Civilsdaily

GS Paper: GS3-13.Infrastructure: Energy, Ports, Roads, Airports, Railways etc:

  • Saving Time, Shortening Journeys

    Saving Time, Shortening Journeys

    Why in the News?

    The PIB highlighted how bridges, tunnels, expressways and modern rail services are reducing travel time and improving connectivity across India. The focus is on infrastructure-led reduction in travel time rather than merely increasing physical connectivity.

    Key Highlights

    • Bridges, tunnels, expressways and railways are shortening travel time across difficult terrain and long-distance routes.
    • Bhupen Hazarika Setu: Rupai to Meka/Roing travel time reduced from 6 hours to 1 hour.
    • Bogibeel Bridge: Journeys between Dhemaji and Dibrugarh reduced from almost a day to 1-2 hours.
    • Atal Setu: Mumbai-Navi Mumbai journey reduced from 2 hours to 20 minutes.
    • Kosi Rail Mahasetu: Nirmali-Saraigarh rail journey reduced from 8 hours to 30 minutes; distance reduced from about 300 km to 22 km.
    • Atal Tunnel: Saves 4-5 hours and reduces Manali-Sarchu distance by 46 km.
    • Sela Tunnel: Located at about 13,000 feet and provides all-weather connectivity on the Tezpur-Tawang route.
    • Delhi-Meerut Expressway: Travel time reduced from 2.5 hours to 50 minutes.
    • Delhi-Dehradun Economic Corridor: Travel time reduced from 6 hours to 2.5 hours.
    • Mumbai-Nagpur Samruddhi Mahamarg: Travel time reduced from 16 hours to about 8 hours.
    • Delhi-Amritsar-Katra Expressway: Delhi-Katra travel time reduced from 14 hours to 6 hours.
    • Delhi-Mumbai Expressway: Expected to reduce travel time from about 33 hours to 12 hours.

    Railways and Vande Bharat

    • The 2026 railway timetable speeded up 549 trains.
    • 20 trains gained 60 minutes or more.
    • 48 trains gained 31-59 minutes.
    • 105 trains gained 16-30 minutes.
    • 376 trains gained 5-15 minutes.
    • Vande Bharat New Delhi-Varanasi: About 40-50% faster than earlier services.
    • Vande Bharat Katra-Srinagar: Travel time reduced to about 3 hours.
    • Vande Bharat Sleeper Howrah-Guwahati: Travel time reduced from about 17 hours to 14 hours.

    High-Speed Rail Corridors

    • Mumbai-Ahmedabad High-Speed Rail Corridor
      • Length: 508 km
      • Operational speed: 320 kmph
      • 12 stations
      • Travel time: about 1 hour 58 minutes
      • Includes India’s first undersea rail tunnel, about 7 km beneath Thane Creek.
      • First service targeted for August 2027.
    • Seven announced HSR corridors:
      • Total length: nearly 4,000 km
      • Estimated investment: ₹16 lakh crore
    • Major corridors include:
      • Delhi-Varanasi: ~3 hours 50 minutes
      • Varanasi-Patna-Siliguri: ~2 hours 55 minutes
      • Chennai-Bengaluru: ~1 hour 13 minutes
      • Bengaluru-Hyderabad: ~2 hours
      • Mumbai-Pune: ~48 minutes

    Prelims Quick Revision

    • Bhupen Hazarika Setu: Assam-Arunachal Pradesh.
    • Bogibeel Bridge: Rail-cum-road bridge over the Brahmaputra.
    • Atal Setu: Mumbai Trans Harbour Link.
    • Kosi Rail Mahasetu: Bihar; connects Nirmali and Saraigarh.
    • Atal Tunnel: 9.02 km, bypasses Rohtang Pass.
    • Sela Tunnel: Arunachal Pradesh, about 13,000 feet altitude.
    • Mumbai-Ahmedabad HSR: 508 km, operational speed 320 kmph.
    • Mumbai-Ahmedabad HSR includes an approximately 7-km undersea tunnel beneath Thane Creek.

