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Tamil Nadu releases a new Aerospace and Defence Policy; Goa amends state solar policy authorizing 50 percent subsidy to consumers and producers of solar power; Meghalaya launches the “Design and Adoption of Alternate Models for Responding to Address Shortage of Medical Specialists in Meghalaya” program; Andhra Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, and Jammu and Kashmir announce new reservation policies; the Union Cabinet provides more funds and powers to local government institutions in Assam, Meghalaya, Mizoram, and Tripura; and more.

Center – State relations

The Union Cabinet approved an amendment to Article 280 and the sixth schedule of the Constitution of India in order to enhance funds available to local government institutions and boost administrative powers of the autonomous district councils in the states of  Assam, Meghalaya, Mizoram and Tripura. Source: The Hindu Business Line

Goa, Mizoram, and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands have approved a proposal by the Health Ministry to create an All India Medical Service, similar to other civil services in India such as the Indian Administrative Service and the Indian Police Service. However, Kerala and Sikkim opposed such a proposal. Source: Economic Times

The ratio of female children born for every 1,000 male children fell to 877 in 2016, a decline of four points from 881 2015 and of 26 points from 903 in 2007. The southern states of Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, and Tamil Nadu faced the sharpest decline over the period between 2007 and 2016. Source: Scroll.in In detail: Vital Statistics Of India Based On The Civil Registration System 2016

The Ministry of Civil Aviation awarded 235 new routes to airlines under its regional connectivity scheme. These routes will provide connectivity to 16 new airports and 17 under-served airports. Source: Money Control

Andhra Pradesh

The Andhra Pradesh government has announced it will reserve only five percent of government jobs and seats at education institutions for economically weaker sections of those falling in the “General” category.  This move comes in response to the center’s recent move to reserve 10 percent of jobs and seats for such economically weaker sections. Source: NDTV

Bihar

The Bihar government approved a plan to install prepaid smart meters in all households across the state in the next four to five years. The plan will build upon the state government’s efforts to install smart meters in 6,000 to 7,000 government buildings on an experimental basis. Source: Financial Express

According to a report by rating agency CRISIL, Bihar ranked first among 17 Indian states in terms of economic growth. Source: Financial Express In detail: States of growth 2.0

New Delhi

To promote clean sources of energy, the Delhi Electricity Regulatory Commission has decided that any open-access consumer purchasing power from waste-to-energy plants will only have to pay for the cost of the power, while all other infrastructure-related costs will be borne by distribution companies. Source: Energy Infra Post In detail: DERC order

Electricity distribution company BSES has launched a WhatsApp service to provide customers with a copy of their electricity bill on the messaging app, making it the first power distribution company, or discom, in the capital to provide such a service. Source: Economic Times

The Union Cabinet approved a decision to extend a section of the Delhi Metro corridor from Dilshad Garden to New Bus Adda in Ghaziabad, The extension will cost $251 million, of which the center will contribute $45.7 million. Source: Scroll.in In detail: Press Release

Gujarat

The Gujarat Electricity Regulatory Commission announced new regulations for the forecasting, scheduling, and deviation settlement of solar and wind generating sources in the state. Source: Mercom In detail: GERC (Forecasting, Scheduling, Deviation Settlement and Related Matters of Solar and Wind Generation Sources) Regulations, 2019

Haryana

The Haryana Electricity Regulatory Commission issued an order approving the power purchase agreements of solar projects totaling 23 MW. Source: Mercom In detail: Petition details

The Haryana government announced a program to offer a monthly pension ranging between $70 and $127 to victims of acid attacks. In addition, the Women and Child Development Department announced it will provide financial support ranging from $704 to $4,225 to victims for treatment. Source: Daily Pioneer In detail: Press Release

Maruti Suzuki India signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the Haryana government to invest $986,000 to set up a Japan-India Institute for Manufacturing to train over 500 youth annually. Source: Money Control

Karnataka

Nothing critical to report this week.

