This edition of States in Motion tracks how Indian states closed 2025 with concrete shifts in law, regulation, and welfare delivery, rather than routine administrative updates. Between 16 and 31 December 2025, governments approved measures such as Uttarakhand’s Jan Vishwas Ordinance to decriminalise minor regulatory offences, Madhya Pradesh’s portal-based overhaul of shop and establishment inspections, and Jharkhand’s dedicated welfare law for platform-based gig workers, signalling a deliberate move towards trust-based compliance and new forms of worker protection. Alongside these, states cleared targeted sectoral frameworks including Assam’s Logistics and Warehousing Policy with explicit cost and capacity benchmarks, Gujarat’s integrated renewable energy ecosystem anchored in green hydrogen and pumped storage, and Bihar’s Saat Nischay-3 roadmap to double per-capita income and generate one crore jobs by 2030.
I. Reform Decisions :
A. Uttarakhand
The Jan Vishwas (Amendment Of Provisions) Ordinance, 2025
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On 11th December, 2025, the Uttarakhand Cabinet approved the Uttarakhand Jan Vishwas Ordinance, 2025, shifting the state’s regulatory approach from criminal prosecution to penalty-based enforcement for minor regulatory and procedural violations.
The ordinance aims to improve ease of doing business, reduce judicial and prison burden, and promote trust-based governance, while retaining criminal provisions for serious offences.
Scope - In the first phase, seven state Acts have been brought under the Jan Vishwas framework, drawn from a wider review of 52 state Acts identified for potential decriminalisation.
Key Features -
Automatic escalation of penalties has been introduced, with a 10% increase in fines every three years, to maintain deterrence without frequent legislative amendments.
A system of adjudicating officers and appellate authorities has been established to resolve violations outside regular courts, ensuring administrative resolution and procedural fairness.
A tiered enforcement mechanism allows warnings or improvement notices for first-time minor violations, followed by graded penalties for repeated non-compliance.
Central Initiative Alignment - The Uttarakhand ordinance aligns with the Jan Vishwas (Amendment of Provisions) Act, 2023, under which the Government of India decriminalised 183 provisions across 42 Central laws, replacing imprisonment for minor offences with civil penalties and compliance-based enforcement.
Similar Initiatives In Other States - Uttarakhand has joined seven states such as Maharashtra, Haryana, Odisha, Madhya Pradesh,Tripura, Gujarat and Chhattisgarh have undertaken similar reforms, strengthening India’s broader compliance-reduction agenda.
Relevance -
Judicial backlog remains a structural constraint as of early 2025, 3.8 lakh cases were pending across Uttarakhand courts. The Uttarakhand High Court recorded a 24% increase in pending cases, highlighting the limited capacity of courts to absorb additional litigation arising from minor regulatory violations. The Ordinance aims to clear court backlogs and restore institutional trust to foster economic growth.
Prior to the Ordinance, Uttarakhand’s (Uttar Pradesh Municipal Corporation Act, 1959) contained sections where a simple failure to submit a notice or a minor deviation in building dimensions could lead to criminal prosecution. By converting these into civil penalties, the ordinance protects the credit identity of Uttarakhand’s 79,000 MSMEs which contribute significantly to the state’s GDP.
Delays in key regulatory approvals such as Consent to Operate (CTO) and environmental clearances are widely acknowledged obstacles for MSMEs and investors in Indian states, including Uttarakhand, where procedural and punitive provisions can cause prolonged litigation or uncertainty. By introducing administrative adjudication mechanisms and graded penalties, the ordinance assists in reducing unnecessary criminal prosecutions that historically contributed tooperational uncertainty for businesses, thereby supporting more efficient regulatory compliance.
B. Madhya Pradesh
Madhya Pradesh Shops And Establishments (Amendment) Act, 2025
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The Government of Madhya Pradesh has notified the Madhya Pradesh Shops and Establishments (Amendment) Act, 2025, effective 15th December, 2025, to modernise labour compliance and inspection system.
The amendment shifts registrations, compliance, and inspections to a fully digital, portal-based framework, reducing manual processes and improving transparency.
Key Features -
A Central Inspection System has been introduced as an online platform for scheduling, allocating, conducting, and monitoring inspections.
A dedicated Labour Department portal will handle all registration, compliance, updates, and closures for establishments.
Digital registration certificates will be auto-generated by the portal upon payment of a fee capped at ₹ 2,500 and must be prominently displayed at the establishment.
Employers must apply for registration within 30 days of applicability and update any changes in establishment details within seven days.
Closure of establishments must be updated within 10 days, after which the portal will automatically cancel the registration.
Inspectors are empowered to conduct inspections only through the Central Inspection System, with prior approval required for establishments employing 20 or fewer workers.
Relevance -
Traditional labour compliance regimes in India have been widely recognised as a source of discretionary enforcement and corruption risk. Complex labour regulation and inspection systems contribute to higher compliance costs and greater regulatory uncertainty, especially for MSMEs, restricting formalisation and job creation. The digital inspection regime in MP replaces subjective, opaque on-site compliance checks with a centralised, scheduled system, reducing discretionary power of individual inspectors.
India’s informal sector accounts for 80% of employment, with MSMEs bearing disproportionate compliance costs relative to their size. The Government of India’s consolidated labour laws emphasised simplified compliance and online, unified filings as a means to increase formal job creation, reduce litigation and enable scalability of small firms.
Reforms in Madhya Pradesh also propose to follow the central mandate and seek to reduce bureaucratic hurdles that would help small establishments allocate resources toward productivity and hiring rather than paperwork, supporting formal employment growth. By shifting registrations and renewals to a digital portal with auto-generated certificates, MP directly mirrors this move toward single-window compliance.
C. Maharashtra
Cabinet Approval To Maharashtra Zilla Parishads And Panchayat Samitis (Amendment) Ordinance, 2025
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The Maharashtra Cabinet has approved the amendment to Section 14(2) of the Maharashtra Zilla Parishads and Panchayat Samitis Act, 1961 on 17th December, 2025 via the Maharashtra Zilla Parishads and Panchayat Samitis (Amendment) Ordinance, 2025.
The Amendment aims to streamline and expedite the conduct of local body elections, specifically Zilla Parishad and Panchayat Samiti polls by eliminating litigation delays stemming from court appeals against nomination rejections.
Key Changes -
The Amendment makes the Returning Officer’s decision on the acceptance or rejection of nomination papers final, removing the earlier provision that allowed candidates to challenge such decisions in district courts.
By deleting the requirement permitting court appeals against nomination rejections, the Amendment seeks to prevent judicial delays that have repeatedly disrupted the timely conduct of Zilla Parishad and Panchayat Samiti elections.
The state Government has been empowered to frame and notify rules governing the election process, enabling greater administrative clarity, procedural uniformity, and efficient conduct of local body elections.
Relevance -
The Amendment responds to demonstrated electoral fragility in Maharashtra’s local body elections. During the November – December 2025 urban local body polls, elections to 288 municipal councils and nagar panchayats were scheduled, but at least 20 local bodies saw postponements due to procedural issues and court cases, including nomination disputes. These incidents show how litigation at the nomination stage can create last minute uncertainty and directly derail election schedules.
With several local body elections scheduled, the Amendment aims to streamline the election cycle. By addressing potential litigation at the nomination stage, the new framework ensures a more predictable and resilient process, helping to finalise the election calendar without further delays.
D. Gujarat
Gujarat Shops And Establishments (Amendment) Ordinance, 2025
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The Gujarat Government has notified the Gujarat Shops and Establishments (Regulation of Employment and Conditions of Service) (Amendment) Ordinance, 2025, effective 16th December, 2025.
The ordinance aims to modernise labour regulations, reduce compliance burden on small establishments, and increase workforce flexibility, while retaining core worker protection safeguards.
Key Features -
The Act will now apply only to establishments employing 20 or more workers, up from the earlier threshold of 10, easing compliance for small businesses.
Maximum daily working hours increased from 9 to 10 hours, while the weekly cap remained unchanged at 48 hours.
The quarterly overtime limit increased from 125 hours to 144 hours, with overtime wages payable at twice the ordinary hourly rate.
Women may work between 9 PM and 6 AM, subject to consent and mandatory safeguards such as safe transport, rest rooms, night crèche, separate toilets, and protection against sexual harassment.
Establishments with fewer than 20 workers are required only to submit online intimation of commencement or closure, instead of full registration.
Similar Initiatives In Other States - States such as Punjab, Maharashtra, Uttarakhand, Bihar Haryana have also implemented similar legislations.
Relevance -
Women’s labour force participation rate (LFPR) in Gujarat stands higher than the national average, i.e., 46% in Gujarat and approximately 47.1% nationally in 2023-24, but remains well below parity and is concentrated in informal or lower-quality jobs. Permitting women to work night shifts with mandatory safeguards is intended to expand safe employment options. These reforms are designed to reduce structural barriers while prioritising safety and dignity at work.
The ordinance substantially raises the quarterly overtime ceiling from 50 hours to 144 hours (an increase of nearly 188%) and enables organised establishments with 20 or more employees to meet peak-season workload pressures through regulated overtime rather than relying on costly short-term or temporary hiring.
E. Karnataka
Karnataka Private Medical Establishments (KPME) Amendment Bill, 2025
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On 19th December, 2025, the Karnataka Legislative Council passed the Karnataka Private Medical Establishments (Amendment) Bill, 2025, to reform the regulatory framework for private healthcare providers in the state.
Objective - The initiative aims to modernise and streamline the regulation of private medical establishments (PMEs) including hospitals, clinics, and diagnostic centres by simplifying registration processes, broadening regulatory coverage (including mental health facilities), and strengthening quality assurance and oversight mechanisms.
Key Features -
New private medical establishments can receive a six month provisional registration without undergoing physical inspection, allowing them to commence operations promptly.
Facilities with recognised quality accreditation (e.g., NABH, NQAS, QCI) or those completing a third party audit can obtain KPME registration (or renewal) within 10 days without inspection.
For the first time, mental health establishments, including psychiatric hospitals and related clinics, are required to register and comply with regulatory standards, bringing them under the KPME framework.
Once permanent registration is granted, it will be valid for five years, with renewal applications required 90 days before expiry.
Authorities are empowered to inspect establishments and mandate corrective actions for violations within prescribed timelines.
Employing unqualified doctors or paramedics can attract up to three years’ imprisonment and a fine of up to ₹ 1 lakh.
New private clinical laboratories are restricted within 200 meters of Government or Government controlled hospitals.
Lists of establishments with expired provisional registrations must be published by the registration authority.
Relevance -
Karnataka has an estimated 5,850 private hospitals, making it one of the top three states in India by private hospital count. This scale makes regulatory oversight critical, as even small compliance gaps affect a large patient population. By introducing time-bound registration, public disclosure of expired registrations, and stronger inspection powers, the KPME Amendment Bill directly targets governance gaps across a very large private healthcare ecosystem.
Under the earlier KPME framework, changes in mandatory fire safety compliance (e.g., expanded NOC requirements) slowed licensing and renewal processes for private hospitals and clinics, illustrating administrative delays that the amendment’s time-bound, provisional registration mechanisms aim to mitigate. Only 315 of 5,850 private hospitals (about 5%) in the state have implemented fire safety measures (fire safety, infrastructure standards, staffing requirements).
The state has seen rapid expansion of nursing homes, clinics, diagnostics, dialysis centres, and specialty units across Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities. Many of these operate on thin margins and outside formal accreditation ecosystems, despite the existing KPME Act.
In the NSS health survey, the share of hospitalisation cases in Government hospitals is 32.3% in rural and 17.1% in urban Karnataka, implying that private facilities carry a majority of inpatient load, especially in urban areas. In this context, the Bill’s provisions on mandatory registration, penalties for unqualified staff, and enforceable quality standards are central to protecting patient safety where utilisation is highest.
Karnataka Land Revenue (Amendment) Rules, 2025
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On 23rd December 2025, the Government of Karnataka notified the Karnataka Land Revenue (Amendment) Rules, 2025 under Section 197 of the Karnataka Land Revenue Act, 1964, making major changes to the procedures governing agricultural land conversion and non-agricultural use in the state.
It aims to streamline, clarify, and simplify the process for converting agricultural land to non-agricultural purposes (including residential, commercial, industrial, and other uses) while reducing bureaucratic delays, increasing transparency, and boosting investment in land development activities across Karnataka.
Key Features -
Rules 6, 6A and 6B overhaul enquiry procedures by mandating public hearings, sworn witness examination, formal recording of evidence, and reasoned, signed orders with dates significantly improving transparency and procedural fairness.
Conversion applications under Section 95 must be processed within 30 days with scrutiny reports sought within 15 days, decisions within the next 15 days, and deemed provisional approval with automatic demand notice if deadlines are missed, followed by digitally signed orders upon fee payment.
Automatic workflows, fixed timelines, and digitally generated conversion orders replace discretionary, paper based approvals that earlier stretched for months, curbing administrative delays and rent seeking.
Earlier Cabinet decisions proposed no conversion permission for industrial use up to 2 acres, exemptions for renewable energy projects, and a shift from imprisonment to a monetary penalty up to ₹ 1 lakh for non-conversion, balancing ease of doing business with enforcement.
Relevance -
While Karnataka has approximately 72.11 lakh non-agricultural land parcels, only about 4.69 lakh (roughly 7%) are currently reflected in formal conversion records. This effort will help bridge that gap, ensuring the remaining 93% are integrated into the official regulatory framework.
By introducing clear, time bound, and fully digitised conversion procedures, the new rules aim to regularise land use at scale, reduce non-compliance, and bring a significant share of informal conversions into the legal framework. It will increase available land for urban and peri-urban development.
F. Punjab
Cabinet Approval To Punjab Abadi Deh (Record Of Rights) (Amendment) Bill, 2025
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On 20th December, 2025, the Punjab Cabinet approved amendments to the Punjab Abadi Deh (Record of Rights) Bill, 2021.
Objective - The amendment reduces statutory timelines for filing and disposing objections and appeals related to property rights in Lal Dora (abadi) areas with the stated objective of faster title finalisation and reduced procedural delays.
Lal Dora (abadi) areas are traditional village habitation zones (Abadi) marked by a red line on old revenue maps, separating them from agricultural land, allowing non-agricultural use like housing, livestock, and storage, and often exempt from municipal taxes but with unique regulations.
Key Features -
Reduces the time period for filing objections from 90 days to 30 days and for disposal of objections from 60 days to 30 days.
It has also reduced the time limit for disposal of appeals from 60 days to 30 days.
Applicability is confined to ‘Mera Ghar Mere Naam’ cases, covering residential properties located within Lal Dora areas of villages and cities.
Relevance -
Under the pre-amendment framework, objections and appeals could take up to 210 days cumulatively and significantly delay finalisation of property titles. Thus, reduced timelines bring the total objection-and-appeal resolution period down to a maximum of 60 days, directly addressing procedural delays in property title issuance.
Properties within Lal Dora (village habitations) have historically been “dead capital.” Despite having high market value due to urban expansion, the lack of clear, state-verified titles prevented owners from using them as collateral. Clear titles under ‘Mera Ghar Mere Naam’ allow for a transparent secondary market. This is critical in Punjab, where rural indebtedness is high and shifting from informal high-interest lenders to institutional credit can reduce annual interest costs.
G. Jharkhand
Platform-Based Gig Workers (Registration And Welfare) Act, 2025
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The Jharkhand Platform-Based Gig Workers (Registration and Welfare) Act, 2025 has received Governor’s assent on 25th December, 2025.
The law mandates registration of gig workers and aggregators, creates a dedicated welfare board, and provides minimum wages and social security protections.
Key Features -
All gig workers and platform aggregators must register with the state within 60 days, and workers receive a state-issued universal ID.
A Jharkhand Platform-Based Gig Workers Social Security and Welfare Fund will be established through a ‘Welfare Cess’ levied on platform companies.
A statutory body chaired by the Labour Minister to oversee registration, benefits, and grievance redressal. The board will register gig workers and service providers and oversee welfare schemes. Aggregators operating to be mandatorily registered with the board.
Wage floors linked to the nature and duration of work, along with accident, health and life insurance, identity cards, and welfare benefits.
Aggregators face penalties up to ₹ 10 lakh for violations of the Act.
Similar Initiatives In Other States - Multiple states like Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Karnataka and Telangana have now implemented policy frameworks for gig workers.
Relevance -
Approximately 18,000 gig workers linked to various platforms in Ranchi had not undergone police verification, raising security concerns, including instances of criminals posing as delivery workers. By mandating registration and enabling a state-backed identity layer, the Act creates a clearer pathway for traceability, background verification workflows, and consumer confidence.
The Act formalises welfare protection for delivery workers and ride-hailing workers by balancing worker welfare with platform scalability, it creates a stable foundation for the state’s digital ecosystem.
H. Uttar Pradesh
Cabinet Approval To New Okhla Industrial Development Authority (Building Construction On Land Transferred Through Exchange) Regulations, 2025
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On 22nd December, 2025, Uttar Pradesh Cabinet approved the New Okhla Industrial Development Authority (Building Construction on Land Transferred Through Exchange) Regulations, 2025 to simplify and streamline the approval of building plans on privately owned land in the NOIDA region.
Key Features -
The regulations establish a dedicated approval mechanism for building construction on privately owned land that has been transferred through land exchange with NOIDA Authority to entail properties that fell outside standard leasehold or freehold approval pathways.
Uniform treatment of exchanged private land, i.e., land acquired through exchange is now explicitly recognised as eligible for building plan sanctions, occupancy certificates, and completion approvals under NOIDA regulations, removing discretionary or case-by-case interpretations that delayed projects.
Construction on exchanged land must comply with NOIDA’s master plan, zoning regulations, FAR norms, and safety codes, ensuring regulatory clarity without relaxing urban planning or infrastructure standards.
Relevance -
NOIDA’s earlier regulatory architecture, notably the 2010 building-plan approval framework, was widely reported to be anchored to lease deed based allotments. Exchange plots, although privately held, often sat in a grey zone, forcing landowners to seek court directions or ad hoc administrative decisions for plan sanctions, completion certificates, and occupancy certificates. The new regulations convert these assets into usable, buildable land, directly unlocking urban land supply.
By codifying construction rights on exchanged land, the regulations improve the bankability of such parcels, allowing developers and landowners to access formal finance and project approvals without legal risk.
By enabling construction on already exchanged and demarcated plots, it promotes in-situ urban development rather than expansion through fresh land acquisition, aligning with sustainable urban planning objectives.
I. Odisha
Cabinet Approval To State Public Universities (Reservation In Teachers’ Cadre) Ordinance, 2025
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The Odisha cabinet has approved the Odisha State Public Universities (Reservation in Teachers’ Cadre) Ordinance, 2025 on 24th December, 2025, introducing a uniform reservation framework for direct recruitment of teachers in all state public universities.
Key Features -
Reservation will now be implemented at the university level, not department-wise, ensuring consistency across faculties.
A separate post-based roster for each cadre will be maintained, improving clarity and compliance.
The framework strengthens inclusion of SC, ST, Socially and Educationally Backward Classes (SEBC) and other eligible categories in faculty recruitment.
Aligns Odisha’s public universities with nationally accepted faculty recruitment practices.
Relevance -
Odisha has 26 Government universities, making a uniform reservation and roster system institutionally significant across a wide higher-education network. Treating each university as a single unit for reservation, rather than department-wise, simplifies implementation and reduces administrative fragmentation across faculties and cadres.
As per the 2011 Census and official ST/SC Development Department publications, SCs and STs together constitute nearly 40% of Odisha’s population underscoring the importance of this ordinance which would act as a robust reservation mechanism in public‑university faculty hiring.
This ordinance specifically targets faculty recruitment, Odisha has already taken steps to standardise reservation in higher education admissions by approving 11.25% SEBC quota alongside SC and ST quotas, reflecting a pattern of institutionalising equitable access across multiple public university functions. This indicates a policy continuity in inclusion across education access and employment domains.
II. Policy Level Announcements :
A. Assam
Logistics And Warehousing Policy, 2025
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On 8th December, 2025, the Assam Cabinet cleared the Assam Logistics and Warehousing Policy, 2025.
The policy aims to strengthen Assam’s logistics infrastructure and supply chain efficiency. It is designed to boost trade connectivity, attract private investment, and lower logistics costs in the state and the broader North-East.
Targets-
Reduce logistics cost to less than 10% of GSDP by 2030.
20% reduction in lead time on key freight corridors by 2028.
Add 30,000 MT cold storage capacity and 50 refrigerated trucks by 2030.
Develop two major Multimodal Logistics Parks (MMLPs) and integrate inland waterways.
Create 20,000 direct and indirect jobs, emphasising local youth and women.
Fiscal Incentives -
30% capital subsidy on eligible Fixed Capital Investment (FCI),
100% stamp duty reimbursement,
2% term loan interest subsidy,
Green capital top-ups for renewable energy/energy-efficient logistics.
Key Features -
The policy defines MMLPs, Logistics Park (LPs), Mini LPs and Warehouses based on area and capital investment thresholds.
MMLPs: ≥50 acres, supports ≥2 transport modes, integrated storage, and intermodal facilities. Capital investment threshold ≥ ₹ 50 crore.
LPs: ≥20 acres, dry/cold warehouses, truck terminals, intermodal transfer, and value-added services. Capital investment threshold ≥ ₹ 20 crore.
Mini LPs: ≥10 acres, last-mile consolidation, storage, and truck/container handling. Capital investment threshold ≥ ₹ 10 crore.
Warehouse: ≥5 acres, temperature-controlled or automated, supporting storage and supply chain. Capital investment threshold ≥ ₹ 7.5 crore.
The governance framework includes Assam Logistics Mission (ALM), which acts as the single-window facilitator. A State Logistics Committee (SLC), which approves projects and ensures inter-department coordination. It also establishes an Empowered Committee (EC), providing strategic oversight.
The policy also provides for clawback of incentives in case of misuse, annual progress reporting for five years, restrictions on asset disposal within 5 years, and grievance redressal via Ease of Doing Business (EoDB) portal.
Central Policy Alignment - It aligns with National Logistics Policy, 2022.
Relevance -
Current cross border trade volumes at Indo-Bangla points like Sutarkandi reached 45.63 million tonnes in recent years, while India-Bhutan trade doubled to $ 1.083 billion by 2020-21 (approximately ₹ 97,10,28,63,000), with waterways via Jogighopa reducing costs significantly compared to land routes through West Bengal. The policy’s single-window clearances and incentives for warehousing will streamline these flows, boosting efficiency at new entry points like Pandu and Jogighopa.
Logistics costs in India are high (7.97% of GDP), but in the North-East, they are even higher due to terrain and fragmentation. The policy’s focus on integrated multimodal hubs (like Jogighopa) and waterway connectivity targets a drastic reduction in transit costs. Waterway transport via Jogighopa is significantly cheaper than the “Chicken’s Neck Corridor” land route, effectively acting as a direct stimulus for the state’s export competitiveness.
The policy offers 20% to 40% capital investment subsidy on project costs. This is a critical economic lever that lowers the “barrier to entry” for private developers in a region traditionally seen as high-risk. By reducing initial capital expenditure, the state accelerates the creation of high-quality storage assets that would otherwise take decades to materialise.
Things To Watch Out For -
Assam’s policy framework sets the stage for a regional logistics hub, but realising its ‘Act East’ potential requires operational multimodal coordination, strengthened cross-border trade with Bangladesh and Bhutan, reliable National Waterways - 2, and a focus on Southeast Asian markets.
Despite major highway and rail upgrades, Assam’s logistics growth is hindered by weak last-mile connectivity, requiring targeted investment in feeder roads, mandis, river ports, border points, and truck holding areas.
B. Gujarat
Integrated Renewable Energy Policy, 2025
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The Gujarat Government on 25th December, 2025, announced Integrated Renewable Energy Policy, 2025 to build a fully integrated renewable energy ecosystem in conjunction with ‘Pumped Storage Project’ and ‘Green Hydrogen’ Policies, 2025.
Targets -
Gujarat has set a target of achieving over 100 Giga Watt (GW) of renewable energy capacity by 2030, significantly expanding on its existing base of renewable installations.
Plans are to attract investments of up to ₹ 5 lakh crore into Gujarat’s broader clean energy ecosystem, including renewables, storage, and hydrogen production, thereby creating scale for Renewable Energy development.
Key Features -
Promotes grid-connected and co-located Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) alongside solar, wind, and hybrid projects to enable large-scale integration of renewables and enhance grid stability.
Rationalises commissioning and evacuation timelines for projects, allows on-demand connectivity through platforms like Akshay-Urja-Setu, and supports repowering of existing wind plants.
Diversify Gujarat’s Renewable Energy portfolio through pilot and demonstration programmes in technologies such as ocean energy, geothermal energy, concentrated solar thermal (CST) and building-integrated photovoltaics (BIPV).
Enhances incentives and mechanisms for rooftop solar, floating solar, and distributed renewable energy, including net metering, gross metering, group and virtual net metering, broadening access for residential, commercial, and industrial consumers.
Relevance -
Gujarat is among the top states in India in renewable energy deployment, with 35.16 GW installed capacity as of April 2025 and contributing around 12% of India’s total renewable capacity and ranking first in wind and rooftop solar segments. The policy significantly accelerates this trajectory, contributing to India’s 500 GW non-fossil fuel capacity objective.
A major constraint in high-renewable grids is intermittency and grid balancing. Gujarat’s proactive inclusion of BESS as a core policy pillar, enabling storage integration at scale, facilitating frequency regulation, peak demand management, and better utilisation of generated renewable power. This aligns with India’s extended waiver on Inter-State Transmission System (ISTS) transmission charges for battery storage projects valid until June 2028, which is designed to accelerate storage deployment nationwide.
Prior to this policy, rapid additions in solar and wind often faced grid integration curtailments and under-utilisation due to limited storage and transmission readiness. The policy addresses the challenge of managing an expanding Renewable Energy pipeline by aligning evacuation infrastructure planning with voltage levels, thereby reducing project implementation delays and improving the utilisation of renewable assets.
Pumped Storage Project Policy, 2025
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The Gujarat Government on 25th December, 2025, unveiled the Pumped Storage Project Policy (PSP), 2025 to support large-scale renewable energy integration and grid balancing in Gujarat.
Outlay - Estimated total investment at ₹ 75,000 crore by 2035.
Aims -
Develop 75 Giga Watt hour (GWh) of pumped storage capacity by 2035, making Gujarat India’s largest pumped storage hub.
Enable Round-The-Clock (RTC) renewable power by pairing large-scale storage with solar and wind capacity.
Key Features -
Prospective sites will be segregated into four categories:
Category I and Category II will serve Government needs.
Category III will be awarded to private players through competitive bidding.
Category IV (away from riverine systems and not including Categories I, II and III) can be self-identified by private members.
Projects approved under the policy are eligible for policy incentives and support for up to 40 years, reflecting the long asset life and financing needs of pumped storage infrastructure.
Relevance -
India’s renewable energy capacity is growing fast, with Gujarat leading large installations of variable renewables. However, renewable generation intermittency requires robust long-duration storage, a gap recognised by the Central Electricity Authority (CEA), which has fast-tracked approval of multiple PSP projects totalling gigawatts in 2024–25. Therefore, by institutionalising the policy, Gujarat could materially contribute to meeting national storage shortfall, rather than relying solely on battery or thermal balancing.
The CEA has projected rapid scaling of pumped hydro storage across India to support renewables with plans for 10 GW+ of PSP capacity added annually from 2028–29 and a national target approaching 50–57 GW by 2032. The policy aligns with this larger trajectory by contributing 75 GWh of storage capacity by 2035.
Green Hydrogen Policy, 2025
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The Gujarat Government on 25th December, 2025, unveiled Green Hydrogen Policy, 2025 to reduce dependence on fossil fuels, support green ammonia and fertilizer production and establish export capabilities.
Outlay - ₹ 5 lakh crore across green hydrogen, derivatives, renewable energy, infrastructure, and manufacturing ecosystems by 2035.
Targets -
Green hydrogen production capacity at 3 Million Metric Tonnes Per Annum (MMTPA) by 2035.
₹ 100 crore for Research and Development, Centres of Excellence, skilling and startup incubation.
Electrolyser capacity is around 30 GW.
Associated renewable energy capacity is around 75 GW.
Elimination of approximately 5 MMTPA of CO₂ emissions within the state.