    UPSC Prelims Trap

    • Atal Setu ≠ Atal Tunnel: Atal Setu is the Mumbai Trans Harbour Link, while Atal Tunnel is in Himachal Pradesh and bypasses Rohtang Pass.
    • Bogibeel Bridge is a rail-cum-road bridge, whereas Kosi Rail Mahasetu is a rail bridge.
    • Mumbai-Ahmedabad HSR is a high-speed rail corridor, not an expressway.
    • The Mumbai-Ahmedabad HSR corridor is 508 km, while the seven newly announced HSR corridors together span nearly 4,000 km.

  • Only 9% use public transport to go to work

    Why in the News

    For the first time, India has a national survey of how households travel, and it finds that only 9% of Indians use public transport to get to work. The Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) ran the National Household Travel Survey (NHTS), which also shows women relying on buses far more than men.

    What is the National Household Travel Survey, and why was it needed?

    1. What it is: The NHTS is the first nationwide survey of how people travel, including how they get to work and what it costs them.
    2. Coverage: It ran for a year, from July 2025 to June 2026.
    3. Sample size: It drew on responses from 20 lakh people across villages and urban blocks nationwide.
    4. Why it was needed: MoSPI wants evidence for regional transport planning, to find gaps, plan better routes and set how often buses and trains run.
    5. The takeaway: Cities and States can now plan transport on measured travel patterns rather than estimates.

    How do Indians get to work, and at what cost?

    1. Private vehicles dominate: 43% of Indians ride two-wheelers to work, and only 3% use cars.
    2. Public transport split: Among those travelling more than a kilometre to work, 6.7% take buses. The rest of the 9% use monorail, tram or rail.
    3. Rail-based transit: Metro, suburban rail, monorail and trams carry 5% of urban work commutes nationally. Usage is far higher in Maharashtra, West Bengal and Delhi.
    4. Urban commuting cost: Urban workers spend Rs 1,044 a month to get to work, against Rs 612 in rural areas, so city commutes cost far more.
    5. National average: The average monthly spend on the work commute is Rs 785.

    What does the survey say about women and free bus travel?

    1. Women ride buses more: 21.7% of urban women with commutes over a kilometre take a bus, against 6.9% of urban men, about three times as many.
    2. What counts as a bus: The category covers public, private, company and intercity buses.
    3. State variation: Women’s bus use is highest in Keralam and Tamil Nadu, followed by Karnataka and Telangana.
    4. Free travel policy: These figures support the decision of several States to offer free bus travel to women, since buses are already women’s main public mode.

    Challenges

    1. Weak last-mile links: Poor feeder services and footpaths push commuters to two-wheelers even where a metro exists.
    2. Thin bus fleets: Many cities run far fewer buses than their population needs, so waits are long and buses crowded.
    3. Fiscal strain of free rides: States must repay State transport undertakings, the State-owned bus operators, for free rides, which can delay fleet expansion.
    4. Women’s safety: Harassment and poorly lit stops deter women from using buses at night.

    Way Forward

    1. Bus fleet expansion: Scale up electric bus deployment under the PM-eBus Sewa scheme in cities with low bus use.
    2. Integrated planning: Use NHTS data in each city’s Comprehensive Mobility Plan, its long-term transport plan, to link buses, metro and walking routes.
    3. Safety measures: Fund CCTV, panic buttons and lit bus stops through the Nirbhaya Fund.
    4. Regular surveys: MoSPI should repeat the NHTS periodically so changes in travel can be tracked.

    Conclusion

    India’s first travel survey shows that the country commutes mainly on private two-wheelers, with buses serving women far more than men. Whether States and cities use the data to expand buses and link them to rail is what will decide if public transport’s share rises.

    Key numbers

    1. Urban women taking buses to work, by State: Keralam 46.8%, Tamil Nadu 41.1%, Karnataka 34.9%, Telangana 28.9%.
    2. Rail-based share of urban work commutes, by State: Maharashtra 20.7%, West Bengal 16.5%, Delhi 14.4%.
    3. Urban premium on commuting cost: 71% above rural spending.
    4. NHTS sample: 14,274 villages and 10,377 urban blocks.

