States Weekly: February 28, 2024

Big News: Haryana releases the Haryana Green Hydrogen Draft Policy 2024; Jammu and Kashmir approves the Jammu and Kashmir Startup Policy 2024-27;Maharashtra passes 10 percent quota in government jobs and educational institutes for the Maratha community; Assam repeals the Assam Muslim Marriage and Divorce Registration Act, 1935; Gujarat announces green energy open access regulations; Tripura announces rooftop solar net metering regulations; and more.

Health 

Bihar announces health insurance of $6,031 each for 5.8 million poor families that are covered under the Food Security Act. The scheme will be effective from the next financial year. Source: Indian Express; In detail: Press release

Karnataka passes the Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Bill, 2024 increasing the age limit of sale of cigarettes from 18 years to 21 years. Source: Business Standard; In detail: Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products (Prohibition of Advertisement and regulation of Trade and Commerce, Production, Supply and Distribution) (Karnataka Amendment) Act, 2024

Climate Change & Energy

Gujarat Electricity Regulatory Commission (GERC) issues the Gujarat Electricity Regulatory Commission (Terms and Conditions for Green Energy Open Access) Regulations, 2024, to include rules for banking and other open access charges applicable for green energy open access consumers. Source: Mercom; In detail: GERC (Terms and Conditions for Green Energy Open Access) Regulations, 2024

Haryana releases the Haryana Green Hydrogen Draft Policy 2024. The policy includes the development of educational institutes, training, and fiscal incentives to increase women participation in the sector. Source: Saur Energy; In detail: Draft Haryana Green Hydrogen Policy -2024

Goa announces the setting up of a blended finance facility in partnership with the World Bank that will enable the state to access and mobilise concessional finance to implement low-carbon and climate-resilient investments. Source: Financial Express; In detail: Press release

Tripura Electricity Regulatory Commission (TERC) releases the Tripura Electricity Regulatory Commission (The Grid Interactive Solar Rooftop Photovoltaic Systems under Net/Gross Metering) Regulation, 2024 aimed at fostering renewable energy adoption and addressing various stakeholder concerns. Source: Solar Quarter; In detail: TERC (The Grid Interactive Solar Rooftop Photovoltaic System under Gross/Net Metering) Regulation, 2024

Finance

Haryana releases the State Budget 2024-25 with an outlay of $22.8 billion, an increase of over 11 percent from the previous year. Source: Times of India; In detail: Haryana Budget

Madhya Pradesh presents the Madhya Pradesh state interim budget (vote-on-account)2024-25 with an outlay of $17.5 billion. Source: Deccan Herald; In detail: Madhya Pradesh vote on account 2024-25

Telangana releases the Telangana state interim budget (vote-on-account)2024-25, with an outlay of $33.2 billion. Source: Economic Times; In detail: Budget Speech 2024-25

Meghalaya announces the State Budget 2024-25 with an outlay of $3.26 billion, and a $244.7 million deficit. Source: Syllad; In detail: Budget at a glance

Puducherry releases the Puducherry state interim budget (vote-on-account)2024-25 with an outlay of $559.02 million. Source: The Hindu

Karnataka passes the “Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP)” Amendment Bill 2024 bill aiming to reduce the penalty on property tax in Bengaluru city limits by 50 percent. Source: Times of India; In detail: Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (Amendment) Act, 2024

Industrial Policy & Business Regulations  

Jammu and Kashmir approves the Jammu and Kashmir Startup Policy 2024-27 with an aim to set up 2,000 startups by 2027 in the union territory. The policy provides for entrepreneurship facilities to students, women, and support to entrepreneurs through government, private and high net worth individuals for setting up startups.

Source: Economic Times; In detail: Start-up Policy 2024-27

Odisha approves a proposal for amending the Odisha Semiconductor Manufacturing and Fabless Policy 2023. The amendment aims to attract investors for setting up of manufacturing units of semiconductors, electronic chips and fabless design of electronics products in the state. Source: Prameya News

Land Acquisition & Labor Regulations  

Karnataka releases the Registration (Karnataka Amendment) Bill2024 aimed at simplifying the registration of documents such as mortgage deeds and pledge deeds without the physical presence of both parties at sub-registrar offices. The bill will replace the present system of paper or handwritten “khata” with electronic documents. Source: Deccan Herald; In detail: Registration (Karnataka Amendment) Act, 2024

Karnataka passes the Karnataka Town and Country Planning (Amendment) Act, 2024 allowing developers to pay a premium to construct additional floors in buildings over and above what is permissible. Source: Deccan Herald; In detail: Karnataka Town and Country Planning (Amendment) Act, 2024

Infrastructure & Governance 

Maharashtra passes the Maharashtra State Reservation for Socially and Educationally Backward Classes Act, 2024 that proposes 10 percent quota in education and jobs for Marathas in education and government jobs in the state. Source: Mint; In detail: Maharashtra State Reservation for Socially and Educationally Backward Classes Act, 2024

Tamil Nadu releases the Tamil Nadu State Policy for Women 2024, focusing on women's welfare, employment, and political participation. The policy aims to empower women by recognizing their talents, fostering a safe environment, and enhancing their social status. Source: Outlook India; In detail: Press release, Draft Tamil Nadu State New Policy for Women 2021

Assam repeals the Assam Muslim Marriage and Divorce Registration Act, 1935. With this, all matters related to Muslim marriages and divorces would now fall under the Special Marriages Act. The move is aimed in the direction of the state announcing a Uniform Civil Code. Source: India Today

Odisha announces the “Krushak” Assistance for Livelihood and Income Augmentation (KALIA) scheme for farmers to overcome distress, by three more years with a proposed expenditure of $727.3 million. Source: Hindustan Times; In detail: KALIA Scheme

Chandigarh approves the Chandigarh Excise Policy2024-2025. The union territory has introduced major relaxations in terms of quotas, duties, and fees. Source: Times of India; In detail: Chandigarh Excise Policy 2024-25

Water & Sanitation

Odisha notifies the Odisha Inclusive Urban Sanitation Policy 2024 to promote inclusive, equitable, safe and sustainable sanitation services for citizens in the state. The policy is aimed at integrating the sanitation value chain with modern concepts of circular economy, community partnership, disaster resilience and urban-rural convergence among others. Source: The Statesman; In detail: Odisha Inclusive Urban Sanitation Policy 2024

Center – State Relations 

Solar Energy Corporation of India Limited (SECI) commissions India's largest Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) in Chhattisgarh. The project has an installed capacity of 152.325 megawatt per hour (MWh) and dispatchable capacity of 100 MW AC (155.02 MWp DC) Solar Photovoltaic (PV) plant with 40 megawatts (MW) / 120MWh BESS. Source: PSU Watch; In detail: Press release

Any Other

Asian Development Bank (ADB) sanctions a $23 million loan aimed at advancing fintech education, research, and innovation within the Gujarat International Finance Tec-City (GIFT). Source: Free Press Journal; In detail: Press release