Reduction of at least 2 MMTPA of natural gas consumption.
Key Features -
Supports green hydrogen production, derivatives such as green ammonia, methanol, storage, transport, refuelling, blending with City Gas Distribution (CGD) networks, and end-use applications like MSMEs, transport, industry, ensuring demand creation alongside supply build-up.
Capital subsidies up to 20% of project cost are provided for electrolysis-based projects (₹ 1 crore/Mega Watt cap), biomass-based hydrogen (₹ 8 crore/kilo Tonnes Per Annum), hydrogen hubs (₹ 35 crore per hub), refuelling stations, hydrogen buses, and heavy vehicles, lowering entry barriers during the cost-intensive early adoption phase.
Projects receive 50% reimbursement of transmission and wheeling charges for five years, 100% reimbursement of land registration and stamp duty, priority GIDC land allocation, and facilitation of dedicated green transmission corridors.
Green hydrogen projects can source renewable power via captive, third-party, discom supply, power exchanges, or storage systems, enabling grid-aligned hydrogen production rather than isolated plants.
A three-tier governance structure such as Apex Committee, Executive Committee, GPCL as Nodal Agency with a dedicated single-window portal linked to production milestones, and continuous policy oversight.
Relevance -
India is targeting approximately 10 % of the global green hydrogen demand, and potentially up to 10 Million Metric Tonnes (MMT) of annual green hydrogen and derivative exports by 2030, tapping into a global market projected to exceed 100 MMT annually.
Gujarat’s policy lays the groundwork for export-ready production hubs. This is critical because global green hydrogen and ammonia markets are forecast to become major decarbonisation exports, with significant demand from Europe, Japan, and South Korea seeking low-carbon fuels and feedstocks. India’s export orientation complements Gujarat’s policy focus on manufacturing and supply chains.
The policy estimates investments of up to ₹ 5 lakh crore in the green hydrogen ecosystem and the creation of approximately 6 lakh jobs by 2035.Therefore, catalyse human capital development, particularly in energy technology and manufacturing sectors.
C. Bihar
Saat Nischay-3 (2025–2030)
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The Bihar Cabinet on 16th December, 2025, approved Saat Nischay-3, a five-year governance and development programme (2025–2030) aimed at placing Bihar in the category of developed states.
The programme builds on Saat Nischay-1 (2015–20) and Saat Nischay-2 (2020–25), continuing the state’s framework of growth with justice.
Targets-
Saat Nischay-3 outlines seven core resolutions covering income, employment, industry, agriculture, education, health, infrastructure, and ease of living.
Doubling Bihar’s per capita income by 2030 and creating one crore jobs by establishing a dedicated Youth, Employment and Skill Development Department.
Key Features -
A newly established Youth, Employment and Skill Development Department, complemented by sector-linked skilling, entrepreneurship promotion, and the Mukhyamantri Mahila Rozgar Yojana, which provides ₹ 10,000 seed capital and scale-up assistance up to ₹ 2 lakh for women-led enterprises.
Revival of nine closed sugar mills and phased establishment of 25 new sugar mills, alongside development of industrial areas and formation of three high-level committees to position Bihar as an eastern India technology hub and attract up to ₹ 50 lakh crore in private investment over the plan period.
Acceleration of the 4th Agriculture Roadmap (2024–29), launch of a dedicated Makhana Roadmap, and targeted investments in dairy, fisheries, irrigation expansion, agri-processing, and value chains to raise farm incomes and rural employment.
Creation of a separate Higher Education Department, upgrading universities and colleges into centres of excellence, development of an Education City, establishment of model schools, and ensuring at least one degree college in every panchayat to improve access and quality.
Upgradation of Community Health Centres (CHCs) into specialty hospitals, expansion of healthcare infrastructure, and increased use of Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs) for setting up and strengthening medical colleges and specialised services.
Development of five new expressways, large-scale rural road upgrades, strengthening of power infrastructure, promotion of rooftop solar, and creation of new planned cities to support urbanisation and industrial growth.
Expansion of affordable urban housing, development of tourism circuits, establishment of a Film City and Sports City in Patna, and improved urban amenities aimed at enhancing liveability and service delivery.
Relevance -
Bihar’s per capita income remains among the lowest in India (per capita Gross state domestic product is ₹ 66,828). The explicit goal of doubling per capita income by 2030 directly addresses this long-standing divergence rather than incremental welfare expansion, signalling a shift toward growth-led convergence.
Saat Nischay-1 focused on basic infrastructure and inclusion, Saat Nischay-2 added job creation and enterprise support such as expanded vocational training and micro-grants. Saat Nischay-3 marks a transition from infrastructure-led catch-up to income, employment, and human-capital-driven development, with quantified targets that align Bihar’s demographic realities with long-term economic upgrading rather than short-term redistribution.
Saat Nischay-2 significantly expanded employment opportunities. As of mid-2025, the state had already provided 10 lakh Government jobs and generated around 39 lakh employment opportunities across sectors, reaching a total of roughly 50 lakh jobs and employment outcomes against original targets through direct hiring, skill development, and enterprise support.
D. Jharkhand
Cabinet Approval To Panchayats (Extension To Scheduled Areas) Rules, 2025
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The Jharkhand Cabinet on 23rd December, 2025 has approved the Panchayats (Extension to Scheduled Areas) Rules, 2025, operationalising the Panchayats (Extension to Scheduled Areas) Act (PESA) nearly three decades after its enactment.
The decision empowers Gram Sabhas in Fifth Schedule areas with statutory authority over natural resources and local governance.
Key Features -
Grants Gram Sabhas authority over minor forest produce, water resource management, local development plans, and consent for mining and land acquisition in Scheduled Areas.
Mandates one Gram Sabha per revenue village, irrespective of Panchayat Samiti structures, strengthening village-level self-governance.
Clarifies administrative roles without altering the existing three-tier Panchayati Raj election system under the Jharkhand Panchayati Raj Act, 2001.
Brings consent-based governance under a single statutory umbrella, replacing fragmented executive practices with rule-based authority.
Relevance -
In Jharkhand, 13 of 24 districts are fully covered under Fifth Schedule areas, with an additional two partially covered, encompassing over 16,000 villages and more than 2,000 panchayats. These areas feature a high tribal population that historically lacked statutory authority over local governance despite the PESA Act being in force nationally since 1996.
The issue has been politically contentious, with allegations that the rules dilute the spirit of the PESA Act, 1996 by weakening the autonomy and statutory powers of Gram Sabhas in Scheduled Areas.
E. Haryana
Haryana Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Rules, 2025
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The Haryana Government has approved amendments to the Haryana Motor Vehicles Rules and updated the state’s aggregator policy through the Haryana Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Rules, 2025, notified on 11th December, 2025.
Key Features -
From 1st January, 2026, no new petrol or diesel vehicles to be inducted into fleets operated by aggregators, delivery service providers, or e-commerce platforms, covering two-wheelers, four-wheeler light commercial vehicles up to 3.5 tonnes, and small goods vehicles.
Only CNG or electric three-wheeler auto-rickshaws permitted to be additionally inducted into existing aggregator fleets.
Revised vehicle age limits have been notified, under which in NCR areas diesel vehicles under specified permit categories are restricted to a maximum operational age of 10 years, while petrol, CNG, electric, and other clean-fuel vehicles may operate for up to 15 years, and in non-NCR areas vehicles under the same permit categories may operate for up to 15 years irrespective of fuel type.
A mandatory licensing framework for aggregators has been introduced under the revised Rule 86A of Haryana Motor Vehicles Rules, 1993.
The Transport Department will operationalise a Clean Mobility Portal to record and maintain details of vehicles deployed by licensed aggregators in the state.
Relevance -
The Haryana districts within the National Capital Region (NCR) face “Severe” and “Hazardous” AQI levels during winters, largely driven by vehicular combustion. Air pollution in the NCR is estimated to cause a 3% to 4% loss in state GDP due to productivity loss and healthcare costs. By mandating these rules, it is effectively lowering the public health burden among urban residents.
The initial purchase cost of an EV is higher, the 15-year operational window allows fleet owners to recover their investment. This policy prevents asset stranding, and gives the industry predictable policy cycles, plan capital expenditure (CAPEX) without fear of sudden regulatory shifts.
F. Karnataka
Social Boycott (Prevention, Prohibition And Redressal) Bill, 2025
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On 19th December, 2025, the Karnataka Legislative Council passed the Karnataka Social Boycott (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Bill, 2025.
The initiative aims to prohibit, prevent and criminalise caste and community driven social exclusion and discrimination, ensuring that unconstitutional practices don’t push backward and marginalised groups further to the margins of society. It seeks to uphold constitutional values of equality, dignity, fraternity and the right to live with dignity by tackling extra judicial social boycott practices.
Key Features -
The Bill criminalises social boycott by defining it as any oral or written act that results in social discrimination, exclusion, or denial of participation within a community, including informal or extra legal directives issued by caste or community bodies.
It prescribes stringent penalties, with offenders liable to imprisonment for up to three years, a fine up to ₹ 1 lakh, or both, signalling a shift from social censure to formal criminal accountability.
The legislation has a wide substantive scope, identifying around 20 forms of exclusion, such as denial of livelihood or work, restriction on access to public or private services, exclusion from social or religious functions, and interference in personal choices including marriage and funerary rites.
Liability is extended beyond direct perpetrators to include individuals who instigate, encourage, enforce, influence, or vote in favour of a social boycott, recognising the collective and coercive nature of such practices.
Any gathering or assembly convened to discuss, impose, or legitimise a social boycott is deemed unlawful, making the decision making process itself punishable and not merely its outcomes.
Law enforcement agencies are empowered to register cases suo motu, removing the burden on victims who are often socially vulnerable to initiate legal proceedings themselves.
The Bill provides for the appointment of a Social Boycott Prohibition Officer to aid in detection of offences, assist investigations, and support courts during proceedings.
Victims, or their family members, are authorised to file complaints either with the police or directly before a Judicial Magistrate, and the law mandates that victims be given an opportunity to be heard before sentencing, strengthening procedural justice.
Relevance -
The Bill addresses patterns of social exclusion that limit community participation and economic opportunity for many. By establishing clear protections against discriminatory practices, the legislation promotes a more inclusive society, ensuring that all individuals can engage fully in community and economic life without barriers.
Supplementing existing atrocity laws with specific deterrence, between 1991 and 2020, the National Crime Records Bureau reports around 700,000 atrocities against Dalit communities, reflecting persistent systemic discrimination. The new Bill’s targeted criminalisation of social boycott functions as a specific legal deterrent that existing general atrocity laws have not fully provided.
Fills a legislative gap highlighted by ongoing exclusions, incidents such as a recent social boycott of 15 families in West Godavari district over an intercaste marriage illustrate that social exclusion continues at the community level today, showing why dedicated legislation like this Bill is considered necessary to enforce rights and dignity.
G. Uttarakhand
Uttarakhand Mahak Kranti Policy, 2026-36
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The state Government has launched the Mahak Kranti Policy, 2026-36 on 14th December, 2025, at the Centre for Aromatic Plants (CAP) in Dehradun.
The policy aims to transform Uttarakhand into a global “Aroma Hub” by connecting 91,000 farmers with high-value aromatic crop cultivation over the next decade.
Targets -
Raise the turnover of aromatic crops from ₹ 100 crore to around ₹ 1,179 crore.
Generate 2.27 crore man-days of employment over the next decade through the promotion of aromatic crop cultivation.
Establish approximately 500 processing/distillation units.
5 new satellite centers to be established in Chamoli and Almora for Damask Rose, Pithoragarh for Timur (pepper), Champawat for Tejpat (Bay Leaf), and Uttarkashi for both Timur and Damask Rose to assist farmers technically.
Key Features -
In its first phase, the policy targets to bring 22,750 hectares of land under aromatic crops, and directly benefits around 91,000 farmers across the state.
The policy provides substantial subsidies for nursery development and cultivation. And farmers will receive a 80% subsidy for cultivating up to one hectare and a 50% subsidy for cultivation beyond one hectare, making aromatic farming more accessible and profitable.
It covers eligible individuals, self-help groups, committees, and companies with land ownership or lease of at least 10 years. The cultivation must cover a minimum of 0.1 hectares.
The Government is developing seven dedicated “Aroma Valleys” across the state, including a Cinnamon Valley in Nainital and a Lemongrass and Mint Valley in Haridwar, to organise production effectively.
Relevance -
A major challenge for Uttarakhand farmers is the “monkey menace” and wild animals destroying crops. The policy promotes the cultivation of aromatic plants, which are naturally animal-resistant (animals do not eat them), providing them a safe and reliable option for farmers.
It shifts focus from subsistence cereal farming to high-margin cash crops to Damask Rose and Timur, essential raw materials for the global multi-billion dollar perfume and spice industries. By establishing Aroma Valleys, the state creates specialised zones for agriculture that leverage agglomeration economies, making logistics and processing units more cost-effective.
Uttarakhand has thousands of hectares of uncultivated or barren land due to terrain and water issues. Aromatic plants are hardy and require less water. The policy effectively converts idle land into productive assets, boosting the state’s GSDP without competing for existing food-crop acreage.
H. Madhya Pradesh
Amendment To The Film Tourism Policy, 2020
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The Madhya Pradesh Government amended the earlier film tourism policy on 3rd December, 2025 to attract investments through cinema and establish the state as a premier filming hub and tourism destination in India.
The Amendment offers a wide range of financial incentives for feature films, web series, and international projects to stimulate local job creation and boost tourism.
Key features -
Financial subsidy of up to ₹ 2 crore for feature films, covering either 25% of the total movie budget or 75% of the money spent locally.
Incentives of up to ₹ 1.5 crore for web series and TV shows, and offers up to ₹ 10 crore for international projects.
Incentives of up to ₹ 40 lakh for documentaries and up to ₹ 15 lakh for short films, provided that at least 75% of the shooting happens in Madhya Pradesh.
The amendment offers a 30% subsidy of up to ₹ 90 crore and reserves 500 acres of land for building film studios and post production facilities.
Extends financial support to movie theaters, providing up to ₹ 75 lakh for building new single-screen cinemas and up to ₹ 50 lakh for upgrading existing ones.
Extra funding for films shot in regional languages like Malwi, Bundelkhandi, Baghelkhandi, Nimadi, Gondi, Bhili, and Korku, and a single-window system to allow filmmakers to get all shooting permissions online from one place.