    Back2Basics: Free bus travel for women

    1. What it is: Several State governments let women ride State-run buses free, with the State paying the transport corporation.
    2. Delhi: Free travel for women on Delhi Transport Corporation and cluster buses began in 2019.
    3. Tamil Nadu and Karnataka: Tamil Nadu began free town bus travel for women in 2021. Karnataka’s Shakti scheme followed in 2023.
    4. Telangana: The Mahalakshmi scheme gives women free travel on State-run buses from December 2023.

    Matching Previous Year Question

    “[2026] In what way(s) does the Vizhinjam International Seaport represent a structural shift in India’s maritime trade and logistics policy? 1. By functioning exclusively as a domestic cargo hub to reduce reliance on coastal shipping and eliminate the need for foreign collaborations. 2. By focusing primarily on passenger cruise tourism and heritage shipping to increase Kerala’s profile as a maritime heritage destination. 3. By leveraging its natural deep draft and strategic location to reduce dependence on foreign trans-shipment ports, enhance revenue retention, and reposition India in regional maritime trade. Select the answer using the code given below: (a) 1 only (b) 1 and 2 (c) 2 and 3 (d) 3 only ANSWER: D”

  • Coal stocks critically low as power demand rises in India

    Why in the News

    The official position is that India faces no coal shortage, only a surge in power demand, but Central Electricity Authority (CEA) data show 84 of the country’s 191 thermal power plants critically low on stock. The Union Coal and Mines Minister holds that position as power demand grows at its fastest pace in a decade. A weak monsoon has made the grid lean harder on coal.

    What does a “critically low” coal stock mean, and why does it matter?

    1. What it is: Every coal-fired plant must keep a normative stock, a buffer of coal sized to its daily burn, like a household keeping a week’s rations.
    2. When a plant turns critical: The CEA marks a plant critical when its stock falls below 25% of the normative level, or lasts less than three days.
    3. Scale of the problem: More than 44% of thermal plants were critical as of September 30.
    4. Shortage or demand: Whether the cause is short supply or high demand, the plant faces the same result: coal running out.
    5. The takeaway: Coal generates nearly four-fifths of India’s energy, so thin stocks put most power supply at risk.

    Why has power demand surged?

    1. Record growth: Power demand rose 10% in 2026, the highest year-on-year increase in a decade.
    2. Heat drives demand: The International Energy Agency (IEA) links the rise to unprecedented heat. Demand in 2025 rose and fell with each month’s peak temperature.
    3. Cooling appliances: The IEA attributes the surge to wider ownership of fans and air conditioners, which run hardest when it is hottest.
    4. Hottest August: The India Meteorological Department (IMD) recorded this August as India’s hottest since nationwide records began in 1901, with a mean of 28.01°C.
    5. All-time peak: Peak demand hit a record 270.8 GW on May 21 this year.

    How has a weak monsoon added to the pressure?

    1. Supply shortfall: Power shortages in September 2026 were the highest since August 2023, according to a Reuters report.
    2. Hydropower decline: Lower hydropower output pushed the grid to rely more on coal plants.
    3. Pacific warming: El Nino, a warming of the central and eastern Pacific, weakens monsoon winds over India. The monsoon was weaker in each of the last six strong-event years.
    4. June deficit: June 2026’s rainfall departure, meaning actual rain against the long-term average, was the worst for June since 2014, also a strong El Nino year.
    5. Relief is partial: Cooler months will ease demand, but lower pressure on stocks does not mean the supply shortage has eased.

    Challenges

    1. Coal transport bottlenecks: Plants far from mines depend on railway rakes, so stocks fall fast when movement slows. Eg. Passenger trains were cancelled to move coal in 2022.
    2. Hydropower volatility: Dams fail as a backup in drought years, exactly when cooling demand peaks.
    3. Evening peak gap: Solar output ends at sunset, leaving coal to meet the evening air-conditioning load.
    4. Costly imports: Blending imported coal raises generation costs, which strains distribution companies (discoms).

    Way Forward

    1. Pre-summer stocking: The Ministry of Power should require plants to build full normative stocks before the hot season.
    2. Rail priority: Indian Railways should guarantee coal rakes to plants nearing the critical mark.
    3. Storage build-out: Add pumped storage and battery storage so daytime solar can serve the evening peak.
    4. Efficient cooling: Tighten energy-efficiency star ratings for air conditioners to slow peak demand growth.

    Conclusion

    The dispute over whether India faces a coal shortage or a demand surge matters less than the fact that a hotter, drier climate is outrunning the grid’s buffers. Whether stocks recover before the next summer peak is the measure to watch.

    Key numbers

    1. Coal’s share of energy generated: 79% in 2024-25 (*Energy Statistics India*, Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation).
    2. Hottest August, departure from normal: 0.67°C above the normal of 27.34°C (IMD, 2026).
    3. 2025 temperature range tracked by demand: maximum of 25.53°C in January to an annual peak of 35.97°C in April.

    Back2Basics: Central Electricity Authority (CEA)

    1. Legal basis: The CEA is a statutory body under the Electricity Act, 2003, attached to the Ministry of Power.
    2. Planning role: It prepares the National Electricity Plan and advises the Union government on power policy.
    3. Standards: It sets technical standards for building, running and connecting power plants and grids.
    4. Data role: It collects and publishes power-sector data, including daily coal stocks at thermal plants.

    Matching Previous Year Question

    “[2026] In what way(s) does the Vizhinjam International Seaport represent a structural shift in India’s maritime trade and logistics policy? 1. By functioning exclusively as a domestic cargo hub to reduce reliance on coastal shipping and eliminate the need for foreign collaborations. 2. By focusing primarily on passenger cruise tourism and heritage shipping to increase Kerala’s profile as a maritime heritage destination. 3. By leveraging its natural deep draft and strategic location to reduce dependence on foreign trans-shipment ports, enhance revenue retention, and reposition India in regional maritime trade. Select the answer using the code given below: (a) 1 only (b) 1 and 2 (c) 2 and 3 (d) 3 only ANSWER: D”

  • Mumbai’s Jawahar Dweep Becomes India’s First Plastic-free Oil Terminal

    Mumbai’s Jawahar Dweep Becomes India’s First Plastic-free Oil Terminal

    Why in the News?

    • Jawahar Dweep Marine Oil Terminal under the Mumbai Port Authority has been declared plastic-free.
    • The milestone was marked during Swachhata Abhiyan 2026 on 2 October 2026, Gandhi’s birth anniversary.

    Key Highlights

    • Location: Jawahar Dweep, Mumbai.
    • Authority: Mumbai Port Authority (MbPA).
    • Ministry: Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways (MoPSW).
    • Declared India’s first plastic-free oil terminal.
    • Focuses on reducing single-use plastic and improving waste management.
    • Mumbai Port plans to extend plastic-reduction efforts to:
      • Docks
      • Residential colonies
      • Coastal areas
    • Oil Spill Response (OSR) facilities were also dedicated to the nation.
    • Sanitation workers (Safai Karmis) were felicitated for their contribution to port cleanliness.
    • A sea-cleaning activity was conducted as part of the cleanliness drive.

    Jawahar Dweep

    • A key marine oil terminal of Mumbai Port.
    • Its plastic-free declaration represents an effort to combine port operations with environmental sustainability.
    • The initiative focuses on reducing plastic pollution while maintaining port operations.

