Big News

Karnataka waives crop loans in commercial banks that have become non-performing assets; the National Thermal Power Corporation facilitates new solar power operations in Gujarat, Rajasthan, and Telangana; Tamil Nadu establishes guidelines to help maintain grid discipline and security for solar and wind projects; Uttar Pradesh launches single window clearance for telecom sector; and more

Center – State relations

Niti Aayog set up a task force of state chief ministers and central ministers to prepare a blueprint for structural reforms in agriculture. At a Governing Council meeting, states sought central government assistance for tackling the drought situation, improving logistics for exports and support for tackling problems related to their local economy. Source: Live Mint In detail: Press Release

Central government decided to extend the benefit of $85.70 per family per year under the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Siddhi scheme to all 145 million farmers in the country, irrespective of the size of their landholding. Source: Business Today In Detail: Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (P.M. Kissan)

State-run Bharat Heavy Electricals Ltd won three orders worth $74.3 million for setting up solar photovoltaic (PV) power plants with a combined capacity of 135 megawatt (MW) in Maharashtra and Gujarat. Source: Economic Times In detail: Press Release

The government of Japan decided to invest $1.85 billion in several projects in different states of India’s north-eastern region. This was disclosed after a meeting between the Department of North Eastern Region Minister Dr Jitendra Singh and Ambassador Kenji Hiramatsu. Source: Economic Times In detail: Press Release

Andhra Pradesh

Nothing critical to report this week.

Bihar

Bihar became the first state to launch a universal old age pension scheme in which each person aged 60 and older, irrespective of their financial, family or caste status, will get a sum of $5.71 per month directly to their bank account. Source: Times of India In Detail: Press Release

The Bihar Renewable Energy Development Agency has invited bids for setting up 250 MW of grid-connected ground-mounted solar PV projects in the state. Source: Sau Energy

New Delhi

The Delhi Electricity Regulatory Commission (DERC) has notified two frameworks for the city - Group Net Metering, applicable for all consumers of the national capital territory, and Virtual Net Metering, applicable for residential consumers, group housing societies, offices of government/local authorities, and renewable energy generators. Source: Business Standard In detail: DERC (Group Net Metering and Virtual Net Metering for Renewable Energy) Guidelines, 2019

A smart public charging station for electric vehicles (EVs) in South Extension Part II, Blue Smart Charger, has been set-up in partnership between BSES Rajdhani Power Limited (BRPL) Gensol Charge Pvt Ltd and Techperspect. Source: Economic Times In Detail: Press Release

The Delhi government has notified its draft parking policy, Delhi Maintenance and Management of Parking Places Rules 2019, discouraging on-street and banning footpath parking while allowing free parking in residential areas. Source: Money Control In Detail: Delhi Maintenance and Management of Parking Places Rules, 2019 (Draft)

Gujarat

State-run engineering firm Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited won two orders worth $114.3 million for setting up solar energy capacity of 200 MW. The orders have been secured from the state-run power giant National Thermal Power Corporation Limited (NPTC) and Gujarat State Electricity Corporation Ltd. Source: Money Control In detail: Press Release

Haryana

Nothing critical to report this week.

Karnataka

The Karnataka cabinet decided to amend the Karnataka Startup Policy 2015-2020 to include a turnover limit and a year limit that are both present in the central policy. Source: Money Control In detail: Karnataka Startup Policy 2015-2020

Under pressure from farmers, Karnataka decided to waive off their crop loans in commercial banks that had turned into non-performing assets (NPA) worth $138 million. The move will cover 109,000 farmers whose crop loans had turned into NPAs because of prolonged inactivity in repayment. Source: Deccan Herald

The Bangalore Electricity Supply Company has proposed to set up 650 electric vehicle charging stations across Karnataka under the Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of Hybrid and Electric Vehicle scheme. Source: Times of India In Detail: Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of Electric Vehicles in India Phase II (FAME-India)

Madhya Pradesh

Nothing critical to report this week.