Madhya Pradesh

The Madhya Pradesh government announced the launch of new policy to ensure that youths from the economical weaker sections in the general category were employed for at least 100 days every year. Source: New Indian Express

Maharashtra

The Maharashtra government signed an MOU with the U.S.-India Business Council to promote the state as an investment destination for American companies. Source: Money Control

Private sector lender Yes Bank has partnered with the Government of Maharashtra to support public distribution system (PDS) stores, or ration stores, as they transition to join the “Electronic PDS Initiative,” allowing them to offer last mile banking services as agents of the bank. Source: Economic Times

State-run engineering firm Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited announced it has won an order from the Maharashtra State Power Generation Company for its 660-megawatt coal-based supercritical thermal power project at the Bhusawal Thermal Power Station. Source: Money Control In detail: Press Release

Rajasthan

Rajasthan is facing a swine flu outbreak. In the last month, 1,627 people across the state have tested positive for the virus, and 59 people have died. Source: NDTV

Tamil Nadu

Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami announced that the second edition of the Global Investors Meet exceeded the targeted investment, reaching $47.89 billion. Source: Indian Express

The Tamil Nadu government released a new Aerospace and Defence Policy, 2019, which aims to increase the defense sector’s share of the industry to 30 percent and create high-end employment opportunities for around 100,000 people in the state. Source: Business Standard In detail: Aerospace and Defence Policy, 2019

Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced the creation of a Tamil Nadu Defence Industrial Corridor to link leading military manufacturing units in five cities in South India, which is slated to bring in investments worth $422.5 million. Source: Financial Express

Telangana

The ruling Telangana Rashtra Samithi won 2,629 of the 3,701 gram panchayat seats in the first phase of panchayat elections underway in the state. Source: Financial Express

Uttar Pradesh

The Uttar Pradesh Electricity Regulatory Commission issued a concept paper to amend its Captive and Renewable Energy Generating Projects Regulations, 2014. The new regulations are aimed at addressing new perceived challenges, and to enhance the existing regulatory framework. Source: Mercom In detail: Concept Paper

The Uttar Pradesh Electricity Regulatory Commission approved amendments to the bidding documents for the procurement of bagasse (or sorghum fiber)-based power from generators by the Uttar Pradesh Power Corporation Ltd. Source: Mercom In detail: Order details

The Uttar Pradesh government denied reports that it launched a special pension program for seers, announcing instead an increase of $1.40 per month in the existing pension program to all below-poverty elderly residents of the state. Source: Financial Express

West Bengal

Nothing critical to report this week.

Best of the Rest

Arunachal Pradesh

Chief Minister Pema Khandu launched the Smart Village Movement Data Collection Application, noting that the data collected from remote villages across the state through the app would not only be utilized for the Smart Village Movement, but also be used as inputs by respective departments to structure their annual plans. Source: North East Now

Assam

The Assam cabinet has approved the policy of reserving 10 percent of government jobs and seats and universities for the economically weaker sections of the general category. Source: News 18

Goa 

To incentivize the production of solar power in the state, the Goa cabinet has approved amendments to the Goa State Solar Policy 2017, authorizing a 50 percent subsidy to consumers and producers instead of the earlier proposed interest-free loan. Source: Times of India In detail: Amended Goa State Solar Policy 2017

Jammu and Kashmir

Jammu and Kashmir governor Satya Pal Malik approved the Jammu and Kashmir Reservation (Amendment) Bill, 2014, granting reservation to people belonging to the Pahari community in government jobs. Source: News18

Meghalaya

The state government launched the “Design and Adoption of Alternate Models for Responding to Address Shortage of Medical Specialists in Meghalaya” (ADARSH) program to address the perpetual shortage of specialist doctors in Meghalaya. Source: The Sentinel Assam In detail: Twitter Announcement

Mizoram

Thousands of people in Mizoram took to the streets to protest the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, burning effigies of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh. Source: Indian Express

Odisha

As part of a newly-launched income subsidy program for farmers, the Odisha government distributed $87.6 million to the 1.245 million farmers in the state. Source: The Hindu Business Line 

Puducherry

The joint electricity regulatory commission for Goa and all the Union Territories, including Puducherry, has proposed to increase the regulatory surcharge from 4 percent to 10 percent for all consumer categories, except those falling under the “one house one bulb” program and the agriculture categories for the 2019-20 financial year. Source: Times of India In detail: Public Notice

Punjab

The Punjab government’s department of health and family welfare has released newspaper advertisements inviting expressions of interest for private parties to run primary health and community health centers under a public-private partnership model. The selected party or parties will have to staff the health centers and run and maintain them for a fixed tenure. Source: Scroll.in