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Bihar meets universal electricity access target ahead of December 31 deadline set by the center; the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs announces that 28 states and union territories have adopted the Real Estate (Regulation and Development) Act; Odisha announces that Odia citizens living outside the state, particularly migrant workers, are eligible for the state’s health insurance scheme; the cabinet approved the establishment of various Indian Institutes of Skills at locations across the country; and more

Center – State relations

The cabinet approved the establishment of various Indian Institutes of Skills (IIS) at locations across the country. The IISs will be set up as public private partnerships, and will help augment the global competitiveness of key sectors of Indian economy by providing high quality skill training, applied research education, and a direct and meaningful connection with industry. Source: The Hindu Business Line In detail: Press Release

The Housing and Urban Affairs Ministry announced that 28 states and union territories have so far adopted the Real Estate (Regulation and Development) Act, 2016, and have established real estate appellate tribunals under the legislation. Source: Economic Times In detail: The Real Estate (Regulation and Development) Act

Andhra Pradesh

Several companies signed memoranda of understanding (MOUs) with the Andhra Pradesh government at the Vizag Fintech Festival to launch operations in the State. HDFC Bank announced a partnership with Andhra Pradesh Electronics Information Technology Agency to promote and nurture start-ups. Other companies and foundations such as Cardlytics (Asia operations), DXC Tech, Deloitte, Fintech Association of Hong Kong, the Wadhwani Foundation, the Udhyam Foundation, Bizoforce, and Destination Jobs also signed MOUs with the Andhra Pradesh government and its agencies. Source: The Hindu Business Line In detail: Vizag Fintech Festival Website

Bihar

All households in the state of Bihar have been provided with electricity connections, irrespective of their location, two months ahead of the December 31 deadline for universal household electrification under the Pradhan Mantri Sahaj Bijli Har Ghar Yojana, or Saubhagya scheme. Power Minister R.K. Singh, a lawmaker from Arrah, Bihar, has been credited for this exercise. Source: Business Today In detail: Saubhagya Scheme website

New Delhi

Delhi Power Minister Satyendar Jain launched the second phase of the BSES Solar City Initiative — Solarise Shakur Basti — which seeks to provide installations at a single point for an entire apartment complex. BSES Rajdhani Power Ltd said it had set a target of 5 megawatts (MW) peak of rooftop net metering from the area by the financial year 2019-2020. Source: The Hindu Business Line

Lieutenant Governor Anil Baijal has invoked the Essential Services Maintenance Act to prohibit contractual workers of Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC) from striking. The contractual employees, which include drivers and conductors, began their strike over various demands, particularly restoration of wages that were reduced by DTC after a court order. Source: Times of India In detail: Essential Services Maintenance Act

New Delhi recorded its worst air quality of the fall season. The overall Air Quality Index of the national capital was recorded at 381, a few points below severe pollution level, according to data by the Central Pollution Control Board. Source: Economic Times In detail: Air Quality Index – Central Pollution Control Board

The Delhi government approved all six corridors of the 65-mile Phase IV project of Delhi Metro. The government had earlier found three out of the six proposed corridors financially unviable. Source: Economic Times

The Delhi Development Authority (DDA) has notified regulations for the operationalization of the land pooling policy. According to the regulations, a minimum 70 percent of developable area in a ‘sector’ must be pooled for development under the policy, and the pooled land parcels must be contiguous and free of encumbrances. Source: Times of India In detail: DDA Land Pooling Regulations

Gujarat

The Gujarat government has repealed the requirement for companies to obtain permits for the purchase, storage and sale of petrol and diesel in the state. Source: Business Standard

Gujarat chief minister Vijay Rupani launched the Ghogha-Dahej Ro-Pax ferry service, which will connect Saurashtra to South Gujarat, and will carry passengers and vehicles across the Gulf of Khambhat. Source: Times Now

Haryana

Employees of Haryana Roadways decided to extend their strike until October 29 as a fresh round of talks between them and the government failed to make any headway. The employees are on strike since October 16 against the government’s decision to hire 700 buses from private owners. Source: NDTV

The Haryana regional office of the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development has signed an MOU with Delhi-based Ayurvet Research Foundation to facilitate various collaborative initiatives for the integrated agricultural and rural development of the state. Source: The Tribune In detail: Press Release

