Big News: Gujarat passes its Gujarat Electricity Industry (Reorganization and Regulation) (Amendment) Bill 2022; Rajasthan passes its Rajasthan Goods and Services Tax (Amendment) Bill 2022; Gujarat receives a loan for spending on healthcare services by the World Bank; Himachal Pradesh approves its Early Childhood Care and Education Tutor Scheme 2022; and more.

Industrial Policy & Business Regulations

Gujarat passes its Gujarat Electricity Industry (Reorganization and Regulation) (Amendment) Bill 2022. The bill aims to promote ease of doing business by decriminalising some acts of non-compliance by industries.

Source: Indian Express; In detail: Minister of Energy’s Twitter

Rajasthan passes its Rajasthan Goods and Services Tax (Amendment) Bill 2022. The bill proposes that the registration of companies would not be cancelled even if they fail to file the return for six months and includes the system of issuing credit notes.

Source: Economic Times; In detail: Bill Details

Odisha approves proposal to bring lime stone under the purview of Long-Term Linkage (LTL) policy. Going forward, the industries will be getting their lime stone supply through Odisha Mining Corporation Limited (OMC).

Source: Business Standard; In detail: IPR Odisha Twitter (Cabinet decisions)

Land Acquisition & Labor Regulations

Nothing critical to report this week

Infrastructure & Governance

Punjab receives a loan of $150 million to help in managing financial resources and ensure accessible public service from the World Bank. The loan will support the state in strengthening public service infrastructure and its institutional capacities.

Source: Livemint; In detail: World Bank Press Release

Climate Change

Nothing critical to report this week

Oil & Gas

Nothing Critical to report this week

Water & Sanitation

Nothing Critical to report this week

Power & Renewable Energy

Union Cabinet amends its $9.35 million incentive scheme for semiconductors and display manufacturing units, offering to give 50 per cent of the project cost across all categories of factories as it looks to woo global players to set up a production base in India and to help reduce reliance on imports.

Source: Business Standard; In detail: Press release

Union Cabinet approves a $2.4 billion production linked incentive (PLI) scheme on ‘national programme on high efficiency solar PV modules’ with an aim to attract $11.56 billion investment in the sector. One of the benefits expected from the PLI scheme is that about 65,000 MW per annum manufacturing capacity of fully and partially integrated solar PV modules would be installed.

Source: Economic Times; In detail: Press release

Madhya Pradesh Electricity Regulatory Commission (MPERC) approves a tariff of 0.063/kWh for distribution companies (DISCOMs) to procure power generated from biomass based projects in the state. The Commission has determined the tariff for 25 years with an annual fuel cost escalation of 5%.

Source: Mercom; In detail: Tariff order

Odisha receives approval for installation of the ‘Upper Indravati Pump Storage Project’ under the ‘Odisha Hydro Power Corporation ‘(OHPC). The four specially designed turbines to be installed will each generate 150 MW of electricity and will provide 1,040 million units of electricity annually.

Source: Economic Times; In detail: IPR Odisha Twitter

Health

Gujarat receives a loan of $350 million for spending on healthcare services by the World Bank. The loan assistance will be specially focused on adolescent girls and disease surveillance.

Source: Mint; In detail: Press release

Meghalaya and Tamil Nadu signs an Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to strengthen capacity of medical professionals and facilitate knowledge exchange. This medical partnership aims for collaboration on knowledge sharing, capacity building and improving health service delivery.

Source: The Shillong Times; In detail: Health Minister’s twitter

Any Other

Himachal Pradesh approves its ‘Early Childhood Care and Education Tutor Scheme 2022’ for children aged three to six years in government primary schools, under the National Education Policy 2020. The scheme envisages appropriate care and stimulation of the brain in the early years in order to ensure healthy brain development and growth.

Source: Free Press Journal; In detail: Cabinet decisions

Center – State Relations

Ministry of Food Processing Industries (MoFPI) launches a convergence portal between Agriculture Infrastructure Fund (AIF), Pradhan Mantri Formalization of Micro Food Processing Enterprises (PMFME) scheme, and Pradhan Mantri Kisan Sampada Yojana (PMKSY) to support food processing industries in the country.

Source: News on Air; In detail: Press release

Uttar Pradesh and Karnataka records highest decline in under 5 mortality rate (U5MR), according to the Sample Registration System (SRS) Statistical Report 2020. The report states that the country is witnessing a progressive reduction in infant mortality rate (IMR), U5MR, and neo-mortality rate (NMR) since 2014.

Source: News 18; In detail: Sample Registration System (SRS) Statistical Report 2020

Ministry of Finance launches a ‘Scheme for Special Assistance to States for Capital Investment for 2022-23’. Under this Scheme, financial assistance will be provided to state governments in the form of 50-year interest free loan for capital investment projects.

Source: Pragativadi; In detail: Scheme Details