States Update: November 6, 2019

Big News

Delhi faces a public health emergency as air quality worsens; new textile policy in Karnataka; Telangana chief minister announces privatization of bus routes amid strike; Chhattisgarh approves New Industrial Policy; West Bengal bans gutka & pan masala for 1 year; Jharkhand state election dates announced- results on December 23; the state of Jammu and Kashmir becomes two union territories; and more.

Center – State relations

The center has announced setting up anti-human trafficking units in all districts with the help of Nirbhaya Fund dedicated to support initiatives that protect the safety of women in India. Source: All India Radio In detail: Press Release

Chancellor Angela Merkel of Germany pledged to invest $1.11 billion over the next five years in environmentally-friendly urban mobility in India. Source: New Indian Express

Andhra Pradesh

Nothing critical to report this week.

Bihar

Nothing critical to report this week.

New Delhi

The Environment Pollution (Prevention and Control) Authority declared a public health emergency in Delhi as the pollution levels in the region entered the severe plus category. Source: India Today In detail: Press Release

Gujarat

Nothing critical to report this week.

Haryana

Nothing critical to report this week.

Karnataka

Karnataka now has an integrated emergency helpline number, 112, which will allow residents of the state to call for police, fire and emergency, and ambulance services. Source: The News Minute

The state cabinet approved a new textile policy for 2019-2024 with a wage subsidy of $14.12 to $21.18 per employee for units employing more than 200 people. Companies that set up units in the six backward districts which falls under Zone 1, will be given higher incentives and subsidies. Source: Times of India In Detail: New Textile and Garment Policy 2019-24

Madhya Pradesh

Nothing critical to report this week.

Maharashtra

Nothing critical to report this week.

Rajasthan

The state government’s ruling that private vehicles are no longer exempt from the toll tax on state highways, will now come into effect. Source: Economic Times

Tamil Nadu

Nothing critical to report this week.

Telangana

As 50,000 public transportation workers continue to strike in Telangana, Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao announced that 50 percent of the state’s bus routes will be privatized and gave a three-day deadline for protesting Telangana State Road Transport Corporation employees to return to work. Source: Live Mint

Telangana government has increased the inter-caste marriage incentive from $710 to $3,550 in an attempt to combat the evil of casteism in the society. Source: Times of India

Uttar Pradesh

Nothing critical to report this week.

West Bengal

The West Bengal government has imposed a complete one year ban on the manufacture, storage, distribution, and sale of gutka and pan masala in the state starting November 7, 2019. Source: Jagran Josh

In order to revive the tea industry and increase employment opportunities, the West Bengal cabinet has decided that 15 percent of the land of a tea garden can be used for construction works. Source: Money Control

Best of the Rest

Chhattisgarh

The Chhattisgarh government has announced the New Industrial Policy 2019-2024, with a focus on non-core sectors such as aerospace engineering, aircraft repair, food processing and micro, small, and medium enterprises. Source: Business Today

Himachal Pradesh

The state government of Himachal Pradesh will hold Rising Himachal Global Investors’ Meet 2019 from November 7-8, 2019 to showcase investment opportunities and boost manufacturing and employment in the state. Source: Business Standard In Detail: Press Release

Jharkhand

Voting for the 81 constituencies in Jharkhand Legislative Assembly will be held in five phases, and votes will be counted on December 23, 2019. Source: First Post In detail: Election Commission Press Release

Jammu and Kashmir

President Ram Nath Kovind took control of the administration of the two new Union territories, Jammu and Kashmir, and Ladakh. Source: Times of India

The central government has bestowed on itself the authority to declare any area in the newly-created Union Territories of Jammu and Kashmir, and Ladakh as “disturbed” under the controversial Armed Forces (Jammu and Kashmir) Special Powers Act, 1990, which gives sweeping powers to security forces to act against any suspect. Source: Business Standard

Manipur

People continue to fill the streets of Imphal, voicing their apprehension over the Naga peace talks that supposedly reached a conclusion on Thursday. Source: News 18

Meghalaya

The Meghalaya state cabinet approved the Amended Meghalaya Residents Safety and Security Bill (MRRSA) 2019, which will create new guidelines for those visiting the state for tourism, work, study or business in an attempt to cut down on illegal immigration. Source: Economic Times

Odisha

The Odisha government has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Abdul Latif Jameel Poverty Action Lab, an organization co-founded by Nobel laureates Abhijit Banerjee and Esther Duflo, to maximize the impact of anti-poverty programs. Source: The Hindu

Punjab

Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh announced that the state government has launched the first of its kind Punjab “job helpline” number for job seekers. Source: India Today

In Detail: