Why in the News
The Union Cabinet has approved GOBARdhan as a National Unified Scheme for Compressed Biogas (CBG) to accelerate domestic biogas production, promote clean energy, and strengthen the circular economy.
What is the GOBARdhan Scheme?
- Full form: Galvanizing Organic Bio Agro Resources Dhan (GOBARdhan).
- Launched: 2018 under the Swachh Bharat Mission (Grameen).
- Nodal Ministry: Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas.
- Objective: Promote production of Compressed Biogas (CBG) from organic waste while improving waste management, clean energy access, and farmers’ income.
Key Features of the National Unified Scheme
- Total Outlay: ₹23,731 crore.
- Duration: FY 2027 to FY 2036 (10 years).
- CBG Blending Obligation (CBGO):
- 3% in the first year.
- 4% in the second year.
- 5% from the third year onwards in City Gas Distribution (CGD) networks.
- Price Support: Administered price of about ₹2,110 per MMBTU for a minimum of 10 years.
- Capital Assistance: Up to ₹2 crore per tonne per day of CBG production capacity for new projects.
- Target: Achieve nearly a tenfold increase in domestic CBG production.
What is Compressed Biogas (CBG)?
- Definition: Purified biogas with more than 90% methane content.
- Feedstock: Produced from agricultural residue, cattle dung, municipal solid waste, sewage, and other biodegradable waste.
- Uses: Can replace Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) in transport, industry, and cooking.
[2016] Which of the following are the key features of ‘National Ganga River Basin Authority (NGRBA)?
1. River basin is the unit of planning and management.
2. It spearheads the river conservation efforts at the national level.
3. One of the Chief Ministers of the States through which the Ganga flows becomes the Chairman of NGRBA on rotation basis.
Select the correct answer using the code given Below.
[A] 1 and 2 only
[B] 2 and 3 only
[C] 1 and 3 only
[D] 1, 2 and 3