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Prime Minister Modi launches national immunization program, Mastercard to setup center of excellence in Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat becomes the first state to cut taxes on petrol and diesel, and more

Center – State relations

The Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion (DIPP) has issued guidelines for excise free zones eligible for manufacturing units in Jammu & Kashmir, Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, and Sikkim. Companies with operational units in these states will get reimbursed 58 percent on the Goods and Service Tax (GST). Source: Economic Times

The center created a committee responsible for proper management of water resources in the North Eastern Region (NER). The Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER) will serve as the coordinating point and the committee is expected to submit its report by June, 2018. Source: Economic Times

Andhra Pradesh

Mastercard signed an agreement with the government of Andhra Pradesh to create multiple digital payment platforms and a center for excellence in order to enhance financial and digital literacy across the state. Source: News 18

The Andhra Pradesh government inaugurated the construction of 100,000 houses across the state NTR Housing Scheme (NTRHS). Under the NTRHS, the Andhra Pradesh government has undertaken the construction of 1.7 million houses costing the state and center $7.4 billion. Source: The Hindu

A foundation stone was laid for the first phase of the 1,796 mile National Waterway-4 (NW-4) at Amravati in Andhra Pradesh. The first phase involves development of a water channel from Muktyala to Vijayawada on the Krishna River including four floating terminals and three fixed terminals to handle cargo operations. Source: Livemint

Bihar

The Bihar state cabinet has approved an initiative for creating a roadmap for the agriculture sector in the state. The roadmap will include new initiatives over the next five years for which $23.6 billion has been earmarked. **Source: **Economic Times

Along with center, Bihar launched the Intensified Mission Indradhanush (IMI) which will provide essential immunizations to pregnant women and children under the age of two across the state aimed at covering 90 percent of the population under the program by December 2018. The first phase of IMI in Bihar will be held from November 7-18, 2017. Source: Times of India

Senior BJP leader Satya Pal Malik was sworn in as the governor of Bihar. Source: Economic Times

New Delhi

Nothing critical to report this week.

Gujarat

Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched a national immunization program for India and the state of Gujarat. The Intensified Mission Indradhanush (IMI) aims to provide essential immunizations to pregnant women and children under the age of two with the aim of covering 90 percent of the population under the program by 2020. Source: Livemint

Prime Minister Modi completed a two-day visit to Gujarat, signing projects worth $1.83 billion across various sectors including healthcare, chemicals, fertilizers and other development projects. Source: Livemint

Inox Wind won a 250 megawatt (MW) project at a fixed price of 4 cents per unit for 25 years under SECI-II auction. The project will be set up in the Kutch region of Gujarat. Source: The Hindu

Upon direction from the center, Gujarat state government has cut value-added tax (VAT) on petrol and diesel. Gujarat currently levies a 28.96 percent VAT on those products. Source: Business Standard

Haryana

Nothing critical to report this week

Karnataka

Karnataka chief minister Siddaramaiah has launched Matru Poorna, an initiative to provide nutritious meals to pregnant women and new mothers for almost 15 months with a budget allocation of $46 million. Source: Livemint

Karnataka state government has increased the dearness allowance of its employees by 2 percent applicable to all full time government employees, zilla panchayat workers, full time employees of aided educational institutions and universities. Source: OneIndia

Karnataka received $181.6 million from the center as compensation towards the revenue loss the state suffered in the two months since the goods and services tax (GST) was rolled out on July 1. The state is estimated to have lost tax revenue to the tune of $305.5 million in July and August due to low GST compliance. Source: Times of India

Madhya Pradesh

Nothing critical to report this week

Maharashtra

MAHAGENCO (Maharashtra State Power Generation Corporation Ltd) will install solar panels for the state’s metro rail, Mahametro, in its Nagpur project. Mahametro plans to meet 65 percent power demand through solar power. Source: Economic Times

Maharashtra bought 1,200 MW of power through a short-term agreement in order to mitigate load shedding and power cuts in urban areas. Source: Asian Age

Rajasthan

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) won three seats and the Congress won two in the municipal by-elections to five seats in Rajasthan. Source: Hindustan Times

Tamil Nadu

The center has sanctioned $212 million in grants to local elected bodies like village panchayats, municipal corporations and town panchayats. Source: The Hindu

Tamil Nadu Electricity Regulatory Commission (TNERC) has fixed the average price at which it buys power from various sources at 5 cents per unit for financial year 2017-18. The tariff has been made effective from April 1, 2017. Source: The Hindu

NLC India Limited (NLCIL) will invest in new thermal power projects of 3,440 MW in Neyveli and Thoothukudi in Tamil Nadu. Source: The Hindu

Banwarilal Purohit was sworn-in as the new governor of Tamil Nadu. Source: The Hindu

Telangana

Chinese solar module manufacturer Hareon Solar and Indian renewable energy developer ReNew Power have commissioned a 172 MW solar power plant in Telangana. The energy generated by the facility will be sold under a 25-year power purchase agreement (PPA) to the Northern Power Distribution Company of Telangana. **Source: **PV Magazine

The Telangana government has a draft retail trade policy it will enforce beginning in December. A few facets of the policy include round-the-clock service at retail zones with $15.27 million investment, relaxation of rules on purchasing produce directly from farmers and reimbursement of stamp and transfer duty to mega retail outlets. Source: The Hans

Uttar Pradesh

Indian infrastructure firm Essel Infraprojects (EIL) has commissioned a 50 MW solar project at Jalaun in the state of Uttar Pradesh and a 5 MW plant at Bijapur in Karnataka. The firm is already managing 165 MW of solar projects in India, including another 50 MW project at Jalaun that it completed in January 2016. Source: PV-Tech

The Uttar Pradesh government has announced that it will create a land bank of 5,000 acres across the state for industrial projects. **Source: **Business Standard

West Bengal

The West Bengal government has planned construction of three river bridges, two over the Hooghly River and one over the Ajay River in order to improve connectivity and intrastate trade. Source: Money Control

BEST OF THE REST

Assam

The Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) will set up a research center in Guwahati focused on exploring geospatial technology. The project is expected to help expedite development of Assam by monitoring accurate flood warnings and prevention of soil erosion and landslides. Source: Economic Times

Chhattisgarh

General Electric (GE) completed the first phase of Champa-Kurukshetra HVDC link of 3,000 MW. The link aims to energize demand centers of northern India by enabling states such as Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, and Rajasthan to access power from generation projects coming up in Raigarh, Champa and Raipur generation complex in Chhattisgarh. Source: Economic Times