States Weekly Newsletter: March 18, 2026

Newsletter by Aryan D'Rozario

Published March 18, 2026

Big News: Kerala approves the implementation of a Universal Health Coverage Scheme; Maharashtra creates a Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSME) Commissionerate; Arunachal Pradesh releases their Arunachal Pradesh Industrial Development and Investment Policy, 2025; Tripura introduces a Fisheries Policy; Nagaland passes the Nagaland Shops and Establishments (First Amendment) Bill, 2025; Nagaland passes the Nagaland Town and Country Planning (Fifth Amendment) Bill, 2025; and more.

Health

Gujarat redefines "family" for government employees. Amendments to the Gujarat State Service (Medical Treatment) Rules 2002 now classify "siblings" who are financially dependent on a government employee and living with them as "family," granting them the benefit of cashless healthcare treatment under the 'Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana' (Prime Minister's People's Health Protection Scheme).

Source: Bhaskar English

Gujarat expands its Essential Drug List (EDL) for 2025-26. The EDL includes 150 new medicines. The decision aims to improve access to free treatment across public healthcare facilities in the state.

Source: Indian practioner

Kerala approves the implementation of a Universal Health Coverage Scheme. The scheme is formulated to provide health coverage to people who are not included in existing programs or who are uninsured.

Source: Telegraph

Climate Change and Energy

Karnataka raises electricity tariffs. The increase ordered by the Karnataka Electricity Regulatory Commission (KERC) applies to specific commercial and industrial consumers. The increase aims to recover about $135.72 million (INR 1,254.88 crore) in dues, while reducing the tariff for agricultural pump sets from the earlier uniform $0.089 (INR 8.3) per unit to between $0.07 and $0.084 (INR 6.57 and INR 7.79 per unit) for 2025-26.

Source: The Hindu

In detail: KERC order

Maharashtra mandates the registration of e-rickshaws and e-bikes with the Motor Vehicles Department. Earlier, e-rickshaws did not require separate permits.

Source: Indian Express

Rajasthan issues draft RERC (Renewable Purchase Obligation) (First Amendment) Regulations, 2026. The regulations, issued by the Rajasthan Electricity Regulatory Commission (RERC), seek to update the structure of renewable obligation categories and compliance mechanisms.

Source: Mercom

In detail: RERC (Renewable Purchase Obligations) (First Amendment) 2026

Finance

Nothing critical to report this week.

Industrial Policy and Business Regulations

Haryana passes the Haryana Travel Agents Registration and Regulation (Amendment) Bill, 2026. The bill mandates the registration of all travel agents.

Source: TravtalkIndia

In detail: Haryana Travel Agents Registration and Regulation (Amendment) Bill, 2026

Maharashtra creates a Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSME) Commissionerate. The aim of the Commissionerate is to strengthen support for MSMEs by centralizing the coordination of schemes and to provide an administrative structure for enterprise development.

Source: Construction world

In detail: Budget Speech 2026-27

Tamil Nadu releases their Animation, Visual Effects, Gaming, Comics and Extended Reality (AVGC-XR) Policy 2026. The policy outlines a roadmap to develop the state as a major hub for animation, gaming, and immersive technologies. The policy has set targets of more than 200 AVGC-XR startups, 100 companies, and around 200,000 high-value jobs, while aiming for a 20 percent share of India's AVGC-XR market and exports.

Source: DT Next

In detail: Tamil Nadu AVGC-XR Policy 2026

Arunachal Pradesh releases their Arunachal Pradesh Industrial Development and Investment Policy, 2025. The policy includes several incentives for new and expanding industrial units. These include the reimbursement of stamp duty and registration fees, capital investment subsidies, capital interest subvention, and power subsidies.

Source: NE today

In detail: Arunachal Pradesh Industrial Development and Investment Policy, 2025

Kerala approves their Kerala State Film Policy. The policy aims to ensure greater job security and gender equality at all stages of the film-making process.

Source: The Hindu

In detail: Cabinet decisions

Punjab approves a Punjab Film Promotion Policy, 2026. The policy aims to promote skill development in film production.

