Analysis
States Update: June 16, 2022
Posted on
Big News: Bihar launches a new Textile and Leather Policy; Madhya Pradesh waives its monthly vehicle tax; Tamil Nadu amends its Shops and Establishments Act to allow stores to remain open 24x7; West Bengal eases criteria for setting up industrial parks; Himachal Pradesh launches a new Drone Policy; Jammu & Kashmir approves a new Rooftop Solar Scheme; the Ministry of Power pushes a new Green Open Access Rules for electric power; and more.
Industrial Policy & Business Regulations
Bihar launches its Textile and Leather Policy. The policy includes incentives like capital subsidy and freight subsidy to attract investors to the state. Source: Times of India; In detail: Bihar Textile and Leather Policy, 2022
Madhya Pradesh waives monthly vehicle tax totalling $13.27 million on passenger buses for the period April 1, 2021 to June 30, 2021. Source: Times of India; In detail: Press Release
Tamil Nadu government amends its Shops and Establishments Act to operate 24 hours on all seven days of the week for a period of three years. Source: Indian Express; In detail: Notification
Goa notifies the “Goa State Mariculture Policy 2020” to carry out open sea cage fish culture in the territorial waters of the state of Goa. Source: Dajiworld; In detail: Notification
The state cabinet approves the ‘Himachal Pradesh Drone Policy 2022’ becoming the first state to have a dedicated drone policy. The policy envisions creating a holistic drone ecosystem built upon the foundation of Governance and Reforms Using Drones (GARUD). Source: Business Insider; In detail: Drone Policy
Punjab issues its new Excise Policy for 2022-23, removing quota restrictions on beer and Indian Made Foreign Liquor (IMFL). The move is expected to bring down the liquor prices by 35-60 per cent, effective July 1. Source: News 18; In detail: Excise Policy
Land Acquisition & Labor Regulations
West Bengal eases the eligibility criteria for private developers and industry associations looking to set up industrial parks under the Scheme for Approved Industrial Park, reducing the turnover limit from $255,800 per acre of land to $127,900 per acre. Source: Telegraph India; In detail: Meeting details
Infrastructure & Governance
Nothing Critical to report this week
Climate Change
The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) bans use of coal in Delhi-NCR region in industrial, domestic and other miscellaneous applications from January 1, 2023. Source: Economic Times; In detail: Order
Oil & Gas
Nothing Critical to report this week
Water & Sanitation
Nothing critical to report this week
Power & Renewable Energy
The Jammu and Kashmir Administrative Council approves the roll out of rooftop solar scheme for installation of 200 MW of grid-tied rooftop solar power plants under the “Solar City Mission” in Jammu. Source: Kashmir Reader; In detail: Press Release
Health
Nothing critical to report this week
Business Negative Reforms
Nothing critical to report this week
Any Other
Nothing critical to report this week
Center – State Relations
Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya releases a new State Food Safety Index. The index measures the performance of states across five parameters to encourage States/UTs to work towards ensuring safe food for people. Source: Financial Express; In detail: Press Release; State Food Safety Index
The Ministry of Power notifies the Green Open Access Rules, 2022 reducing the open access transactions limit from 1 MW to 100 kW for green energy to enable small consumers to purchase renewable power through open access. Source: Economic Times; In detail: Notification; Press Release
Ministry of Power notifies rules for surcharge on late payments. A late payment surcharge will be payable on the outstanding amount after the due date at the base rate, increasing by 0.5% for the successive months of default. Source: Mercom; In detail: Notification
Central Electricity Regulatory Commission (CERC) notifies regulations providing a framework to facilitate non-discriminatory open access to generating companies for inter-state transmission systems (ISTS) through general network access (GNA). Source: Mercom; In detail: Notification
Ministry of Finance launches Single Nodal Agency (SNA) dashboard tracking transfer of funds to states for centrally sponsored schemes and utilisation of funds by central agencies for transparent governance. Source: Indian Express; In detail: Guidelines