    Swachhata Abhiyan 2026

    • Held at Grey Gate, Indira Dock, Mumbai.
    • Organised to mark Mahatma Gandhi’s birth anniversary.
    • Activities included:
      • Swachhata Pledge
      • Felicitation of Safai Karmis
      • Cleanliness drives
      • Sea-cleaning activity
      • Awareness activities on waste management

    Important Full Forms

    • MbPA: Mumbai Port Authority
    • MoPSW: Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways
    • OSR: Oil Spill Response

    Prelims Quick Revision

    • Jawahar Dweep: Mumbai.
    • Declared India’s first plastic-free oil terminal.
    • Authority: Mumbai Port Authority.
    • Ministry: MoPSW.
    • Declaration made during Swachhata Abhiyan 2026.
    • Date: 2 October 2026.
    • Jawahar Dweep is a marine oil terminal.
    • OSR facilities were dedicated to the nation during the programme.

    UPSC Prelims Trap

    • Jawahar Dweep is an oil terminal, not a general-purpose port.
    • The initiative concerns plastic-free operations at Jawahar Dweep, under the Mumbai Port Authority.
    • MoPSW is the concerned ministry, while MbPA is the port authority.
    • OSR stands for Oil Spill Response, not a plastic-waste management programme.

  • GOBARdhan eyes 10-fold increase in CBG output: Puri

    Why in the News

    Compressed biogas (CBG) producers will now get both capital assistance and a guaranteed buyer from the Centre, with output targeted to rise from 0.4 to 4 to 6 million standard cubic metres per day. The Union Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas formally launched the ₹23,731 crore GOBARdhan scheme to drive this ten fold increase.

    What is compressed biogas, and what does GOBARdhan do with it?

    1. What CBG is: CBG is methane rich gas made by processing organic waste and compressing it, so it works like CNG but comes from waste rather than gas fields.
    2. Feedstock: The scheme targets agricultural residue, animal dung, food waste and other biomass.
    3. Why it was introduced: The government wants to turn agricultural and organic waste into a new source of domestic energy.
    4. Farmers as suppliers: The Minister said the programme would turn farmers from “Annadatas” (food givers) into “Urjadatas” (energy givers), since their waste becomes saleable fuel input.
    5. The takeaway: Pairing a plant subsidy with an assured market tackles the two reasons CBG plants have struggled, high upfront cost and uncertain sales.

    How is the support structured?

    | Component (lifecycle stage) | Support | Main beneficiary | |—|—|—| | Greenfield CBG plants (plant build) | ₹1.25 crore per tonne per day (TPD) of eligible CBG capacity | New CBG producers | | Brownfield capacity (plant expansion) | 50% of the greenfield rate, for capacity added through fresh investment | Plant owners expanding output | | Upgrade of existing biogas plants (asset conversion) | ₹0.60 crore per TPD, with a ₹5 crore project ceiling | Biogas plant operators shifting to CBG | | Assured offtake (offtake and demand) | Up to 100% of eligible output bought at an administered price of ₹2,110 per mmBtu (million British thermal units, a unit of heat energy used to price gas), about ₹98 per kg | All CBG producers |

    1. Project ceiling: Total capital assistance for one project is capped at ₹30 crore, counted across the scheme’s “two eligible capital-support components”, so large plants cannot draw unlimited subsidy.
    2. Why offtake matters: The assured offtake is offered to make CBG projects commercially viable, because a plant sure of selling its output at a fixed price can raise loans against that income.

    What does the scheme aim to achieve?

    1. Cleaner energy mix: The output rise is meant to help lift natural gas, a cleaner burning fuel, to a 15% share of the energy basket by 2030.
    2. Fossil fuel replacement: The scheme aims to replace about 10 million tonnes of fossil fuel with clean gas, cutting over 40 million tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions.
    3. Organic manure: Plants would also yield around 250 million tonnes of organic manure for farmers as a by product.
    4. Import savings: Domestic gas would save more than ₹40,000 crore in fuel imports.

    Challenges

    1. Scattered feedstock: Farm residue is seasonal and dispersed, so plants struggle to secure year round supply. Eg. The Sustainable Alternative Towards Affordable Transportation (SATAT) initiative missed its plant target.
    2. Weak manure market: Organic manure competes with subsidised chemical fertiliser, so a key by product may not sell.
    3. Grid distance: Plants far from city gas pipelines must truck compressed gas, adding cost.
    4. Price risk: A fixed administered price can turn into a subsidy burden if imported gas becomes cheaper.
    5. Operation and maintenance: Small biogas plants often fall idle once technical support ends.

