 380-acre International Cycle Valley in Ludhiana district. Source: The Hindu In detail: Press Release

Punjab chief minister Amarinder Singh announced that the government will spend $210 million on improving rural and urban infrastructure in the state. Source: Money Control In detail: Press Release

Punjab’s industries and commerce minister Sunder Sham Arora announced that the government has allocated $280,425 to provide subsides to support the expansion of the state’s industrial units, and that an additional $981,500 would be soon available. Source: Punjab News Express In detail: Press Release

Sikkim

Sikkim opened a 1,002-bed hospital, named the New Sir Thutob Namgyal Memorial Multi-Speciality Hospital, which will be the second-largest healthcare facility in the country after the All India Institute of Medical Sciences in New Delhi. Source: Telegraph India

Tripura

The 15th Finance Commission headed by N.K. Singh held detailed discussions with the government of Tripura headed by the Chief Minister Biplab Kumar Deb. The Tripura government argued for increased devolution so that the state can establish better infrastructure especially in the health, power, and other sectors. In addition, state officials demanded that the central government devolve 50 percent of the divisible tax pool between states and the center to the states. Source: 5Dariya News In detail: Press Release

Uttarakhand

The Uttarakhand government announced a new program to provide 300 girls in six districts with panic buttons, which can be worn as a bracelet, necklace or ring. The device sends multiple messages when it is activated and alerts the women helpline and control room of state police within 30 seconds. Source: Times of India