States Weekly: November 5, 2025

Newsletter by Aryan D'Rozario

Published November 5, 2025

Big News: Kerala launches the NIRNAYA (Nava Kerala Integrated Referral Network for Advanced Diagnostics and Care) Initiative; Delhi relaxes its Vehicle Scrapping Policy; Odisha exempts MSME Land Conversion Fees and Rent; Rajasthan approves Agricultural Subsidies; Tripura approves the 'Chief Minister Balika Samriddhi Yojana' (Chief Minister Young Girl Prosperity Scheme); Maharashtra promotes the use of Artificial Sand for Construction Activities; and more.

Health

Maharashtra declares Leprosy a Notifiable Disease. The state requires all doctors and healthcare institutions, government and private, to report every diagnosed case of leprosy within 14 days. The policy aims to strengthen surveillance, ensure early detection, and help the state achieve its target of a "Leprosy-Free Maharashtra by 2027."

Source: Free Press Journal

Assam introduces Cashless Treatment Options. The new policy upgrades the states' 'Ayushman Asom Mukhya Mantri Lok Sevak Arogya Yojana' (Assam Chief Minister Public Servant Health Scheme) (AA-MMLSAY), benefiting thousands of state employees, pensioners, and their dependents. Previously, AA-MMLSAY, launched in 2023, only offered healthcare reimbursement instead of cashless medical treatment.

Source: Outlook

Kerala launches the NIRNAYA (Nava Kerala Integrated Referral Network for Advanced Diagnostics and Care) Initiative. The initiative, being implemented by Kerala's Health Department in collaboration with India Post, will link around 1300 laboratories across the state to offer a comprehensive range of 131 diagnostic tests. Eligible individuals will receive free testing, while others can access services at affordable rates.

Source: New Indian Express

Mizoram launches its Tobacco-Free Youth Campaign 3.0. The campaign reaffirms the government's commitment to creating a tobacco-free learning environment in schools.

Source: North East Now

Climate Change and Energy

Haryana issues HERC (Terms and Conditions for determination of Tariff from Renewable Energy Sources Renewable Purchase Obligation and Renewable Energy Certificate) Regulations 2025. The regulations issued by the Haryana Electricity Regulatory Commission (HERC) list the terms and conditions for determining tariffs for renewable energy projects, renewable purchase obligations, and renewable energy certificates. The regulations will come into force on April 1, 2026, and remain in effect until March 31, 2029. These regulations will apply to all grid-connected renewable energy projects entities in Haryana.

Source: Mercom

In detail: HERC (Terms and Conditions for determination of Tariff from Renewable Energy Sources Renewable Purchase Obligation and Renewable Energy Certificate) Regulations 2025

Delhi relaxes its Vehicle Scrapping Policy. Owners of 10-year-old diesel and 15-year-old petrol vehicles will be able to obtain a No Objection Certificate (NOC) to re-register their vehicles in other states instead of sending them to the scrapyard. Earlier, the Delhi Transport Department permitted issuances of NOC only within one year of the vehicle registration expiry.

Source: India TV

Karnataka issues Draft Karnataka Electricity Regulatory Commission [Framework for Demand Flexibility (DF) / Demand Side Management (DSM)] Regulations, 2025. The draft, issued by the Karnataka Electricity Regulatory Commission (KERC), introduces new regulations on Demand Flexibility (DF) and Demand Side Management (DSM) in the state. The new framework emphasizes that DSM is not only a tool for energy conservation but also a critical part of overall energy efficiency planning for the state's distribution network.

Source: Solar Quarter

In detail: Draft Karnataka Electricity Regulatory Commission [Framework for Demand Flexibility (DF) / Demand Side Management (DSM)] Regulations, 2025

Finance

Nothing critical to report this week.

Industrial Policy and Business Regulations

Odisha exempts MSME Land Conversion Fees and Rent. Entrepreneurs setting up Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) in the state will no longer need to apply for land conversion or pay related charges. Earlier, MSME owners had to pay 1 percent of the land's benchmark value as a conversion fee, along with an additional 1 percent as rent.

Source: Sambad

Land Acquisition and Labor Regulations

Maharashtra introduces Individual Property Cards. The new rules aim to apply to owners of apartments in multi-storey buildings. The government has constituted an 8-member committee to frame 'Vertical Property Rules' that will enable the inclusion of flat owners' names in land extracts and property cards, which are records that currently reflect only the landowner's details.