Relevance -
The state has received investment proposals worth over ₹ 68,000 crore have been received in the tourism and film tourism sector. This investment is expected to generate 1.2 lakh new jobs, significantly boosting the state’s tourism industry.
By mandating that 75% of the shooting must happen within the state to receive benefits, the policy ensures that employment opportunities for daily wage earners like carpenters, electricians, caterers, and junior artists go to local residents, improving local employment opportunities. The state has leveraged its locations with popular movies and web serieses like Panchayat.
Offering additional funding for regional dialects (Gondi, Bhili, Nimadi), the policy uses cinema as a tool for linguistic preservation. This is a significant endeavor to empower tribal and regional communities, giving their stories a global platform while providing them with specialised employment.
I. Tamil Nadu
Proposed Dairy Policy, 2025
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On 17th December, 2025, Tamil Nadu Dairy Development Department proposed a new dairy policy aimed at institutionalising milk production and distribution across the state to tackle widespread milk adulteration.
The policy aims to streamline the dairy value chain by reducing dependence on unorganised middlemen, increasing quality control, and enhancing consumer safety by boosting institutional sales and better monitoring of milk quality.
Key Features -
This initiative encourages small private dairy companies that currently depend on middlemen to be facilitated to procure through cooperatives, benefiting from shared oversight and infrastructure, keeping self-consumption (3-4%) in mind.
Quality monitoring has been strengthened through improved mechanisms to detect pathogens, adulteration, and other quality lapses, with a particular focus on milk procured through organised cooperative networks rather than informal supply channels.
Production factors assessment involves analysing input costs, bovine breeding practices (including the use of sex sorted semen), and cattle feed quality, and recommending targeted interventions to improve productivity and increase milk yields.
Once implemented, private firms procuring via cooperatives may fall under the Dairy Development Department’s regulatory purview which are currently regulated by Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI).
Relevance -
Despite producing around 300 lakh litres of milk per day, nearly 60% of Tamil Nadu’s milk production and distribution remains unorganised, operating outside structured quality checks. With Aavin procuring only 12% and private organised players handling about 25%, a large volume of milk bypasses institutional oversight making adulteration and safety lapses more likely. The new policy’s push toward institutional procurement directly targets this gap.
With Aavin handling just 34–36 lakh litres daily and private dairies about 75 lakh litres, less than 40% of total milk output is routed through entities with formal testing and traceability systems. Bringing even part of the unorganised (about 180 lakh litres per day) into cooperative or regulated channels would significantly expand quality control coverage and strengthen consumer safety without disrupting farmer level self-consumption (3–4%).
The policy’s primary economic focus is to bypass unorganised intermediaries who currently control nearly 180 lakh litres of daily milk trade. By routing procurement through cooperatives, the state enables a “direct-to-institution” model. This reduces the information asymmetry in pricing, ensuring farmers receive a higher share of the consumer rupee while stabilising input costs through collective bargaining for feed and fodder.
A significant economic change is the proposed shift in jurisdiction. Currently, private dairies are primarily regulated by FSSAI. Bringing them under the Dairy Development Department (once they use cooperative infrastructure) creates a more specialised, state-level regulatory layer. This could lead to a more “hands-on” industrial policy where the state can direct investments into cold chain infrastructure and processing units more effectively.
J. West Bengal
Mini Cinema Policy, 2025
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The Government of West Bengal on 18th December, 2025, introduced a Mini Cinema Policy, 2025 to promote small-format theatres and revitalise the regional film and entertainment ecosystem.
The policy enables 50-seater, digitally operated mini cinemas in urban, suburban, and rural areas, with a simplified and time-bound licensing framework.
Key Features -
A mini cinema is defined as an AC auditorium with around 50 seats, primarily for film screenings. It is equipped with an LED digital display, projection system linked to a desktop and server, and at least one computer‑literate operator on site and no separate projection enclosure or high‑voltage power line is required.
Seating is capped at 50, screen positioning ensures the top of the picture is within 45° from the eye level of a person in the first row, and the horizontal viewing angle from picture edge to the opposite end of the row is at least 25°.
Applicants must secure building fitness certificates, fire‑safety clearances and trade licences, then obtain permission from the District Magistrate or Police Commissioner, who conducts a spot inspection and issues an NOC within seven days and the full licensing process is to be completed within four weeks.
Ticket classification and pricing are left to the operator, and the Information & Cultural Affairs Department is the nodal agency for grievances.
Relevance -
West Bengal has 330 single-screen cinemas and due to expansion of multiplexes their existence is on a decline. Suburban and rural areas lack this access and viable cinema infrastructure, leading to migration of audiences to OTT platforms and diminishing of regional cinema. The 50-seat mini cinema model is designed specifically to fill this geographic gap, enabling distributed, hyper-local cinema access.
Historically, premises of the older norms focused on large, dedicated cinema halls, robust electricals for massive analog projectors, and complex projection booths which have become obsolete and misaligned with digital tech, leading to the need for policies like mini cinemas to modernise, reduce cost, and boost local film access.
K. Meghalaya
New Prisoner Remission Policy, 2025
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On 19th December, 2025, the Meghalaya Cabinet approved a new jail remission policy aimed at simplifying and expediting the process for early release of eligible prisoners, in line with Supreme Court directions from 2024 to streamline remission procedures across states.
Key Features -
The jail superintendents are now empowered to initiate remission proceedings on their own, without waiting for a formal application from the prisoner’s family.
While the core legal framework governing remission remains unchanged, procedural bottlenecks, such as recalibrating demand-driven remission process, prisoner unaware of eligibility date, indefinite waiting for judicial opinion and files languished without feedback have been mitigated to ensure timely case consideration.
The reform propels suo-moto initiative by enabling prison authorities to proactively identify genuine and deserving cases for remission, thereby improving fairness, administrative responsiveness, and timely decision making within the prison system.
Relevance -
Procedural delays, rather than legal ineligibility, account for a significant share of pending remission cases in India. For instance, NALSA’s Standard Operating Procedures on premature release note that only about 2% convicts released annually are released through the premature remission process, indicating that administrative mechanisms reach only a small fraction of eligible prisoners.
Notably, every prisoner represents a recurring cost to the state exchequer (food, medical care, security, and administrative overhead). By expediting the release of eligible prisoners, the state achieves significant savings in the prison budget, which can be redirected toward the modernisation of jail infrastructure and vocational training programs.
L. Punjab
Amendment To Punjab Industrial And Business Development Policy (IBDP), 2022
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On 20th December, 2025, the Punjab Cabinet approved a targeted amendment to the Industrial & Business Development Policy (IBDP), 2022, removing the requirement of bank guarantees (BGs) for availing select fiscal incentives.
Key Features -
For stamp duty exemption incentives, the bank guarantee condition has been replaced with a first charge on the property up to the date of commencement of commercial production.
For Change of Land Use (CLU) and External Development Charges (EDC) exemptions, a non-BG-based compliance mechanism has been introduced.
The amendment is applicable retrospectively from 17th October, 2022.
Similar Initiatives In Other States- Industrial states such as Gujarat, Telangana, and Tamil Nadu have similarly moved toward post-facto verification and asset-backed safeguards instead of bank guarantees for industrial incentives.
Relevance -
The removal of bank guarantees directly addresses a measurable working capital blockage, as BGs typically require a 10%–25% margin, where substantial incentive claims could be immobilised for multiple years. By replacing BGs with property-backed safeguards, the policy frees liquidity for productive use such as plant commissioning, raw material procurement, and employment generation.
Punjab’s GSDP has been growing steadily, with a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 9.43 % between FY16 and FY24, but diversification beyond agriculture remains a priority. The amendment is a direct response, aiming to expand the share of secondary and tertiary sectors in the state economy and improve labor productivity through digitised compliance and incentives. The reform materially lowers compliance costs and shortens project gestation timelines.
M. Rajasthan
Film Tourism Promotion Policy, 2025
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The Government of Rajasthan on 24th December, 2025 notified the Rajasthan Film Tourism Promotion Policy, 2025 to attract large-scale film, OTT and television productions to the state.
The objective is to boost tourism-led growth, generate employment, and build a sustainable creative ecosystem linked to local services and talent.
Key Features -
The policy provides subsidies of up to 30% on eligible production expenditure incurred within Rajasthan, with caps ranging from ₹ 1.5 crore to ₹ 3 crore depending on content format.
To avail the subsidy, productions must meet minimum in-state spending thresholds, including ₹ 2 crore for feature films and ₹ 1 crore for web series, TV serials, and Rajasthani-language film.
Skill development is supported through full scholarships for Rajasthan residents at Film and Television Institute of India (FTII), Pune, Satyajit Ray Film and Television Institute (SRFTI), Kolkata, and National School of Drama (NSD), New Delhi, covering tuition, stipend, and training assistance.
Mandatory branding and crediting of the Rajasthan Government and tourism department is required for all productions receiving financial incentives, strengthening the state’s film tourism visibility.
Similar Initiatives In Other States - Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh and Delhi are some of the notable states who have also implemented similar initiatives to actively promoting film tourism.
Relevance -
Tourism is one of Rajasthan’s most significant economic drivers and contributes about 12%. The state received over 23.2 crore tourist visits (both domestic and foreign) in 2024, demonstrating strong existing appeal rooted in heritage and culture. Rajasthan’s policy harnesses film tourism by linking cinematic appeal with the state’s famous cultural landscapes.
India’s creative economy, such as media content, contributes 20% to Gross Value Added (GVA) and to employment around 8%, which is significantly higher than countries like Turkey (1%), South Korea (1.9%) and Australia (2.1%). The policy aligns with objectives to strengthen regional branding and tourism demand.
Subsidised shooting activity in the state can create new jobs and gig-work opportunities for locals. The policy also includes scholarships and stipends for Rajasthan students annually at premier film institutions, directly investing in skill development for future industry professionals based in the state. By building a dedicated shooting locations directory and an online portal listing local producers, technicians and creative talent, the policy helps formalise and integrate Rajasthan’s creative workforce into mainstream production networks.
N. Himachal Pradesh
‘Green To Gold’ Initiative
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The Himachal Pradesh Government on 27th December, 2025, launched the ‘Green to Gold’ initiative to legalise and regulate industrial hemp cultivation, shifting cannabis from an illicit crop to a legitimate economic resource.
Aims -The state government plans to position Himachal Pradesh as a manufacturing and startup hub for hemp-based value-added products, supported by state agricultural universities developing high-yield, low-THC seed varieties suited to Himalayan conditions. The policy aims to strengthen economic self-reliance by 2027 while simultaneously curbing illegal drug networks.
Key Features -
Only industrial hemp with Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) content below 0.3% is permitted, ensuring zero narcotic misuse while retaining fibre and seed quality.
The approval enables controlled pilot cultivation, with scope for phased scaling across suitable districts.
Hemp will support pharmaceuticals, textiles, paper, packaging, cosmetics, biofuels, and construction (hempcrete).
Relevance -
India is actively promoting bio-economy (grown 16 fold, from 1000 crore in 2014 to 16,570 crore in 2024) and pushing for climate-smart crops highlights a strategic shift toward renewable, low-environmental-impact feedstocks. Hemp is considered a high-potential bio-resource globally because it can reduce reliance on fossil-based materials and water-intensive crops like cotton. By adopting industrial hemp, Himachal Pradesh’s initiative aligns with bio-input diversification objectives, while improving resource efficiency.
Hemp requires 50% less water than cotton and thrives on marginal land, aligning with hill-state agro-ecology. Regulated hemp farming is expected to add between ₹ 1,000 crore and over ₹ 2,000 crore annually to the state exchequer.
Himachal Pradesh historically has regions where wild cannabis grows, that growth has fed illicit drug markets rather than contributing to the formal economy. Formalising industrial hemp cultivation with strict THC limits (<0.3%) redirects potential economic value into legal, taxable, and regulated channels. Legal cultivation of hemp for industrial uses means that what was once economically invisible and socially harmful now becomes a valued contributor to the state’s GDP and tax base.
O. Uttar Pradesh
Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Exhibitions (MICE) Incentive Scheme
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The Government of Uttar Pradesh on 19th December, 2025 launched its first-ever MICE Incentive Scheme under the Uttar Pradesh Export Promotion Policy 2025–2030 to give Brand UP global visibility.
The scheme is designed to connect MSMEs with international markets, boost exports, and position Uttar Pradesh as an emerging MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Exhibitions) hub.
Incentives -
Provides financial assistance of ₹ 7,000 per foreign participant, subject to a cap of ₹ 6 lakh per event.
Any eligible MICE operator can claim benefits for a maximum of two events in a year.
Central Initiative Alignment - It aligns with the National Strategy for MICE Industry, 2022.
Similar Initiatives In Other States - Some states like Goa and Gujarat have focused on MICE Tourism in their Tourism policies, but UP is the first state to announce targeted incentives.
Key Features -
MICE events recognised by the Ministry of Tourism, organised entirely within Uttar Pradesh, using only local vendors for event services and having at least 100 participants (with a minimum 25% foreign nationals) are eligible, and beneficiaries must be MSME-category, MICE operators or event management units registered in Uttar Pradesh with the relevant departments and councils.
Applications must be filed on the Export Promotion Bureau, Uttar Pradesh portal at least 60 days before the event, a detailed report with documents must be submitted within 60 days after the event, and a Screening Committee comprising export, tourism and services officials will scrutinise proposals.
Claims are approved on a first-come-first-served basis, the sanctioned amount is transferred directly to the beneficiary’s bank account via Direct Benefit Transfer subject to budget availability, and in case of false information or misuse, the entire amount is recovered and the unit is barred from availing any government scheme in future
Relevance -
As international corporate and incentive travel resumes full strength post-pandemic, the meetings segment accounted for over 60% share of the Indian MICE market in 2024, indicating structural demand for face-to-face engagement that virtual platforms can’t replace. By subsidising foreign participant costs, UP aims to increase inbound delegations, boosting spending in hotels, transport, Food and Beverage and allied services.
Uttar Pradesh’s MSME sector already contributes significantly to the state’s export base, and the state’s new Export Promotion Policy (2025–30) aims to expand the number of registered exporters approximately 50% by 2030 by integrating service-oriented exports, including tourism and events, into export value chains. Supporting MICE events helps MSMEs showcase products to global buyers and accelerates export participation.