The Haryana Renewable Energy Development Agency has issued its guidelines for megawatt -scale ground-mounted and rooftop projects under the Haryana Solar Power Policy, 2016. Source: Mercom In detail: Guideline for MW scale

Karnataka

Karnataka chief minister H.D. Kumaraswamy approved a proposal for Karnataka Power Corporation Limited to set up a 15 MW waste-to-energy plant in the state, making it the first government-owned entity to set up such a plant in the state. Source: Deccan Herald

Madhya Pradesh

Nothing critical to report this week

Maharashtra

The Maharashtra government’s department of industry signed an MOU with online retail giant Amazon to set a separate web portal for the sale of products by small and micro entrepreneurs in the state. Source: First Post

Rajasthan

The Rajasthan government has introduced e-governance initiatives at the city level to ensure digitization at the last-mile level in an attempt to ensure electronic delivery of high volume resident-centric services at the district level. Source: Financial Express

Tamil Nadu

Nothing critical to report this week

Telangana

The government of Telangana signed a MOU with representatives of the Estonian government to collaborate in the areas of digital development and related policies. Source: New Indian Express

Uttar Pradesh

The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs approved a new, 149-mile railway line between Bahraich and Khalilabad in Uttar Pradesh with an estimated project cost of $675.7 million. The new line is expected to be completed by 2024-25. Source: The Hindu In detail: Press Release

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has offered a $200 million loan to Energy Efficiency Services Limited (EESL) to implement various demand-side energy efficiency projects in India, including expanding an ADB-assisted pilot project in a village in Varanasi district where as many as 5,000 households have received smart meters with satellite communication technology installed by EESL. Source: Economic Times In detail: Project Details

West Bengal

Nothing critical to report this week

Best of the Rest

Arunachal Pradesh

The Arunachal Pradesh government has signed an MOU with the British Council to strengthen educational and cultural cooperation, in order to support the knowledge ambitions and economic growth of the state. The agreement aims to enhance the opportunities for the youth of Arunachal Pradesh and connect them to international expertise and ideas. Source: Jagran Josh

Himachal Pradesh

The Himachal Pradesh cabinet announced a decision to provide a “Kaushal Vikas Allowance” for employees with a monthly salary of $205 per month. The scheme would offer an allowance of $13.60 per month to newly-employed industrial workers for a maximum period of two years, and an allowance of $20 per month to young citizens with physical disabilities in the state. Source: Daily Pioneer

The Himachal Pradesh cabinet has decided to provide a 25 percent subsidy to support the establishment of private hospitals in rural areas in the state. Source: Economic Times

Jharkhand

The Ministry of Health & Family Welfare has awarded NBCC India, a state-owned company, with a project to plan, design, and construct the proposed All India Institute of Medical Sciences in Deoghar, Jharkhand. The project is valued at $123.4 million. Source: Economic Times

Kerala

Khan Academy of India signed an MOU with the Kerala government to bring its online learning platform to 4,775 government and government-aided schools, reaching over two million students in science and maths classes from Grade 8 to Grade 12 over a five-year period. Source: The Hindu Business Line

Manipur

Manipur chief minister N. Biren Singh launched the Indo-German financial co-operation project on community based sustainable forest management for water resources conservation in Manipur. An agreement on the project was signed by KfW Bank and the Ministry of Finance in 2017. Source: Indian Express

Odisha

The Odisha government approved four proposals worth $46.5 million at the State-Level Single Window Clearance Authority meeting. These proposals will create employment opportunities for 1,354 people according to the government. Source: Business Standard

The Odisha government approved a proposal by to establish an aluminum flat-rolled product unit of 0.375 metric tons per year by Hindalco Industries Ltd worth $684 million. Source: Economic Times

The Odisha government announced that Odia citizens living outside the state, particularly migrant workers, are now eligible for the state’s health insurance scheme, Biju Swasthya Kalyan Yojana. Source: Indian Express

Punjab

Renewable energy generator ReNew Power announced it has joined hands with industry chamber Confederation of Indian Industries to provide 500 farmers in Ludhiana, Punjab with climate-smart technological solutions for farm residue management that will promote alternative stubble management in order to reduce air pollution. Source: Economic Times In detail: Press Release