Source: Free Press Journal

In detail: Order

Odisha streamlines Sale, Purchase, and Registration Process. Land deals, which were earlier registered at sub-registrar offices, will now be done at tehsil offices from November 1, 2025, onwards.

Source: New Indian Express

Ladakh unveils the Online Building Permission System (OBPS). The OBPS is a fully digital platform designed to streamline and expedite the approval process for Building Construction Permits and Occupancy Certificates within the Municipal Committees of Leh and Kargil.

Source: Early Times

Infrastructure and Governance

Delhi introduces the 'Pink Saheli Smart Card' (Pink Sister Smart Card). The new Smart Card provides free travel for women and transgender individuals across the Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC) system and in cluster buses.

Source: New Indian Express

Madhya Pradesh introduces Key Policies. The state launches the Viksit Madhya Pradesh @ 2047 Vision Document, outlining the state's roadmap for the next 25 years of development. The state also launches the 'MP e-Seva Portal' (Madhya Pradesh e-Help Portal), offering 500 government services online, and the Invest MP 3.0 Portal to simplify digital investment and industrial services.

Source: Swarajya

In detail: Press release

Rajasthan approves Agricultural Subsidies. The state approves agricultural input subsidies for 763000 farmers in 3777 villages affected by excessive rainfall during the 2025 'Kharif' (June to October) season. The decision aims to provide relief to farmers whose crops suffered damage due to extreme monsoons.

Source: Business Standard

In detail: Press Release

Jammu and Kashmir approves Key Policies.

The Jammu and Kashmir Tenancy Bill, 2025 establishes a "Rent Authority" to regulate the renting of premises and ensure speedy adjudication of tenancy-related disputes. The Jammu and Kashmir Panchayati Raj (Amendment) Bill, 2025 increases the upper age limit of the State Election Commissioner from 65 to 70 years. The Jammu and Kashmir Shops and Establishments (Licensing, Regulation of Employment and Conditions of Service) Bill, 2025 lifts restrictions on women working during night hours and introduces several welfare measures for workers in commercial establishments. Lastly, the Jammu and Kashmir Cooperative Societies (Amendment) Bill, 2025 requires the Special Tribunal constituted under the Jammu and Kashmir Special Tribunal Act, 1988, to also function as a Cooperative Appellate Tribunal, aiming to improve efficiency and facilitating quicker resolution of disputes in the cooperative sector. The state also ratified the Jammu and Kashmir Goods and Services Tax (Amendment) Bill, 2025.

Source: KNS Kashmir, Daily Excelsior

Punjab approves Key Policies.

The state approves the Punjab Unified Building Rules, 2025, which allows for the construction of stilt-plus-four floors in all new buildings coming up in urban areas. The state also gives approval for changes on stamp duty and registration fees on instruments of hypothecation and equitable mortgage by amending the Indian Stamp Act, 1899 (Punjab) and Registration Fee Rules. Lastly, the state approves the Punjab Substance Use Disorder Treatment and Counselling and Rehabilitation Centres Rules, 2025, replacing the existing 2011 rules to strengthen regulation of de-addiction and rehabilitation centers across Punjab.

Source: New Indian Express

Tripura approves the 'Chief Minister Balika Samriddhi Yojana' (Chief Minister Young Girl Prosperity Scheme). The scheme aims to discourage child marriage and encourage education. Under the scheme, up to two girl children of some of the poorest families in the state will receive a fixed deposit of $562 (INR 50,000) each at birth. The amount can be claimed after the beneficiary turns 18, provided she has not been married before that age. The state also approves an additional 5 percent subsidy for women entrepreneurs. Women will be eligible for loans up to $112,396 (INR 1 crore), while the subsidy cap for men remains at 30 percent.

Source: Tripura Info

In detail: Cabinet Decision

Maharashtra promotes the use of Artificial Sand for Construction Activities. The government has delegated powers to approve artificial sand, or M-Sand, to District Collectors, who can sanction up to 100 units, an increase from the earlier 50-unit cap. The new policy aims to reduce illegal sandmining in rivers.

Source: Economic Times

In detail: Government Resolution

Goa amends the Goa Mineral Policy, 2013. The new norms govern ore transportation rules during the monsoon season. Under the amendment, the monsoon period - earlier fixed from June 7 to September 2 - will now be determined by the government "from time to time."

Source: Digital Goa

In detail: Gazette Notification

Water and Sanitation

Nothing critical to report this week.

Center - State Relations

Nothing critical to report this week.

Any Other

Nothing critical to report this week.

Programs & Projects