India’s MICE industry generated about $ 49.4 billion (₹ 4.16 lakh crore) in 2024 and is projected to grow to $ 103.7 billion (₹ 8.73 lakh crore) by 2030 at 13% CAGR, signalling strong demand for hosted events and associated services. This expansion drives revenue in hospitality, travel, logistics and professional services, creating high-quality jobs.
III. Social Sector Schemes :
A. Haryana
Extension Of One Time Settlement (OTS) Scheme For Farmers
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On 10th December, 2025, the Haryana Government extended the OTS scheme to provide relief to debt-burdened farmers with overdue loans from Primary Agricultural Credit Societies (PACS).
The scheme offers full interest waiver on eligible agricultural loans, conditional on repayment of the principal amount within a fixed timeline and the scheme is operational till 31st March, 2026.
Key Features -
If a farmer repays the principal amount of their overdue loan by 31st March, 2026, the entire accumulated interest will be waived off, allowing them to close their debt account.
The OTS scheme provides interest waiver amounting to ₹ 2,266 crore for 6.8 lakh farmers with outstanding PACS loans, subject to repayment of the principal amount.
The scheme applies only to loans issued through PACS, covering accumulated interest while retaining the principal repayment obligation.
Compensation disbursement of ₹ 116 crore to farmers due to weather-related crop losses.
Compensation was sanctioned after assessment of damage across 1.2 lakh acres, affecting 53,821 farmers, with crop-wise and district-wise allocations notified.
Relevance -
Indebtedness among Indian farmers and in Haryana specifically is a longstanding structural challenge. For Haryana, outstanding agricultural loans stands at ₹ 60,816 crore against over 25 lakh farmers. Haryana’s OTS scheme targets this debt overhang by offering a full waiver of accumulated interest on overdue PACS loans for farmers.
Inclusion of 2.25 lakh deceased farmers’ families with an additional ₹ 900 crore interest burden reflects concentrated debt exposure among identified beneficiary groups. OTS scheme restores their eligibility for new crop loans, which is critical for sustaining agricultural operations in the upcoming cycles.
District-wise allocations such as ₹ 23.55 crore to Charkhi Dadri, followed by Hisar and Bhiwani demonstrate geographically concentrated agricultural distress. This spatial overlap between high loan exposure and crop damage strengthens the case for targeted debt relief rather than blanket loan waivers, as the OTS scheme focuses on farmers already verified as distressed.
By promoting crop-specific payouts, ₹ 35.29 crore for millet, ₹ 27.43 crore for cotton, ₹ 22.91 crore for paddy, and ₹ 14.10 crore for guar, the scheme catalyses multi-crop exposure rather than isolated commodity loss.
B. Delhi
Atal Canteen Programme
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The Delhi Government on 25th December, 2025, launched the Atal Canteen Programme to provide nutritious meals at ₹ 5 to low-income residents, marking the birth anniversary of Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ji.
The initiative aims to operationalise 100 canteens across Delhi, with 45 already inaugurated and the remaining to be rolled out shortly.
The previous Delhi Government attempted a similar canteen model in 2017 under the Aam Aadmi Canteen initiative; however, it remained largely on paper and failed to achieve meaningful on-ground implementation.
Key Features -
Each Atal Canteen will provide a complete meal at a subsidised price of ₹ 5, ensuring affordability for daily wage workers, labourers, and the urban poor.
Each Atal Canteen will serve approximately 1,000 meals per day, benefiting over 1 lakh people daily across Delhi.
Every meal will deliver approximately 700–800 calories and 20–25 grams of protein to support basic nutritional needs.
The canteens will operate daily twice, serving lunch between 11:00 AM and 4:00 PM and dinner between 6:30 PM and 9:30 PM.
Meal distribution will be managed through a digital token system, with CCTV-based real-time monitoring conducted via the Delhi Urban Shelter Improvement Board (DUSIB) digital platform to ensure transparency.
Similar Initiatives In Other States - States, such as Tamil Nadu with its Amma Canteens and Karnataka with its Indira Canteens, have implemented notable subsidised meal programmes.
Relevance -
Subsidised meal programmes helping ensure nutritional intake for daily wage workers, migrant labourers, and slum residents. This is crucial in metropolitan cities, where low-income groups struggle to afford wholesome meals. The programme is imperative because of the demand for affordable nutrition.
Subsidised meal programmes have been globally recognised as effective tools in reducing malnutrition. The Atal Canteen’s structured, two-meals-a-day model ensures that economically disadvantaged adults receive consistent, balanced nutrition.
C. Assam
Artist Health Scheme
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On 16th December, 2025, the Government of Assam, through the Department of Cultural Affairs in collaboration with the Assam State Film Finance and Development Corporation, launched the Artist Health Scheme.
It aims to provide social security and healthcare coverage to artists across Assam, protecting them from financial hardship arising from high medical expenses.
Target Beneficiaries - Artists with national or international recognition.
Key Features -
Provides age-based health insurance coverage with graded financial limits:
₹ 3 lakh for artists aged 18–40 years.
₹ 4 lakh for artists aged 41–50 years.
₹ 5 lakh for artists aged 51–60 years.
₹ 6 lakh for artists aged 61–70 years.
Beneficiary selection will be undertaken by a high-level committee under the Assam State Film Finance and Development Corporation (ASFFDC) to ensure merit-based and need-based inclusion.
The healthcare benefits are valid for a three year period, providing medium-term financial security to enrolled artists.
Relevance -
In Assam, 27.6% of total health expenditure is out-of-pocket. Artists largely self-employed and outside formal employer insurance are especially vulnerable to catastrophic health spending. The scheme’s coverage of ₹ 3–6 lakh per beneficiary directly cushions this risk.
Assam’s economy is leveraging its cultural heritage (Bihu, Mobile Theatre, Satriya) for tourism. The state’s Credit-Deposit Ratio, has surged from 50.44% in March 2018 to 70.29% by September 2024, signaling a more active economy where human capital is the primary asset. The scheme ensures that national and international award-winning artists, who are the primary brand ambassadors of Assam remain physically and financially capable of continuing their craft.
Swasthaban Shramik Yojana - Tea Garden Healthcare Initiative
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On 27th December, 2025, the Government of Assam launched an initiative to strengthen the healthcare services for tea garden workers across the state. This initiative was earlier approved under the Assam Budget 2025–26.
It aims to substantially boost structured and quality healthcare for tea garden workers, a community that historically faces significant health vulnerabilities due to poor nutrition, limited access to services, and occupational risks by improving health screening and medical support in tea estate regions.
Target Beneficiaries - Permanent and non-permanent tea garden workers and their dependents throughout Assam’s tea plantation areas.
Key Features -
State level pilot implementation across 20 selected tea estates (including Moran, Sessa and Ghagrajan), with provisions for statewide scale up based on pilot outcomes.
Door-to-door health risk identification conducted by ASHA workers using the Community Based Assessment Checklist (C-BAC) to enable early detection of communicable and non-communicable diseases.
Deployment of Mobile Medical Units (MMUs) to tea estates to provide on-site diagnostics, medical consultations, and follow-up care, reducing travel and access barriers.
Focus on early identification and management of high burden conditions prevalent among tea garden workers, including anaemia, hypertension, diabetes, tuberculosis, and leprosy.
Appointment of Women’s Health and Wellness Ambassadors from within tea garden communities to lead nutrition, hygiene, and preventive healthcare awareness initiatives.
Integration of Rashtriya Bal Swasthya Karyakram (RBSK) teams to ensure 100% health coverage for children and adolescents, with emphasis on malnutrition, developmental delays, and early childhood diseases.
Relevance -
Tea garden communities in Assam face a substantial burden of both communicable and non-communicable diseases, including hypertension, anaemia, gastritis, and work related musculoskeletal disorders. Undernutrition remains widespread, with 34.7% of workers recorded as having low body mass index, and a higher incidence among women (37.7%) than men (30.2%). These indicators point to persistent health vulnerabilities, strengthening the case for systematic health screening, early detection, and targeted community based healthcare interventions under the Swasthaban Shramik Yojana.
Tea garden communities often lack adequate medical infrastructure, many primary health units are under‑resourced and unable to manage emergencies, forcing workers to travel long distances for care. Only 414 out of 800 tea gardens have their own hospitals, 210 have dispensaries, and 176 have no healthcare facilities at all. This means nearly 22% of gardens lack any health provision onsite.
D. Himachal Pradesh
Expansion Of The Mukhya Mantri Laghu Dukandar Kalyan Yojana To Urban Areas
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On 21st December, 2025, the Government of Himachal Pradesh expanded the Mukhya Mantri Laghu Dukandar Kalyan Yojana to urban areas. Notifying it as Mukhya Mantri Laghu Dukandar Kalyan Yojana–Shahri for implementation across all Urban Local Bodies (ULBs).
The scheme, announced in Budget 2025–26, extends a One-Time Settlement (OTS) mechanism to distressed urban small shopkeepers whose business loans have turned into Non-Performing Assets (NPAs).
Key Features -
The scheme provides One-Time Settlement assistance of up to ₹ 1 lakh per beneficiary, with the full OTS amount borne by the State Government.
Eligible beneficiaries include urban small shopkeepers with annual turnover below ₹ 10 lakh who have availed bank loans and whose accounts have been classified as NPAs.
Loans with total outstanding up to ₹ 1 lakh will be fully settled, while cases exceeding ₹ 1 lakh will receive ₹ 1 lakh state support, with the remaining amount payable by the beneficiary.
The scheme applies to collateral-free business loans availed between 1st April, 2020 and 31st March, 2025, with a cap of ₹ 10 lakh on the original loan amount.
Implementation is routed through a defined institutional mechanism involving Urban Local Bodies, banks, a Nodal Bank, and the Urban Development Department, with no processing or administrative charges levied on beneficiaries.
Relevance -
The Himachal Pradesh State Cooperative Agriculture And Rural Development Bank for FY 2024-25 indicates a Gross NPA percentage of 36.75%. Such high ratios severely limit a bank’s ability to issue new loans. By bearing 100% of the settlement cost, the state provides banks with an immediate cash infusion. This reduces their Net NPA, improves their Capital Adequacy Ratio (CAR), and creates the risk appetite needed to lend to the urban poor under fresh schemes.
The urban extension covers a wide cross-section of micro-entrepreneurs, from fruit and vegetable vendors, tea stall operators, barbers, cobblers, mobile repair shop owners and dhaba operators. This sectoral inclusivity ensures that relief reaches diverse categories of urban workers whose incomes are often seasonal or volatile, making them particularly vulnerable to loan defaults. By formalising relief through Urban Local Bodies and bank processes, the scheme integrates widespread informal sectors into structured economic support mechanisms.
The scheme’s design prioritises transparency and ease of access for eligible beneficiaries. This institutional clarity reduces administrative bottlenecks, enhances trust in public support systems, and facilitates expedited resolution of NPAs.
E. Maharashtra
Marriage Support Scheme For Differently-Abled
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On 19th December, 2025, the Government of Maharashtra approved a revised marriage support scheme aimed at financially assisting marriages involving persons with disabilities, expanding support for marital unions in mixed marriages (one partner disabled and one non-disabled) and reinforcing social inclusion policies in the state.
The initiative seeks to promote social inclusion and economic empowerment of persons with disabilities by offering direct financial assistance for legally registered marriages, thereby reducing economic barriers and encouraging personal milestones with dignity and security.
Key Features -
Financial Assistance - The baseline, earlier capped at ₹ 50,000, has now been revised to:
₹ 2,50,000 for marriages where both partners are persons with disabilities.
₹ 1,50,000 for mixed marriages.
Funds are credited directly to the joint bank account of the couple through the Maharashtra Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) system for transparency and efficiency.
50% of the assistance must be kept as a fixed deposit, encouraging long term financial security for the couple.
Assistance applies only to legally registered first marriages submitted within one year of the wedding.
Eligibility Criteria -
At least one partner must have a minimum of 40% disability verified through a valid UDID (Unique Disability ID) card.
Applicants must be residents of Maharashtra.
Marriage must be legally registered, and benefit claims must be submitted to the District Empowerment Officer for Persons with Disabilities within one year of marriage.
Final approval is given by a district level committee based on submitted documents and criteria.
Relevance -
Maharashtra accounts for roughly 29.63 lakh persons with disabilities as per the 2011 census. By increasing the one‑time financial incentive to ₹ 1.5 lakh when one partner is disabled and ₹ 2.5 lakh when both partners are disabled, the policy meaningfully lowers financial barriers associated with marriage and household formation for persons with benchmark disabilities (≥40% disability), fostering greater social inclusion and economic stability for this group.
Labour Force Participation Rate (LFPR) among PwDs in Maharashtra is 25% which is significantly lower than the LFPR of the state of Maharashtra, about 46.8%. Therefore, by mandating that 50% of the marriage assistance be parked in a fixed deposit, the scheme converts a one-time welfare transfer into a long-term financial asset for PwDs, a group that historically faces lower labour-force participation and income security.
SOPs Under The Rights Of Persons With Disabilities Act
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On 29th December, 2025, the Government of Maharashtra notified dedicated Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) under Section 7 of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016, formalising a mechanism to address abuse, violence and exploitation of persons with disabilities (PwDs) and ensure legal protection, rescue, rehabilitation and preventive action.
It aims to operationalise the state level implementation of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act by creating a formal, statutory mechanism for PwDs and institutions working with them to lodge and process complaints related to abuse, violence and exploitation.
Target Beneficiaries - Persons with Disabilities (PwDs) in Maharashtra who are victims of abuse, violence or exploitation, and institutions working for PwDs.
Key Provisions -
Sub-Divisional Magistrates and District Magistrates are designated as competent authorities to take cognisance of complaints.
Aggrieved PwDs or authorised representatives can lodge complaints with the police, who must forward them to competent authorities for action under statutory provisions.
Competent authorities can implement rescue, protection, interim orders, medical aid, rehabilitation and legal remedies as needed.
Institutions working with PwDs can directly report suspected abuse or exploitation to the competent authority.
Relevance -
Maharashtra has about 29.6 lakh PwDs (2.63% of the population), higher than the national average of about 2.2%. However, UDID approval delays continue to restrict access to statutory protections. The SOPs create a formal protection and grievance mechanism that operates even amid documentation backlogs.