    Way Forward

    1. Feedstock aggregation: Farmer producer organisations should run baling and collection hubs under the crop residue management scheme.
    2. Manure offtake: Fertiliser companies should co-market fermented organic manure alongside chemical fertilisers.
    3. Pipeline links: The Petroleum Ministry should fund last mile connections from CBG plants to city gas networks.
    4. Blending obligation: Enforce the phased CBG Blending Obligation on city gas distribution networks so demand grows with supply.
    5. Commissioning tracker: Publish plant wise commissioning and output data so slippage shows early.

    Conclusion

    The scheme turns biogas into an energy security instrument backed by both capital and a guaranteed buyer. Whether plants are actually commissioned and fed with year round feedstock will decide if the output target is met.

    Key numbers

    1. Value added to GDP: over ₹75,000 crore (scheme estimate).
    2. Jobs: more than 1.5 lakh (scheme estimate).
    3. Current share of natural gas in the energy basket: 6 to 7%.

    Matching Previous Year Question

    “[2025] Consider the following statements: Statement I: Of the two major ethanol producers in the world, i.e., Brazil and the United States of America, the former produces more ethanol than the latter. Statement II: Unlike in the United States of America, where corn is the principal feedstock for ethanol production, sugarcane is the principal feedstock for ethanol production in Brazil. Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements? (a) Both Statement I and Statement II are correct and Statement II explains Statement I (b) Both Statement I and Statement II are correct but Statement II does not explain Statement I (c) Statement I is correct but Statement II is not correct (d) Statement I is not correct but Statement II is correct Answer: D”

  • For new energy, remove old bottlenecks

    Why in the News

    India has more than 300 gigawatts (GW) of installed renewable capacity and ranks third globally, yet grid operators curtailed (switched off) a significant amount of solar power between April and June. The causes were transmission constraints and grid security. The Centre’s new Green Energy Corridor Phase-III (GEC-III) will work only if it clears the land, clearance and coordination hurdles that slowed earlier lines.

    What is GEC-III, and why does it focus on lines inside States?

    1. What it is: GEC-III builds lines to evacuate up to 135 GW of renewable power, meaning carry it from plants to consumers, like widening roads out of a busy factory town.
    2. Why it was needed: Rapid solar growth has not made green power available when demand is highest, particularly at the evening peak after sunset.
    3. Storage component: The scheme adds 50 gigawatt-hours (GWh) of battery energy storage. Batteries smooth intermittency, the rise and fall of solar and wind output, and supply power after sunset.
    4. Intra-State focus: Plants cluster in a few regions but demand is spread across each State, so the network’s last leg decides whether green power reaches consumers. Rs 1,36,378 crore is earmarked for transmission.
    5. The takeaway: GEC-III can carry the next phase of India’s green energy transition only if it avoids the bottlenecks that slowed earlier lines.

    Why have transmission lines been slow to build?

    1. Money is not the only hurdle: Past projects show that transmission delays come from approvals on the ground, not only from a shortage of investment.
    2. Right-of-way compensation: The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Energy named right-of-way compensation, payment to landowners when high-voltage lines pass near their property, a major hurdle. Its report was tabled last December.
    3. Land and clearances: The same panel flagged land acquisition and delays in environmental clearances as major hurdles in laying lines.
    4. Fragmented decisions: Separate agencies approve different parts of a line, and the committee found that such fragmented decision-making often delays projects.
    5. Boundaries do not match: Renewable resources, corridors and demand do not follow administrative boundaries, so the Centre and States must plan and implement together.

    What will it take for battery storage to work?

    1. Target versus function: The risk is that storage becomes a procurement target, counted by batteries bought, rather than a working part of the grid.
    2. Four requirements: Battery projects need:
      • viable business models, so storage earns steady revenue;
      • incentives, because the sector relies on overseas suppliers for critical raw materials;
      • recycling arrangements for used batteries;
      • clear rules on who can use storage and who pays for it.

