States Weekly: February 7, 2024

Big News: Union Ministry of Finance releases the Interim Budget 2024-25; Kerala and Gujarat release their respective State Budgets2024-25; Delhi releases the Delhi Solar Policy 2024; Tamil Nadu forms the Tamil Nadu Green Energy Corporation Limited (TNGECL); and more.

Health 

Haryana announces a monthly disability pension of $36.1 for thalassemia and hemophilia patients with an annual family income of up to $3,613. The decision is expected to benefit 2,083 patients. Source: Economic Times

Climate Change & Energy

Delhi releases the Delhi Solar Policy 2024 with an outlay of $68.66 million for implementation. As per the policy, consumers installing rooftop solar power panels will be provided generation-based incentives. Source: The Hindu; In detail: Delhi Solar Policy 2024 (Launch video)

Tamil Nadu forms the Tamil Nadu Green Energy Corporation Limited (TNGECL) by merging the renewable energy wing of the Tamil Nadu Generation and Distribution Corporation (TANGEDCO) with the Tamil Nadu Energy Development Agency (TEDA). TNGECL has been formed with the aim to fast track the state’s energy transition plans and help mobilize funds for green projects. Source: The Hindu; In detail: Government Order

Puducherry releases the Puducherry Motor Vehicle Scrapping Policy 2024, aimed at phasing out old and condemned vehicles in the union territory. The policy is aimed at reducing vehicular pollution and phase out unfit and end-of-life (ELV) vehicles by promoting the recycling of vehicle scrap in an eco-friendly manner. Source: The Hindu; Indetail: Puducherry Motor Vehicle Scrapping Policy 2024

Finance

Nothing critical to report this week.

Industrial Policy & Business Regulations  

Arunachal Pradesh approves Arunachal Pradesh Logistics Policy, aimed to align the state policy with the PM Gati Shakti framework. The policy aims to establish an integrated, multi-modal, logistics ecosystem to foster development in the state by 2047. Source: Construction week

Assam approves the Assam Tourism (Development and Registration) Bill, 2024 to revitalise and promote the tourism industry of the state. The bill is aimed at promoting economic growth in the state through the development of tourism, infrastructure, and providing for responsible and sustainable development. Source: Assam Tribune; In detail: Assam Tourism (Development and Registration) Bill, 2024

Goa releases the Goa Investment Development Corporation Regulations 2023 aimed at attracting more investments in the industrial sector in the state by easing the land acquisition process. Source: Outlook; In detail: Goa Industrial Development Corporation (Allotment, Transfer and Sub-Lease) Regulations, 2023

Meghalaya amends the Meghalaya Telecom Infrastructure Policy (MTIP) to bring the state policy in line with the national policy. Source: Hub Network; In detail: Draft - Meghalaya Telecom Infrastructure (Amendment) Policy, 2023

Land Acquisition & Labor Regulations  

Haryana regularises 264 unauthorised colonies across 17 districts. 91 regularised colonies are under the town and country planning department and 173 colonies fall under the jurisdiction of urban local department. The state government has regularised 2,101 unauthorised colonies in its current tenure. Source: Hindustan Times; In detail: List of regularized colonies

Infrastructure & Governance

Kerala releases the Kerala State Budget2024-25. As per the budget, the government aims to attract $36.13 billion worth of investment in the next three years. Source: Indian Express; In detail: Kerala Budget 2024-25

Gujarat presents the GujaratState Budget2024-25 with a surplus of $40 billion. The budget focuses on improving nutrition, health and education. The budget also upgrades seven municipalities – Navsari, Gandhidham, Morbi, Vapi, Anand, Mehsana, and Surendranagar-Wadhwan – into municipal corporations. Source: Indian Express; In detail: Gujarat Budget 2024-25

Maharashtra issues a Government Resolution asking government employees who joined after November 1, 2005 to submit requests to avail benefits of the Old Pension Scheme (OPS) within six months. The state cabinet had earlier cleared the proposal to give specific employees the option of choosing OPS instead of the National Pension Scheme. Source: Free Press Journal; In detail: Government Resolution (in Marathi)

Maharashtra sanctions a complete academic fee-waiver for girls who come from families with a total annual income for $9,637 or less. Source: Indian Express

Rajasthan releases the Rajasthan Excise and Temperance Policy2024-25. As per the policy, there will be no increase in excise duty or licence fee, however, the dealers planning to renew their licences will have to pay a 10 percent higher guarantee amount. Source: Times of India; In detail: Rajasthan Excise and Temperance Policy 2024-25 (in Hindi)

Chhattisgarh notifies the “Mahtari Vandan Scheme” under which eligible women will receive $12.04 per month. The scheme will be implemented from March 1, 2024. Source: The Week; In detail: Cabinet decisions

Jharkhand announces Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) legislature party leader Champai Soren as the new chief minister of the state. The JMM-led coalition government will seek a vote of confidence on February 5. Source: State Times; In detail: Press release

Center – State Relations 

Union Ministry of Finance releases the Interim Budget 2024-25 with an estimated expenditure outlay of $554 billion. As per the budget, the government will continue the existing tax rates, covering direct, indirect taxes, and export duties. The government also plans on increasing the capital expenditure outlay by 11 percent to $133.7 billion. Source: The Hindu Business Line; In detail: Budget Speech

National Thermal Power Corporation Green Energy Limited (NGEL) and Maharashtra sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to develop Green Hydrogen and derivatives (Green Ammonia, Green Methanol) of up to 1 million tonnes capacity per annum. Source: Free Press Journal; In detail: Press release

Any Other

Karnataka launches the Karnataka Animation, Visual effects, Gaming, Comics- Etended Reality (AVGC-XR) Policy 3.0 Source: Deccan Herald; In detail: AVGC-XR Policy 3.0

Himachal Pradesh releases the Himachal Pradesh Digital Media Policy 2024, aiming to regulate and categorize news channels, websites, and social media influencers in the state. Source: The News Himachal; In detail: Himachal Pradesh Digital Media Policy 2024