In Nagpur, surveys identified around 92,000 PwDs, of whom approximately 70,000 (about 75%) lack UDID cards, limiting access to welfare and legal safeguards. By institutionalising complaint, rescue and rehabilitation procedures, the SOPs reduce the risk that administrative exclusion leads to unaddressed abuse or exploitation.
F. Uttarakhand
Retirement Assistance For Anganwadi Workers
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On 14th December, 2025, Uttarakhand Government approved an enhanced retirement assistance of ₹ 1 lakh for Anganwadi Workers (AWWs).
The revised benefit will apply to all Anganwadi workers retiring from 1st April, 2026, replacing the earlier payout of ₹ 35,000–₹ 40,000.
The decision follows formal consultations with Anganwadi worker organisations and approval by the Department of Women Empowerment and Child Development.
Key Features -
The retirement assistance amount has been increased from the existing ₹ 35,000 – ₹ 40,000 to ₹ 1 lakh.
Anganwadi workers will contribute ₹ 300 per month towards the retirement corpus.
Anganwadi workers retiring from 1st April, 2026 onwards will receive a minimum lump-sum retirement benefit assistance.
Similar Initiatives In Other States - Maharashtra and Haryana have taken steps toward improving retirement benefits for Anganwadi workers.
Relevance -
Anganwadi workers lack formal social security mechanisms. As of 2024, Uttarakhand has 19,583 Anganwadi workers, so this uniform assistance creates a clearer and more substantial terminal benefit framework for a sizable women‑dominated frontline workforce.
As per National Family Health Survey-5 (NFHS-5), around 21% of antenatal care services are facilitated through Anganwadi workers, highlighting their central role in maternal health delivery, so this assistance will improve the working condition of Anganwadi Workers.
The move strengthens income security for women frontline workers, supporting dignity and financial stability after decades of public service.
IV. Investment Announcements :
A. Odisha
Odisha Investor’s Meet, 2025
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The Odisha Government has generated a cumulative investment intent worth ₹ 67,000 crore during its two-day Investors Meet in Hyderabad.
It covered multiple priority manufacturing sectors and combined investment proposals and signed Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) and was attended by over 500 delegates.
Key Features -
Over the course of the two-day Odisha Investors’ Meet, proposals include both signed MoUs worth about ₹ 27,650 crore and additional investment intentions of about ₹ 39,131 crore. The total potential employment impact is estimated at nearly 56,000 jobs across sectors.
Day 1 engagements included a total of 15 Government-to-Business (G2B) meetings were conducted, with participation from leading companies, resulting in investment intents worth approximately ₹ 19,500 crore and an employment potential of 7,500 jobs, while seven MoUs worth ₹ 19,200 crore were signed, targeting potentially 12,700 jobs.
On Day 2, the state Government enhanced engagement by signing 13 MoUs with leading industrial players across pharmaceuticals, medical devices, renewable energy equipment, electronics, IT and data centres, textiles, and advanced manufacturing, reinforcing sector diversification.
Relevance -
Odisha’s economy historically relied heavily on mining and metallurgy. As of 2025, mining and quarrying comprised around 9.3% of GSVA, while industry and services cumulatively accounted for around 79% of the GSDP, reflecting a shift away from agriculture and mineral extraction toward broader industrialisation. The meet’s emphasis on pharmaceuticals, medical devices, electronics, IT/data centres and renewable energy investments embeds Odisha in higher value-added segments of the economy, raising the potential for sustainable growth and reducing volatility linked to global commodity price swings.
Odisha’s female labour force participation shows persistent gender gaps and a high prevalence of informal work. For 2023‑24 the overall labour force participation rate (LFPR) in Odisha was about 64.9 %, but female LFPR remained significantly lower at around 49.4 %, compared with 81.7 % male participation, indicating a gender gap in participation of over 30 percentage points. In urban areas, female worker participation was even lower at 30.8 % vis a vis 75.0 % for males.
By attracting investments in formal wage‑based sectors such as pharmaceuticals, IT/ITeS, advanced manufacturing and global capability centres, Odisha’s industrial push can create structured employment opportunities with defined contracts and social protections.
Odisha Pharma Summit, 2025
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The Government of Odisha organised the Odisha Pharma Summit, 2025 on 16th December, 2025 in Bhubaneswar to position the state as a pharmaceutical and medical devices manufacturing hub in eastern India.
The summit resulted in investment commitments and intents worth ₹ 7,043 crore, covering pharmaceuticals, medical devices, and industrial infrastructure.
Outlay - To attract investment of ₹ 25,000 crore and generate 1 lakh indirect jobs by 2030.
Key Feature -
A total of 69 Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) were signed during the summit, covering pharmaceuticals, medical technology, medical devices, and industrial infrastructure.
Of the total ₹ 7,043 crore investment value, ₹ 6,263 crore represented firm commitments through signed MoUs, while ₹ 780 crore came as investment intents from 24 proposals.
Two dedicated industrial parks were unveiled, the Pharmaceutical Park at Khurda–Nayagarh and a Medical Devices Manufacturing Park at Khurda equipped with common utilities, testing and certification facilities, and compliance-ready infrastructure.
State Government to offer a 50% subsidy on concessional land cost for units employing more than 200 Odisha-domiciled skilled staff.
30% capital investment subsidy on actual investment in Plant and Machinery, with no upper cap, disbursed in a phased manner, over a period of 5 years from the date of commencement of commercial production. While a 25% subsidy (capped at ₹ 1 crore) will be given for dedicated power infrastructure.
Sector-wise, 32 MoUs in pharmaceuticals accounted for ₹ 2,681 crore, 12 MoUs in medical technology and devices accounted for ₹ 582 crore, and one MoU for a pharmaceutical park involved ₹ 3,000 crore of proposed investment.
Relevance -
The Odisha Government’s vision (Odisha Vision 2036 & 2047) aims to double employment in the manufacturing sector and strengthen export share, targeting higher global integration in industrial output. The pharma and medical devices push supports this strategy by developing world-class parks and attracting export-oriented units.
Odisha’s industrial sector already contributes a significant share to the state economy, accounting for about 43.3 % of Gross State Value Added (GSVA) in 2023-24, with manufacturing being the largest sub-component. Expanding into pharmaceuticals and medical devices, sectors with strong value addition and technological depth, supports diversification beyond traditional heavy industries like metals and mining, helping balance the state’s economic structure.
India is already a global powerhouse in generics and vaccines, supplying about 50% of the world’s generic drugs and 60% of vaccines, and a pharmaceuticals industry valued at over $ 50 billion (approximately ₹ 450 crore) and set to record healthy revenue growth of 7%-9% in FY26.The Odisha summit leverages the strength by establishing a new industrial cluster in eastern India, potentially expanding India’s manufacturing footprint and export capacity even further.
B. Uttar Pradesh
Multi-Sectoral Industrial Projects Investments
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On 22nd December, 2025, Uttar Pradesh Cabinet approved investment proposals worth ₹ 15,189.7 crore for setting up 12 mega and super-mega industrial units across nine districts of the state.
These projects span iron and steel, electronics, food processing, cement and renewable energy, and are intended to support the state’s broader objective of becoming a $ 1‑trillion economy (approximately ₹ 1 lakh crore).
Investment Outlay - ₹ 15,189.7 crore investment for 12 industrial units spanning iron and steel, cement, electronics, food processing, paper, and renewable energy sectors.
Key Features -
Earthstar Ventures Private Limited will set up an iron and steel plant in Mirzapur with an investment of ₹ 549.26 crore. Shri Bhawani Paper Mills Limited will invest ₹ 305 crore in a paper mill in Rae Bareli. Apollo Coated Products Private Limited will establish a cold rolling mill at Sikandrabad (Bulandshahr) with an investment of ₹ 350 crore.
Haldiram Snacks Manufacturing Pvt Ltd will set up a snacks manufacturing unit in Hardoi with an investment of ₹ 349.27 crore.
Dreamtech Electronics India Pvt Ltd will set up a Printed circuit board (PCB) manufacturing unit in Greater Noida, Gautam Budh Nagar, with an investment of ₹ 414.88 crore. ACC Limited will establish a greenfield cement grinding unit in Sonbhadra with an outlay of ₹ 803 crore.
One of the largest proposals is a solar integrated manufacturing park by NSL Renewable Power Pvt Ltd in Meerut, with an investment of ₹ 4,499.51 crore.
In Gautam Budh Nagar, Amber Enterprises India Ltd will set up a consumer electronics manufacturing unit in the Yamuna Expressway Industrial Development Authority area, and Ascent Circuits will establish a Printed Circuit Board (PCB) and semiconductor manufacturing unit.
In Muzaffarnagar, Swaroop Steel Industries Pvt Ltd will invest ₹ 266.70 crore in a TMT steel plant, and Amba Shakti Steels will invest ₹ 241.50 crore in a steel production unit. UltraTech Cement Ltd will set up a cement production unit in Aligarh with an investment of ₹ 628 crore.
Relevance -
Approval for 12 industrial units aligns with Uttar Pradesh’s broader industrial promotion strategy designed to transform the state into a manufacturing and investment hub, driving its ₹ 1 lakh crore economy goal. Under flagship programmes like Invest UP 2.0, Uttar Pradesh’s manufacturing sector contributed ₹ 2.81 lakh crore to GSVA in 2024-25 and aims to attract about ₹ 3 trillion in manufacturing investments in 2025-26, indicating a sustained focus on capital inflows and formal job creation through industrial growth.
Uttar Pradesh’s unemployment rate has reportedly fallen from over 19 % in 2012‑17 to about 2.4%, and the new ₹ 15,189 crore set of 12 industrial projects fits into this employment‑generation target by adding more formal jobs across multiple districts. Therefore, sectoral diversity reduces concentration risk and strengthens the state’s industrial base.
The initiatives such as Solar integrated manufacturing park directly supports the UP Solar Energy Policy 2022 target of 22,000 MW solar capacity by 2026‑27.The Semiconductor unit in Gautam Budh Nagar is being set up in a state that already offers strong incentives and exemptions under the Uttar Pradesh Semiconductor Policy‑2024.
C. Madhya Pradesh
Bundelkhand Industrial Incentive Package
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The Madhya Pradesh cabinet on 23rd December, 2025, approved a special industrial incentive package for the Bundelkhand region.
The package targets the Maswasi Grant industrial area in Sagar division and aims to catalyse industrialisation, attract large-scale and MSME investments, and generate employment over the next five years.
Key Features -
The package seeks to attract ₹ 24,240 crore in investments with an estimated direct employment generation of nearly 29,000 jobs in Bundelkhand.
Land allotment and annual land lease rate fixed at ₹ 1 per sq. metre for eligible industrial units in the Maswasi Grant industrial area.
Development charges can be paid in 20 equal annual installments, while maintenance fees have been capped at ₹ 8 per square metre per year.
The state has approved 100% reimbursement of stamp duty and registration fees for eligible industrial units.
Electricity duty exemption for five years from the start of commercial production has been granted to industrial units under the package.
Cement manufacturing units explicitly excluded from the benefits of this special package.
Relevance -
Bundelkhand, spanning parts of Madhya Pradesh has historically lagged in industrialisation. Bundelkhand contributes about 10% of state income in MP covering roughly 40,000 sq. km. area of Madhya Pradesh, reflecting its low industrial and services base compared to non-Bundelkhand regions. This package’s relevance lies in targeting this structural disparity by incentivising long-term industrial investment.
Other parts of Bundelkhand have recently attracted significant projects and funding, such as commercial production of projects worth ₹ 8,000 crore and larger packages unveiled under national and state investment missions. MP’s initiative contributes to broader Bundelkhand upliftment, where industrial clusters, improved infrastructure, and job creation are being pursued. This momentum strengthens investor confidence in the region’s growth and competitiveness.
V. Other Decisions :
A. Maharashtra
Revised Occupancy Certificate (OC) Amnesty Scheme
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On 11th December, 2025, the Maharashtra Government announced a revised OC amnesty scheme to regularise nearly 20,000 buildings in Mumbai that have been functioning for years without valid OCs affecting over 10 lakh residents and around 2.5 lakh families.
Objective - The scheme seeks to regularise long pending buildings without OCs arising from minor plan deviations, ease residents’ financial and legal hardships, and provide a clear, time bound (within six months) regularisation process with concessions and individual access to OCs for flat owners.
Target Beneficiaries - The scheme applies to nearly 20,000 residential and mixed use buildings in Mumbai that lack OCs largely because of minor plan deviations, directly impacting more than 10 lakh residents or about 2.5 lakh families.
Key Provisions -
For applications filed between six months and one year from the launch, a penalty equal to 50% of the applicable rate or premium will be levied, thereby discouraging prolonged delay while still keeping regularisation viable.
The scheme also allows residents to utilise their full entitlement during redevelopment, aligning OC regularisation with Mumbai’s broader redevelopment push for ageing and non-compliant stock.
The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has been instructed to create a dedicated mechanism that will allow individual flat owners to obtain OCs independently if their society or builder does not initiate the process, effectively delinking individual relief from collective action.
Relevance -
Mumbai has nearly 20,000 buildings without valid OCs, affecting over 10 lakh residents, largely due to minor plan deviations. The absence of OCs has led to higher taxes and utility charges and restricted access to home loans and resales. The revised amnesty scheme provides a time bound, concessional regularisation window, converting long occupied but legally vulnerable properties into formal, mortgageable housing stock.
Residents in buildings without an OC currently hold “frozen” assets. They cannot easily sell their property at market rates or secure bank mortgages. By regularising these 2.5 lakh families, the state is effectively monetising dead capital, injecting massive liquidity into the Mumbai real estate market and increasing the credit-worthiness of a significant portion of the urban middle class.
The most immediate economic impact is the abolition of double property tax and inflated water/sewerage charges. For a typical Mumbai household, this represents a significant increase in disposable income.
Conversely, the Government benefits from a one-time revenue surge through the 50% regularisation premiums, creating a win-win fiscal outcome.
B. Mizoram
Transformed Mizoram Vision 2047 Roadmap
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On 10th December, 2025, The Transformed Mizoram Vision 2047 Roadmap was unveiled during a high-level workshop held at the Mizoram Assembly House Conference Hall.
The roadmap aims to transform Mizoram’s economy and society over the next two decades by overcoming structural constraints and fostering sustained, inclusive, and innovation driven growth.
