Big News: Kerala passes its Kerala Lok Ayukta (Amendment) Bill 2022 and its University Laws (Amendment) Bill 2022; Chandigarh unveils its draft Chandigarh Startup Policy 2022; Rajasthan releases its Rajasthan Electric Vehicle Policy 2022; NITI Aayog releases its report on ‘Poshan Abhiyaan’; and more.

Industrial Policy & Business Regulations

Haryana prepares Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) to prevent illegal mining and to deal with the cases related to it. The SOPs aims to guide all stakeholders working with the state government and are divided into four categories as per provisions of the State Rules 2012.

Source: The Tribune; In detail: Press release

Karnataka approves revised draft Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) master plan for Karnataka to help tourism development in coastal Karnataka on the lines of Goa. The new plan is as per the 2019 notification of the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change.

Source: The Hindu; In detail: CMO Twitter, CRZ Notification

Rajasthan approves its draft Rajasthan Dalit and Tribal Enterprise Promotion Scheme 2022. The scheme provides for economic development and self-employment opportunities for the youth of these communities.

Source: News Waali; In detail: Press release (in Hindi)

Goa receives approval on its Coastal Zone Management Plan. The plan, which is a statutory document under the Coastal Regulation Zone Notification of 2011, was initially meant to have been ready by 2015 prompting the National Green Tribunal to ban the state from issuing fresh coastal clearances until the plan is finalized.

Source: MSN; In detail: CRZ Notification

Kerala passes the Kerala Lok Ayukta (Amendment) Bill 2022, which seeks to make the executive the appellate authority over reports by the anti-corruption watchdog.

Source: Business Standard; In detail: Lok Ayukta (Amendment) Bill

Kerala passes the University Laws (Amendment) Bill 2022, which would result in curtailing the powers of the Governor as Chancellor of state universities.

Source: Indian Express; In detail: University Laws (Amendment) Bill 2022

Chandigarh unveils its draft Chandigarh Startup Policy 2022. The policy includes setting up a dedicated startup fund for the city ecosystem. The primary objective of the fund would be to promote incubation centres, seed and scale-up funding for startups and other fiscal support to such units.

Source: The Tribune; In detail: Draft Startup Policy

Land Acquisition & Labor Regulations

Nothing critical to report this week

Infrastructure & Governance

Haryana approves the incorporation of the ‘Haryana Airports Development Corporation Limited’ to ensure smooth execution of various development works related to airports in the state. The state airport development corporation will carry out work related to the ‘Integrated Manufacturing Clusters’ under the central government’s Amritsar-Kolkata industrial corridor project.

Source: The Print; In detail: Press release

Haryana announces setting up of ‘Quality Control Authority’ (QCA) to ensure transparency and fix accountability in government projects.

Source: Hindustan Times; In detail: CMO Twitter

Himachal Pradesh sets up heliports to boost tourism in unexplored areas. The state aims to develop a network of heliports to improve air connectivity in areas that have not been explored by tourists.

Source: Economic Times; In detail: Press release

Climate Change

Nothing critical to report this week

Oil & Gas

Nothing Critical to report this week

Water & Sanitation

Kerala launches its ‘Kerala Water Resources Information System’ (K-WRIS). K-WRIS is a single authoritative system where all water-related data get integrated on a single platform, which can then be accessed by policy makers and stakeholders.

Source: The Hindu; In detail: WRIS Portal

Power & Renewable Energy

Rajasthan releases its Rajasthan Electric Vehicle Policy 2022 to encourage the purchase of electric vehicles in the state. The policy will be for a period of five years from September 1, 2022 and a fund of $5 million has been sanctioned for contribution on purchase of electric vehicles.

Source: Economic Times; In detail: Rajasthan Electric Vehicle Policy, 2022

Assam Energy Development Agency (AEDA) launches an online, open source, interactive geo-spatial platform for the state called ‘Energy Access Explorer’ (EAE). EAE will help visualize the extent of energy access within Assam’s health, education, and livelihood infrastructures to make integrated and impactful decisions to expand energy access in the state.

Source: Economic Times; In detail: Press Release

Health

Nothing Critical to report this week

Any Other

Karnataka launches a global startup challenge ‘VentuRISE’ to recognize, reward, and support growth stage startups in manufacturing and sustainability-related sectors. The challenge will provide budding entrepreneurs across the globe a platform to showcase their innovative products/solutions and connect with potential investors.

Source: Media Infoline; In detail: Invest Karnataka

Center – State Relations

Department of Pharmaceuticals grants ‘in-principle’ approval for setting up three bulk drug parks in Himachal Pradesh, Gujarat and Andhra Pradesh under the ‘Scheme for Promotion of Bulk Drug Parks’. The scheme aims to support the bulk drugs manufacturing in the country.

Source: Swarajya; In detail: Press release, Scheme Guidelines, Gazette Notification

Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh and Gujarat ranks as best performing states among larger states in terms of the overall implementation of ‘Poshan Abhiyaan’, according to a NITI Aayog report. Sikkim ranks as best performer among small states.

Source: Financial Express; In detail: Poshan Abhiyaan Report

NITI Aayog declares Haridwar (Uttarakhand) as India’s best aspirational district and provides an additional allocation of INR 3 Crores to the district.

Source: Jagran Josh; In detail: Niti Aayog’s Aspirational Districts Programme


Update Section

July 13, 2022

Chhattisgarh approves its Chhattisgarh State Electric Vehicle (EV) Policy 2022, which aims to develop the state as an EV manufacturing hub, protect the environment, and create employment opportunities. The policy provisions for road tax and registration fee waivers to encourage the use of EVs.

Source: Economic Times; In detail: Policy Details