NEW DELHI: Around half of the laws passed across Indian states in the past year focused on three key areas: education, finance, and local governance, an analysis by PRS Legislative Research showed.
Among the more notable laws was the Uttarakhand Uniform Civil Code, making it the first state to enact such legislation. West Bengal passed the Aparajita Act, introducing stricter penalties for rape. Several states brought in laws to curb cheating and unfair practices in public examinations, reflecting growing concern over exam integrity.
In the education sector, Haryana enacted a law to regulate private coaching institutes, while Madhya Pradesh introduced legislation to control private school fees. Maharashtra passed a law granting 10% reservation for Marathas in education and government jobs. Tamil Nadu took a significant welfare step by mandating SC/ST spending in proportion to their population share.
Following a Supreme Court ruling in July 2024 that allowed states to levy taxes on mineral rights, many states quickly moved to enact laws to that effect, signalling a new fiscal trend in resource governance.
In other areas, Gujarat passed a law banning black magic, while Assam outlawed traditional healing practices involving magical claims for disease treatment. Maharashtra amended its law to increase the penalty for cutting down trees without official permission, reinforcing environmental regulation.
On the agriculture front, Chhattisgarh, Karnataka, Punjab, and Tamil Nadu amended their Agricultural Produce Marketing Committee (APMC) laws, aiming to improve regulation of agri-trade and market access for farmers.
In response to health and public order concerns, Haryana, Karnataka, and Telangana banned hookah bars and the serving of hookahs in restaurants or bars, following similar steps taken by other states in recent years.