It seeks to shift the state towards a services-led and innovation-led economic structure with quality job creation, enhanced human capital, improved connectivity, and climate resilient development at its core.
Targets -
Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP) is projected to grow from around ₹ 35,578.84 crore (2023–24) to about ₹ 25 lakh crore by 2047, at an average annual growth rate of approximately 20.3%.
Per capita income is expected to reach roughly ₹ 16 lakh by 2047.
Departments outlined priority reforms and flagship initiatives across four thematic pillars:
Growth Drivers;
Capital Investment Sectors;
Social Development Enablers;
Transformation Anchors.
Central Initiative Alignment - Aligns with the national vision of Viksit Bharat@2047.
Similar Initiatives In Other States - Multiple states such as Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Telangana etc. have already launched their respective Vision 2047 documents.
Relevance -
The Vision 2047 roadmap projects Mizoram’s GSDP growth from ₹ 35,578.84 crore (2023–24) to about ₹ 25 lakh crore by 2047, which implies a very high average annual growth rate of about 20.3% and a substantial rise in per capita income to around ₹ 16 lakh signalling need for deep structural economic transformation. The current GSDP growth rate of Mizoram is 15.92% in 2023-24 which signals that the required growth rate to achieve the vision target is not unachievable at the current rate.
Mizoram has formally moved from fragmented, scheme-wise annual planning to a single, state-level long-term planning and monitoring framework through the adoption of a Vision 2047 roadmap and the creation of the State Institute for Transformation (SIT). This institutional anchor is designed to track outcomes across sectors, aligning yearly plans with long-term vision.
The strategic emphasis on connectivity in the Vision aligns with recent infrastructure outcomes such as the completion of the Bairabi–Sairang railway line in 2025, which has reduced rail travel time from remote areas to Aizawl and lowered logistics costs for goods movement. This addresses long-standing connectivity and mobility issues of the state.
C. Nagaland
IndusInd Health Mitra (IHM) – NDigital Health Boost
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On 16th December, 2025, The Nagaland Health Protection Society (NHPS), in partnership with Reliance General Insurance Company Limited (RGICL) announced the official launch of IndusInd Health Mitra (IHM), a mobile and web-based digital health consultation platform.
The launch aims to strengthen access to quality healthcare across Nagaland, especially improving access for communities in remote and hard to reach areas. It seeks to promote early diagnosis, enable prompt medical attention, reduce avoidable hospital visits, and ultimately improve overall health outcomes for eligible health insurance beneficiaries.
Key Features -
Free digital health consultation platform for an initial three month period for eligible beneficiaries under Ayushman Bharat PM-JAY and Chief Minister Health Insurance Scheme (CMHIS).
Video and audio consultations with qualified doctors and specialists from across India, reducing the need for travel and physical visits.
The platform enables secure storage and retrieval of digital medical records, ensuring continuity of care across consultations, and is accessible via mobile and web applications on Android and iOS, with beneficiary authentication seamlessly integrated through AB-PM-JAY and CMHIS health cards.
Relevance -
Most of the region of the state of Nagaland is hilly and about 78.12% is forested area. Further, 82.78% of the 19.8 lakh population of the state lives in rural areas. Such remote conditions make it difficult for people to access basic healthcare. This app would allow remote areas to access basic healthcare promptly.
To enhance healthcare equity across Nagaland, this digital platform addresses the geographic concentration of medical services. By bridging the gap between urban centers like Kohima or Dimapur and remote regions, the app optimizes current medical resources. It serves as a vital tool to maintain consistent care standards and ensure that every community has immediate access to professional medical guidance, regardless of distance.
D. Delhi
Cabinet Approval To Rejuvenate Water Bodies
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The Delhi Government on 23rd December, 2025, has approved a ₹ 100 crore allocation for the rejuvenation of water bodies to strengthen pollution control and environmental governance.
Key Features -
₹ 100 crore budgetary allocation approved specifically for rejuvenation of Government-controlled water bodies in Delhi. The allocation of ₹ 100 crore will be in addition to the previously allocated ₹ 19 crore for ensuring 100% rejuvenation of all identified water bodies.
Time-bound execution, with directions from the Chief Minister to complete rejuvenation works within one year.
The Delhi Government will coordinate with the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) to encourage similar action for water bodies outside its direct jurisdiction.
Relevance -
Delhi has nearly 1,000 water bodies, but only 160 fall under the direct jurisdiction of the Delhi Government, making targeted intervention necessary. Concentrating resources on this subset allows the Delhi Government to demonstrate full coverage restoration where it has clear authority, creating a performance benchmark.
Urban water bodies in Delhi are major sinks for untreated sewage and stormwater runoff, contributing to groundwater contamination and river pollution, particularly of the Yamuna. Restoring these water bodies reduces pollutant load at source, complementing sewage treatment investments rather than substituting for them.
Delhi is classified as a water-stressed region with declining groundwater levels in several districts. Rejuvenated ponds and lakes enhance local aquifer recharge, offering decentralised water security benefits at a fraction of the cost of new supply infrastructure.
DERC (Group Net Metering and Virtual Net Metering for Renewable Energy) (Seventh Amendment) Guidelines, 2025
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On 17th December, 2025, the Delhi Electricity Regulatory Commission (DERC) released draft amendments to its Group Net Metering (GNM) and Virtual Net Metering (VNM) Guidelines, 2019.
The draft seeks to extend Virtual Net Metering eligibility to all consumer categories, including single-point-of-supply consumers, while lowering cost and procedural barriers for distributed solar and wind adoption.
By shifting infrastructure costs to distribution companies and increasing flexibility in credit allocation, the amendments aim to accelerate rooftop and off-site renewable deployment in a land-constrained urban environment.
Key Features -
The VNM framework is proposed to be expanded to all electricity consumers in Delhi, removing earlier restrictions limited to residential users, group housing societies, and select government entities.
Surplus renewable energy generated under VNM and GNM will now be credited during normal time blocks, replacing the earlier restriction to off-peak accounting and simplifying energy settlement.
Distribution Licensees (DISCOMs) will be mandated to bear the capital cost of Service Line cum Development (SLD) and network augmentation, with these expenses treated as pass-through costs in the Aggregate Revenue Requirement (ARR).
The infrastructure cost waiver will apply to networks at 11 kilo Volt (kV) and below.
DISCOMs will be required to submit quarterly progress reports on Net Metering, GNM, and VNM implementation to DERC and the Department of Power to ensure transparency and monitoring.
Relevance -
India’s rooftop and distributed solar capacity has been growing rapidly, with rooftop solar installations hitting over 17,000 systems adding around 228 MW in Delhi alone under government promotion schemes by late 2025, reflecting strong latent consumer demand. Expanding VNM/GNM eligibility to all consumer categories will unlock this potential further by allowing consumers who cannot install solar on their own rooftops to benefit from shared solar generation, thereby scaling distributed solar in land-constrained cities.
Rooftop solar installations under current net-metering schemes have delivered measurable financial benefits, for example, a 10 kW rooftop system in Delhi can save around ₹ 80,000–₹ 86,400 annually on electricity bills and contribute to ₹ 160 crore in consumer savings at scale through reduced grid imports. Expanded VNM credits during normal time blocks increases the value of solar surplus for consumers, further shortening payback periods and enhancing economic incentives for adoption.
E. Karnataka
Draft Karnataka Electricity Regulatory Commission (Forecasting, Scheduling, Deviation Settlement Mechanism and related matters for Sellers and Buyers of Wind, Solar and RE-Hybrid Generation sources) Regulations, 2025
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On 17th December, 2025, the Karnataka Electricity Regulatory Commission (KERC) released the Draft KERC (Forecasting, Scheduling, Deviation Settlement Mechanism and related matters for Sellers and Buyers of Wind, Solar and RE-Hybrid Generation sources) Regulations, 2025.
The draft regulations aim to ensure secure and stable grid operations and promote accurate forecasting and scheduling by renewable energy generators and buyers in Karnataka’s electricity market, thereby strengthening grid reliability and facilitating the integration of large scale renewable energy capacity.
Key Features -
This applies to wind power generators (≥10 MW), solar and hybrid generators (≥5 MW), and buyers (≥1 MW), requiring them to forecast on a week-ahead, day-ahead, and intra-day basis to the State Load Despatch Centre (SLDC).
Establishes the role of a Qualified Coordinating Agency (QCA) to manage forecasting, scheduling, and deviation settlement. Multiple QCAs are not allowed at a single pooling sub-station but entities may self-manage or use SLDC services (for a fee).
Introduces a system to penalise deviations between scheduled and actual power injection or drawal. Errors are calculated as a percentage of actual output against schedule.
± 10% for wind and hybrid generators; ± 5% for solar generators and buyers; nil tolerance for Energy Storage Systems (ESS) paired with renewables.
Penalties start at ₹ 0.25 per unit for minor deviations, rising up to ₹ 0.75 per unit for larger errors. Charges are deposited into the State Deviation Pool Account Fund within 10 days, with late payments accruing simple interest.
Measures to prevent intentional mis-declaration (“gaming”) with KERC empowered to inquire into such practices and disallow deviation charges where appropriate.
No penalties will apply during grid emergencies or planned curtailments if communication from the SLDC is lacking.
Relevance -
Karnataka has installed 25,675.39 MW of renewable energy capacity, which is about 10.24% of India’s total renewable capacity. This large scale of intermittent generation (solar, wind, and others) creates significant variability in actual grid injection. The draft regulations’ forecasting and scheduling obligations help reduce uncertainty on the grid as this capacity fluctuates in real time.
Weather Driven Variability Demonstrates Need for Scheduling Accuracy. Wind generation in 2025 surged by about 24% compared to previous years during monsoon months, generating significantly more energy (4,769 Million Units) due to climatic conditions. Weather variability (wind and solar) directly impacts generation output. The new forecasting and deviation settlement rules push generators to improve prediction accuracy, which is critical when actual generation is heavily weather dependent.
Draft Karnataka Electricity Regulatory Commission (Roadmap for Reducing Cross-Subsidy and Cross-Subsidy Surcharge) Regulations, 2025
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On 12th December 2025, the Karnataka Electricity Regulatory Commission (KERC) issued the draft Karnataka Electricity Regulatory Commission (Roadmap for Reducing Cross Subsidy and Cross Subsidy Surcharge) Regulations, 2025.
Key Features -
It proposes a six year transition period beginning FY 2028-29 to reduce cross subsidy levels for certain consumer categories significantly deviating from cost reflective tariffs.
Targeted categories include:
EV Charging Stations (LT-6c), and
Private Lift Irrigation (HT-3)
EV charging subsidies to be reduced by about 5% per year and lift irrigation by 10% per year until within the ± 20% band.
For all other consumer categories, KERC intends to maintain cross subsidy levels within the ± 20% band of the Average Cost of Supply (ACoS).
Caps adjustments for categories outside the core roadmap so that annual changes do not exceed 5% of prevailing levels and remain within the permitted band.
Central Initiative Alignment - In compliance with the Electricity Act, 2003 and the National Tariff Policy, 2016, which mandate progressive alignment of retail tariffs with the cost of supply.
Relevance -
Based on current projections, LT-6c and HT-3 categories are projected to have a cross-subsidy of negative 48.83% and 78.98% by 2028-29, respectively. The roadmap introduces a measurable path toward market efficiency, that means, consumers will see electricity pricing that more accurately reflects supply costs.
This initiative reduces under recovery that fuels utility deficits and sudden tariff shocks. The Commission approved a net Annual Recurring Revenue (ARR) of ₹ 28,872.87 crore and identified a revenue gap of ₹ 2,098.94 crore to be recovered via tariff revision (average increase ~70 paise/unit). Large cross subsidy imbalances are one channel that repeatedly creates such gaps and leads to tariff volatility.
D. Odisha
Baraputra Aitihya Gram Yojana
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The Government of Odisha has launched the Baraputra Aitihya Gram Yojana (BAGY) to preserve and promote the legacies of the state’s eminent freedom fighters, poets, litterateurs, educationists, and social reformers.
In Phase I, the birthplaces of 25 “Baraputras” (distinguished sons of Odisha) have been selected for transformation into heritage museums that showcase their lives, ideals, and contributions to Odia society.
Outlay - The capital outlay provides up to ₹ 15 crore per birthplace, bringing the Phase I budget to ₹ 345 crore.
Key Features -
Conservation and development of the residential houses and birthplaces of 25 Odia icons as heritage museums to document their lives and contributions.
Creation of allied infrastructure such as interpretation centres, libraries, open‑air theatres, conference halls, children’s parks, and public amenities to make these sites interactive and visitor‑friendly.
Each museum site will include stalls for local cuisine, handloom, and handicraft products to create sustainable income avenues for nearby communities.
Installation of statues and memorials, along with organisation of regular cultural performances, discussions, and interactive sessions to disseminate the ‘Baraputras’ values and ideas.
Relevance -
Odisha’s tourism sector reported 1.98 crore total tourist arrivals in 2024‑25, including over 50,000 foreign visitors (marking an 18% increase from the 45, 173 recorded in 2023) reflecting a strong cultural and heritage tourism. The policy expands heritage destinations which attract domestic and international tourists.
Odisha’s tourism sector contributes 13% to the state’s GSDP. By converting historically significant birthplaces into destination-grade heritage circuits, the policy aims to increase tourist dwell time and spending.
The travel and tourism sector provided 3.34 crore direct jobs in India in 2024 and another 4.29 crore indirect jobs. The sector’s total share in employment was around 12.7% of total employment in 2024. The scheme aligns with the trend and propels jobs that are closer to home, assists in reverse rural out-migration.
Mukhya Mantri Smart Meter Yojana (MMSBY) - Installation Of Smart Meters Scheme Phase‑I
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The Odisha Cabinet on 24th December, 2025, approved the MMSBY – Installation of Smart Meters Scheme Phase-I to accelerate 100% smart metering across the state.
Key Features -
Domestic and other “low‑end” consumers with contracted demand (CD) up to and including 2 kilo watt (kW) are eligible to receive smart meters under the scheme.
Meter rent for all consumers with smart meters and CD up to 2 kW has been abolished with effect from 1st April, 2025, so eligible consumers will not pay any meter rent.
All four Odisha DISCOMs will implement the scheme within their licensed areas, through tariff‑based CAPEX approved by the regulator.
