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States Weekly: December 25, 2024

Big News: Meghalaya introduces the Meghalaya Power Policy, 2024; Karnataka approves the Karnataka Motor Vehicles Taxation (Second Amendment) Bill, 2024, and the Karnataka Goods and Services Tax (Second Amendment) Bill, 2024; Maharashtra passes the Maharashtra Value Added Tax Act 2002 (Amendment) Bill, 2024; and more.

Health

Nothing critical to report this week.

Climate Change & Energy

Meghalaya introduces the Meghalaya Power Policy, 2024. The policy includes forming a state power trading company to manage power purchase agreements (PPAs), and aims to promote renewable energy development, improve the operational efficiency of existing power plants, build and maintain efficient transmission system, and enhance the distribution system while reducing system losses and improving public access to services like billing and complaint resolution. Source: Energetica; In detail: Meghalaya Power Policy, 2024

Himachal Pradesh Electricity Regulatory Commission (HPERC) releases the HPERC (Terms and Conditions for Green Energy Open Access and Banking) Regulations, 2024, streamlining renewable energy integration, establishing clear procedures, charges, and curtailment priorities to promote sustainable energy use across the State. Source: Energetica; In detail: HPERC (Terms and Conditions for Green Energy Open Access and Banking) Regulations, 2024

Tamil Nadu Electricity Regulatory Commission (TNERC) issues an order setting the additional surcharge for open access consumers at ~$0.0063/kWh, effective from December 12, 2024, until March 31, 2025. Source: Mercom; In detail: TNERC Order

Delhi announces a complete ban on the production, storage, sale, and use of firecrackers in the Delhi-NCR region ahead of Christmas and New Year’s Eve. Source: India Today; In detail: Government Order

Finance

Nothing critical to report this week.

Industrial Policy & Business Regulations 

Nothing critical to report this week.

Land Acquisition &Labor Regulations 

Tamil Nadu releases the draft Sustainable Land Use Policy of Tamil Nadu (SLUP) aiming to address multi-sectoral challenges in planning land use and new problems due to changing economic structure and environmental exigencies. Source: New Indian Express; In detail: Press release

Telangana passes the Telangana “Bhu Bharati” (Record of Rights in Land) Bill, 2024 to ease the maintenance of land records, and expedite the adjudication of land related disputes in the state. Source: The Hindu

Himachal Pradesh passed the Himachal Pradesh Ceiling on Land Holdings (Amendment), Bill 2024 to allow religious, charitable and spiritual organisations to transfer land for religious, spiritual or charitable purposes, subject to the maximum limit of thirty acres. Source: Hindustan Times; In detail: Himachal Pradesh Ceiling on Land Holdings (Amendment) Bill, 2024

Infrastructure & Governance

Karnataka approves the Karnataka Motor Vehicles Taxation (Second Amendment) Bill, 2024, introducing an additional cess of $ 5.8 for two-wheelers and $ 11.8 for cars on vehicle registrations. Source: Hindustan Times; In detail: Karnataka Motor Vehicles Taxation (Second Amendment) Bill, 2024

Uttar Pradesh presents a Supplementary Budget of $2.1 billion for the financial year 2024-25. This marks the second Supplementary Budget for the financial year, increasing the total budget size of the state to $90 billion. Source: Swarajya; In detail: Second Supplementary Budget (2024-25)

Karnataka approves the Karnataka Goods and Services Tax (Second Amendment) Bill, 2024 aiming to simplify the tax collection process by clearing confusion between the taxpayers and the tax collectors. Source: TeamLease RegTech; In detail: Karnataka Goods and Services Tax (Second Amendment) Bill, 2024

Madhya Pradesh passes the Madhya Pradesh Jan Vishwas (Amendment of Provisions) Bill, 2024 becoming the first state to emulate the central government’s Jan Vishwas Act, 2023. The bill aims to make life and business easier for the public and entrepreneurs by simplifying legal processes, ensuring transparency, and promoting good governance. Source: NDTV; In detail: Madhya Pradesh Jan Vishwas (Amendment of Provisions) Bill, 2024

Maharashtra passes the Maharashtra Value Added Tax Act 2002 (Amendment) Bill, 2024. The bill aims to provide relief to the farmers from the goods and services (GST) tax which is currently imposed on essential commodities, fertilisers, seeds, and medicines which are related to the agriculture sector. Source: NDTV; In detail: Maharashtra Value Added Tax (Amendment and Validation) Act, 2024

Telangana announces the Telangana Tourism Policy 2025-2030. The policy aims to attract investors, through various incentives depending on size of projects under public-private partnership, joint venture, or equity model. Source: Times of India

West Bengal launches the “Banglar Bari” (Housing for All) Scheme to provide financial assistance to families in rural areas to build houses. Under the scheme each household would get $1,412.5 in two instalments of $706 each to build a house in rural areas. Source: Hindustan Times; In detail: Banglar Bari/Housing for All

Water & Sanitation

Karnataka approves the Karnataka Groundwater (Regulation and Control of Development and Management) (Amendment) Bill aiming to prevent open borewell-related accidents and deaths. Source: Indian Express; In detail: Karnataka Groundwater (Regulation and Control of Development and Management) (Amendment) Bill

Center – State Relations

Union Ministry for Road Transport and Highways approves $46.8 million for 19 road development projects in Arunachal Pradesh under the Central Road and Infrastructure Fund (CRIF) for 2024-25. CRIF aims to improve last-mile connectivity in the northeastern state’s border areas. Source: Financial Express; In detail: Press release

Any Other

Nothing critical to report this week.