Source: New Indian Express

In detail: Punjab Film Promotion Policy 2026

Tripura introduces a Fisheries Policy. The policy aims to accelerate sector development and strengthen the livelihoods of and increase the number of fish farmers.

Source: New Kerala

Tripura launches the Tripura Women Entrepreneurship Policy 2025-2030. The primary objective of the policy is to create a supportive and growth-oriented ecosystem for women entrepreneurs in the state.

Source: NE Herald

Land Acquisition and Labor Regulations

Rajasthan passes The Rajasthan Prohibition of Transfer of Immovable Property and Provision for Protection of Tenants from Eviction from Premises in Disturbed Areas Bill, 2026. The bill regulates property transfers in communally sensitive regions.

Source: NDTV

In detail: Rajasthan - Transfer of Immovable Property Bill

Kerala approves the Kerala Land Assignment (Grant of Permission to Use Pattaya Land for Other Purposes) Rules, 2026. The rules enable the use of leased land for various purposes. Fees will be waived for houses, buildings constructed for agricultural and educational purposes, markets, places of worship, public utility structures, cultural institutions, and charitable institutions. Commercial and industrial buildings with an area of less than 5,000 square feet will also be exempt from the fee.

Source: Onmanorama

In detail: Cabinet decisions

Nagaland passes the Nagaland Shops and Establishments (First Amendment) Bill, 2025. The bill regulates working conditions in shops, commercial establishments, and places of public entertainment across the state.

Source: India today

Infrastructure and Governance

Gujarat introduces vocational education in private schools across the state from the academic year 2026-27 on a self-financed basis. The state identified 16 vocational sectors, including agriculture, information technology, and healthcare. It also issued guidelines regarding laboratory set-up and the appointment of vocational trainers.

Source: Times of India

Madhya Pradesh launches the Chief Minister Young Interns for Good Governance Program (CM YIGGP). Each administrative block will select 15 local youth for one-year internships (extendable), totaling around 4,860 interns statewide over three years.

Source: Tennews

Rajasthan passes the Rajasthan Panchayati Raj (Amendment) Bill, 2026. The bill removes the disqualification for contesting 'panchayat' (local) elections on the ground of having more than two children.

Source: Daily Pioneer

In detail: Rajasthan Panchayati Raj (Amendment) Bill, 2026

Uttar Pradesh approves a new affordable housing policy. The policy aims to expand access to housing for economically weaker sections (EWS), low-income groups (LIG), and middle-income families in urban areas. The policy will implement the Affordable Housing in Partnership (AHP) and Affordable Rental Housing (ARH) components under the 'Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana' (Prime Minister's Housing Scheme) Urban 2.0 program.

Source: Prop News time

Chhattisgarh approves the Chhattisgarh Freedom of Religion Bill, 2026. The bill focuses on curbing forced religious conversions.

Source: Devdiscourse

In detail: Cabinet decisions

Nagaland presents the Nagaland Agriculture Policy 2025. The policy outlines a detailed roadmap to strengthen the sector, enhance farmers' income, and promote climate-resilient farming practices.

Source: The Print

Nagaland passes the Nagaland Town and Country Planning (Fifth Amendment) Bill, 2025. The bill brings village authorities into the state's town planning framework and strengthens regulations for urban and peri-urban development.

Source: India today

Water and Sanitation

Delhi prepares a Summer Action Plan, 2026. The plan aims to ensure an adequate water supply and aims to ensure maximum water production from all water treatment plants in the city.

Source: News on AIR

West Bengal introduces a Draft State Policy on Safe Reuse of Treated Wastewater. The policy aims to promote the safe reuse of treated wastewater, proposing a high-level monitoring committee headed by the Chief Secretary to oversee implementation across the state.

Source: Millenniumpost

In detail: Draft Policy on Safe Reuse of Treated Wastewater of West Bengal

Center - State Relations

Nothing critical to report this week.

Any Other

Karnataka approves the Karnataka Freedom of Choice in Marriage and Prevention and Prohibition of Crimes in the name of Honour and Tradition (Eva Nammava Eva Nammava) Bill, 2026. It provides for the freedom of choice in marriage and the prevention and prohibition of caste-based crimes because of inter-caste marriage.

Source: New Indian Express

Programs & Projects