Central Initiative Alignment - It aligns with the Revamped Distribution Sector Scheme (RDSS) launched by the Government of India.
Relevance -
India is currently implementing one of the world’s largest smart grid transformations, with a national target to replace 25 crore traditional meters with prepaid smart meters. The scheme encourages and expedites to meet the benchmarks.
To meet 2030 climate goals India utilises renewable energy, however, traditional analog grids cannot handle the complexity of modern demand. Therefore, smart meters act as the sensory nervous system of the grid, allowing for real-time monitoring and two-way communication. These natural sources are intermittent, smart meters are required to balance supply and demand through Time-of-Day (ToD) tariffs, which incentivise users to consume power when renewable energy is most abundant
11.5 lakh smart‑meter installations in FY 2025‑26 alone of which nearly 8.75 lakh are replacements for existing non- smart meters, the scheme materially advances the state towards the goal of 100% smart metering.
G. Haryana
Haryana Private Universities (Amendment) Bill, 2025
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The Haryana Assembly has passed the Haryana Private Universities (Amendment) Bill, 2025, strengthening the state Government’s powers to intervene in the governance of private universities under defined and exceptional circumstances.
The Amendment alters the Haryana Private Universities Act, 2006, (2006 Act) by introducing a clear legal procedure for dissolving a university’s management and appointing an administrator, particularly in cases involving national security, public order, or serious governance failures.
Key Features -
The Amendment inserts a new Section 44B to formally define the procedure for dissolution of a private university’s authorities and appointment of an Administrator, addressing gaps in Sections 44 and 44A of the 2006 Act.
The state Government is empowered to act in grave circumstances, explicitly including threats to national security, sovereignty and integrity of India, public security, law and order, or misuse of university premises for unlawful or anti-national activities.
The scope of intervention is broadened to cover financial mismanagement, maladministration, academic compromise, regulatory violations, misinformation, and abuse of authority that materially affect university standards and functioning.
Penalties for serious violations are codified, ranging from stoppage of admissions, financial penalties between ₹ 10 lakh and ₹ 1 crore, to phased dissolution of the university.
It modifies Section 34A to prevent private universities from introducing new courses, increasing intake, or altering course nomenclature without prior state approval, addressing regulatory misuse identified by the Government.
Relevance -
The Amendment follows heightened scrutiny of Al-Falah University, where FIRs for cheating and forgery were registered after UGC and NAAC flagged false accreditation claims, and faculty members came under investigation in connection with the Red Fort blast case.
Haryana currently has 25 private universities, making a clear, uniform framework is imperative to address systemic risks without institution-specific action.
Prior to this change, the 2006 Act lacked a defined statutory procedure for dissolving a university or appointing an administrator, creating gaps during serious governance or security crises. By enabling a phased dissolution and appointment of an administrator, the amendment ensures continuity of academic operations and that enrolled students can complete their degrees even if governance collapse occurs.
H. Meghalaya
Draft Renewable Energy Tariff Determination Regulations, 2025
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On 12th December, 2025, the Meghalaya State Electricity Regulatory Commission (MSERC) issued the draft Meghalaya State Electricity Regulatory Commission (Terms and Conditions for Determination of Tariff for Generation from Renewable Energy Sources) Regulations, 2025, laying down rules for tariff determination for power generated from renewable energy sources in the state, until 31st March, 2028.
The objective is to establish a clear and updated regulatory framework for determining tariffs for electricity generated from renewable energy sources supplied to distribution licensees in Meghalaya.
Key Features -
The draft regulations apply to all grid connected renewable energy projects under MSERC’s jurisdiction, including solar, floating solar, solar thermal, wind, hybrid, and renewable plus storage projects.
Wind projects must use new turbine generators at Government approved sites, while floating solar is treated as a hybrid when integrated with non-ground mounted renewable projects.
Hybrid projects must have at least 33% capacity from one renewable source at a common interconnection point, and renewable with storage projects must connect generation and storage at the same point.
Tariffs will be determined on a project specific, case by case basis, accounting for return on equity, interest on loans, depreciation, operation and maintenance (O&M) expenses, and working capital.
The regulations prescribe a 70:30 debt equity ratio, normative interest rates for loans and working capital, and depreciation linked to approved capital costs.
Technology specific Capacity Utilization Factor (CUF)/Plant Load Factor (PLF) norms are defined, along with provisions for timely payment rebates and late payment surcharges to improve payment discipline.
MSERC has invited objections and suggestions from stakeholders within 15 days of notification to ensure participatory tariff formulation.
Central Initiative Alignment - The draft regulations update the state’s tariff methodology to align with Central Electricity Regulatory Commission (CERC) (Terms and Conditions for Tariff Determination from Renewable Energy Sources) Regulations, 2024.
Similar Initiatives In Other States - Electricity Regulatory Commissions of states such as Rajasthan, Uttarakhand, Bihar and Andhra Pradesh have previously issued and implemented similar regulations.
Relevance -
The primary economic function of these rules is to “de-risk” the sector for private investors. By codifying a 70:30 debt-equity ratio and a 14% normative Return on Equity (RoE), the state provides a predictable financial template.
Meghalaya already has an established Renewable Purchase Obligation (RPO) trajectory, under which obligated entities must buy increasing shares of renewable power (targeting total RPO to rise to 31.96% in 2025–26 and further in subsequent years). These new rules provide the legal mechanism for Independent Power Producers (IPPs) to supply the state distribution licensee (MePDCL) at a fair, commission-determined tariff. This “supply-side” boost is essential because the state utility cannot meet the 31.96% target through its own assets alone.
Currently, more than 50% of Meghalaya’s power requirement is sourced from renewable energy, while the state’s own generating corporation operates a 100% green portfolio of 367 MW. With the new regulations, it formally opens the space of renewable energy purchase for private sector players.
Further, the alignment with the CERC’s regulations enables Meghalaya to adopt tariff practices consistent with national norms and enhances investor confidence for wind, solar, hybrid, and storage-linked projects.
Regularisation Of Excess Areas On Government Lease Lands
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On 9th December, 2025, the Meghalaya Cabinet approved a new land administration measure to regularise excess areas on Government lease lands and to simplify the periodic renewal of such leases, particularly in and around Shillong.
It streamlines renewal and regularisation of Government lease lands by simplifying documentation, reducing inter office delays, and decentralising decisions to the district level for faster, time bound, and citizen friendly approvals.
Key Provisions -
Most powers and responsibilities for processing renewals and regularising excess areas on Government lease lands are transferred from the state Government to the concerned Deputy Commissioner.
The reform specifically targets lands in and around Shillong that were leased out many years ago, where renewals typically fall due every 30 years, and where existing procedures had become slow and bureaucratic.
By empowering Deputy Commissioners and cutting layers of scrutiny, the new system is expected to reduce processing time majorly for lease renewals.
Relevance -
Shillong has experienced rapid urban expansion and rising land pressures, but legacy lease frameworks have not kept pace with evolving administrative and governance requirements, resulting in irregular extensions, excess occupation, and informal arrangements on Government land. The new measures enable faster time bound regularisation of excess areas, improving land tenure clarity, and supporting planned urban development and infrastructure delivery in the capital region.
Large tracts of Government lease lands around Shillong face 30 year renewal backlogs, causing administrative delays and legal uncertainty. Poor record management and persistent delays in lease renewals have been recorded. By delegating renewal and excess area regularisation powers to Deputy Commissioners, the reform addresses these structural bottlenecks.
Thousands of properties in Shillong have been in a “legal gray zone” due to expired leases or minor area excesses. Therefore, cannot be used as collateral for bank loans. This reform acts as a liquidity injection, transforming “frozen assets” into bankable property, which will stimulate the local real estate and credit markets.
Mental Health Care Rules, 2025
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On 9th December, 2025, the Meghalaya Cabinet approved the Meghalaya Mental Health Care Rules, 2025, establishing formal regulations to govern mental health institutions and services within the state.
Key Features -
Establishes a comprehensive legal and regulatory framework for the licensing, operation, supervision, and governance of mental health institutions across the state.
Standardises mental healthcare delivery by prescribing uniform norms, treatment protocols, and rehabilitation practices to ensure quality and consistency of care.
Strengthens accountability and oversight mechanisms through mandatory monitoring, reporting, and regulatory supervision of all mental health service providers and facilities.
Similar Initiatives In Other States - Other states have launched similar regulations/rules, such as Haryana Mental Health Regulations, 2020, Karnataka Mental Healthcare Rules, 2022, and Kerala Mental Healthcare Rules, 2019.
Relevance -
In Meghalaya, suicides rose from 71 in 2005 to 226 in 2021, more than a threefold increase, with levels remaining elevated in recent years. By tightening licensing and regulatory supervision of mental health institutions, the 2025 Rules directly address risks arising from delayed, inconsistent, or sub-standard care critical in a high burden context where gaps in timely and appropriate mental health services can escalate crises and contribute to preventable deaths.
Between April 2020 and December 2023, Meghalaya’s District Mental Health Programme handled 72,544 cases, underscoring the scale and complexity of service delivery. The new Rules enable standardised treatment and referral protocols to improve continuity of care from district facilities to higher centres and rehabilitation, while mandatory reporting converts this high service volume into actionable oversight tracking follow ups, referrals, and relapse patterns to reduce drop outs and repeat crises.
I. Assam
Cabinet Approval For Bodoland Territorial Council Development
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On 18th December, 2025, the Assam Cabinet approved a ₹ 250 crore financial package for the Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC) under the State Owned Priority Development Fund (Rural) for FY 2025–26.
The initiative aims to boost socio economic development, rural infrastructure, and inclusive growth across the Bodoland region, a strategically important, sensitive area of Assam. The funding is intended to sustain peace following the Bodoland Territorial Region (BTR) accord, strengthen grassroots development, and improve public service delivery in rural BTC areas.
Key Features -
₹ 250 crore sanctioned for priority development works in the Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC) under the state owned Priority Development Fund (Rural).
Focus on rural infrastructure creation to improve physical connectivity and local livelihood ecosystems.
Approval forms part of a broader Cabinet package that also includes environmental conservation measures, such as declaring ecologically sensitive wetlands as reserved forests.
Relevance -
The Bodoland Territorial Region (BTR), comprising 4 districts and over 3.2 million people, continues to lag on key development indicators. According to NFHS-5 and Assam Economic Survey trends, rural infrastructure gaps and lower access to basic services persist in western Assam districts. A ₹ 250 crore targeted allocation allows focused spending in a region where per capita public infrastructure availability remains below the state average, improving equity in regional development.
Since the 2020 Bodoland Territorial Region (BTR) Accord, over 1,600 cadres laid down arms, and violence indicators in the region have declined sharply. However, post conflict literature shows that peace agreements are most durable when followed by visible economic gains within 5–7 years. The ₹ 250 crore package functions as a fiscal peace dividend, translating political settlement into tangible development outcomes and reducing the risk of relapse driven by economic grievances.
J. Gujarat
Ban On Rolling Paper And Similar Products
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The Gujarat Home Department on 23rd December, 2025, imposed a statewide ban on the storage, sale, distribution and trafficking of rolling papers, pre-rolled cones and similar products with immediate effect.
The prohibition has been issued under Sections 163(2) and 163(3) of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), 2023, citing rising misuse among youth and teenagers.
Key Features -
A complete prohibition has been enforced on the sale, storage and distribution of rolling papers, smoking cones and allied products across Gujarat.
The order has been issued using preventive powers under BNSS, 2023, allowing immediate enforcement without prior notice.
Penal action for violations will be taken under Section 223 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023, relating to disobedience of Government orders.
The ban extends to offline and retail e-commerce platforms, strengthening enforcement coverage.
Relevance -
Rolling papers contain toxic substances including titanium oxide, potassium nitrate, artificial dyes, calcium carbonate and chlorine bleach. Thus, the decision addresses the risks which directly pose a threat to public health.
Rolling papers are not classified as narcotics, tobacco products, or food items, allowing them to escape oversight under Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products (Prohibition of Advertisement and Regulation of Trade and Commerce, Production, Supply and Distribution) Act, 2003 (COTPA) and Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) frameworks. By invoking BNS preventive powers, the state plugs this enforcement gap and addresses ancillary supply chains that indirectly sustain drug consumption networks.
VI. Key Takeaways for the Fortnight: What You Should Know :
Regulatory Simplification :
States advanced trust-based governance by decriminalising minor offences and digitising compliance. Uttarakhand's Jan Vishwas Ordinance reviewed 52 Acts, applying graded penalties to seven for improved ease of doing business. Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat overhauled shops and establishments laws with portal-based inspections and extended work hours.
Land and Property Reforms :
Multiple states streamlined land use conversions and property titling to unlock economic potential. Karnataka amended land revenue rules for time-bound agricultural-to-non-agricultural conversions. Punjab shortened objection timelines in Abadi Deh records, targeting Lal Dora areas as bankable assets.
Energy and Logistics Push :
Sectoral policies targeted infrastructure for cost reduction and green growth. Assam's Logistics Policy aims to cut costs below 10% of GSDP by 2030 via multimodal parks. Gujarat integrated renewable energy with green hydrogen and pumped storage frameworks.
Gig and Social Welfare :
New frameworks expanded protections for informal and vulnerable groups. Jharkhand mandated gig worker registration, welfare cess, and minimum wages. Haryana extended farmer debt relief, while Delhi launched Atal Canteens for low-income meals.
Investment and Inclusion Drives :
States drew commitments through summits and incentives, alongside institutional equity. Odisha's Investors Meet secured 67,000 crore for 56,000 jobs; Pharma Summit boosted clusters. Odisha unified university teacher reservations at the institution level.
This edition illustrates how states are using policy to reshape factor markets, institutions, and social protection in tangible ways. Karnataka’s land conversion rules and NOIDA’s new building regulations seek to regularise land use and unlock previously under-utilised urban parcels, while Punjab’s amendments to Abadi Deh records aim to convert “dead capital” in Lal Dora areas into bankable, titled property. On the inclusion side, Odisha’s university-wide reservation roster, Delhi’s Atal Canteen programme, Haryana’s one-time settlement relief for indebted farmers, and new schemes for persons with disabilities and Anganwadi workers indicate that welfare expansion is being stitched directly into state growth strategies, rather than treated as a separate agenda.