Maharashtra

After failing to get response to its tender for developing a 1,000 MW floating solar power plant at Ujani dam of Solapur district, Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company Limited has put the project on hold. It was supposed to be the biggest floating solar plant in the country. Source: Times of India

Rajasthan

NTPC has invited bids for a 160 MW solar project in Jetsar, Rajasthan. The scope of work includes the design, engineering, manufacturing, supply, packing and forwarding, transportation, unloading, storage, installation, and commissioning of the project on a turnkey basis. Source: Mercom

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu State Load Dispatch Centre and Tamil Nadu Electricity Regulatory have issued the Procedure for Forecasting, Scheduling, and Deviation Settlement of Wind and Solar Generation. The procedure aims to establish guidelines to help maintain grid discipline and security under the grid code. Source: Mercom In detail: Procedure for Forecasting, Scheduling and Deviation Settlement of Wind and Solar Generation

Tamil Nadu’s Infant Mortality Rate (IMR) fell further, dropping from 17 to 16 per 1,000 live births in 2017. The State has been registering a steady decline in IMR since 2013. Source: The Hindu

Telangana

NTPC has approved an investment for a 100 MW floating solar project at its Ramagundam Coal Power Station in Karim Nagar, Telangana. Source: Pv-tech

Uttar Pradesh

The Uttar Pradesh government started single window clearance for rolling out telecom infrastructure in the state to expedite mobile networks and broadband connectivity. Source: Money Control In Detail: Press Release (in Hindi)

The Uttar Pradesh Cabinet approved a proposal to raise the pension amount for the elderly by $1.42. Source: Economic Times

West Bengal

Nothing critical to report this week.

Best of the Rest

Assam

The center has sanctioned $371.5 million for construction of 200,000 more houses in Assam during the financial year 2019-20 under Pradhan Mantri Gramin Awaas Yojana. Source: The Sentinel

Chhattisgarh

The Chhattisgarh State Electricity Regulatory Commission has issued draft regulations for grid-interactive distributed renewable sources that will apply to prosumer distributed renewable energy systems. Source: Mercom In detail: Draft regulations

Chhattisgarh industries minister Kawasi Lakhma signed two strategic memoranda of understanding (MOU) for promoting investment in automotive, agriculture, and food processing sectors. Source: Daily Pioneer

Himachal Pradesh

Himachal Pradesh government has signed MOUs worth $114.3 million with two companies from the Netherlands – CM Corps and Takshinda Foundation – to establish a golf course and a skills university, respectively. Source: Times of India In Detail: Press Release

Himachal Pradesh government has signed an MOU with Frankfurt Innovation Zentrum to explore the areas of collaboration in the fields of ayurveda, genomics, precision medicine, and precision agriculture. Source: Times of India In Detail: Press Release

Jharkhand

The Jharkhand Renewable Energy Development Agency has set an ambitious target of generating five MW renewable energy annually through its Grid Connected Rooftop Solar Programme. Source: Times of India

Jammu and Kashmir

The Union Cabinet approved an extension of President’s rule in Jammu and Kashmir for six more months beginning July 3. Source: India Today In detail: Press Release

Meghalaya

The state cabinet approved the Meghalaya Startup Policy 2018 to help budding entrepreneurs and create employment opportunities by facilitating at least 500 start-ups in the next five years. Source: Business Standard In detail: Meghalaya Startup Policy 2018

Mizoram

According to the Economic Survey 2018-19, Mizoram registered a growth of 14.82 percent in its Gross State Domestic Product. Source: The Hindu Business Line

In Mizoram, Chief Minister Zoramthanga presented the state budget for 2019-2020 amounting to $1.5 billion in the state legislative assembly. Source: All India Radio

Nagaland

Nagaland transport minister P Paiwang Konyak launched the second state helicopter service from Dimapur Airport. Source: Business Standard

Odisha

Odisha Electricity Regulatory Commission has decided to keep the tariffs unchanged for 2019-20. The power tariff was also not hiked last year. Source: Business Standard In detail: Tariff Proceedings for FY 2109-20

Punjab

The Punjab government has issued new standard operating procedures as a part of unifying the government’s fight against drugs and chemists for violations of norms. Source: Times of India

Tripura

The Asian Development Bank has approved projects for infrastructure development worth $235 million in seven of the eight district headquarter towns in Tripura. Source: Business Standard

Uttarakhand

The Uttarakhand Electricity Regulatory Commission has issued benchmark tariffs and capital costs for solar power projects in the state including solar PV, solar thermal power, grid-interactive rooftop, and small solar PV power projects commissioned on or after April 1, 2019, and on or before March 31, 2020. Source: Mercom In detail: Benchmark Capital Cost for Solar PV, Solar Thermal and Grid Interactive Rooftop & Small Solar PV Plants