    Challenges

    1. Wildlife conflicts: Overhead lines kill endangered birds, which forces costly rerouting or undergrounding. Eg. The Great Indian Bustard case in Rajasthan and Gujarat.
    2. Weak distribution utilities: Loss-making State power distribution companies (discoms) delay payments, which weakens the case for new intra-State investment.
    3. Slow cell manufacturing: Domestic advanced chemistry cell (battery cell) plants under the Production Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme have been slow to start, so batteries stay imported.

    Way Forward

    1. Single approval portal: The government should act on the committee’s proposal for a portal bringing all approving authorities together for real-time monitoring and faster decisions.
    2. Storage market rules: The Central Electricity Regulatory Commission (CERC) should notify who may use stored power and how it is paid for.
    3. Standard compensation: States should adopt uniform, time-bound right-of-way compensation so landowner disputes settle quickly.
    4. Joint corridor planning: The Central Electricity Authority (CEA) and State transmission utilities should plan corridors together across State boundaries.

    Conclusion

    India’s renewable push has moved from building generating capacity to getting power to consumers when they need it. Whether the single approval portal is set up and storage rules are notified will decide if GEC-III escapes the delays of earlier corridors.

    Matching Previous Year Question

    “[2026] Which of the following statements with regard to Green Hydrogen is/are correct? 1. It is decarbonized hydrogen obtained from natural gas reforming combined with carbon capture and storage (CCS). 2. It is produced using electrolysis of water with electricity generated by renewable energy. 3. National Green Hydrogen Mission of India aims for abatement of nearly 50 MMT of annual greenhouse gas emissions by 2030. (a) 1 only (b) 2 and 3 only (c) 2 only (d) 1, 2 and 3 Answer: B”

  • Green Energy Corridor Phase-III (GEC-III)

    Green Energy Corridor Phase-III (GEC-III)

    Why in the News?

    • The Union Cabinet approved Green Energy Corridor Phase-III (GEC-III) on 30 September 2026 to strengthen the Intra-State Transmission System (InSTS) for renewable energy integration. pasted

    Key Highlights

    • Target: Evacuation of up to 135 GW of renewable energy across States/UTs.
    • Target completion: FY 2032-33.
    • Total project outlay:₹1,86,405 crore.
      • Intra-State Transmission Systems: ₹1,36,378 crore
      • Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS): ₹50,000 crore
    • Central Financial Support (CFS): ₹54,082 crore.
    • BESS deployment: 50 GWh.
    • Aims to support India’s target of 900 GW installed Non-Fossil capacity by 2035.

    Intra-State Transmission System (InSTS)

    • Focuses on grid integration and power evacuation within States/UTs.
    • Greenfield projects: Implemented through Tariff Based Competitive Bidding (TBCB).
    • Brownfield upgradation/network strengthening: Implemented on Cost Plus Basis (CPB).
    • State Transmission Utilities (STUs): Overall implementing agencies.
    • Transmission Service Providers (TSPs): Participate under TBCB through Build-Own-Operate-Maintain (BOOM) model.

    Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS)

    • 50 GWh BESS will be deployed.
    • Can be located at:
      • Renewable Energy developer/generator end, or
      • Other locations important for grid flexibility.
    • Addresses:
      • Renewable energy intermittency
      • Grid congestion
      • Peak-hour curtailment
      • Demand during non-solar hours
    • BESS deployment will support the development of the domestic energy storage industry.

    Prelims Quick Revision

    • GEC-III: Approved by Union Cabinet in September 2026.
    • Renewable energy evacuation capacity: 135 GW.
    • BESS deployment: 50 GWh.
    • Total outlay: ₹1,86,405 crore.
    • Central Financial Support: ₹54,082 crore.
    • Target completion: FY 2032-33.
    • Supports 900 GW installed Non-Fossil capacity by 2035.
    • Greenfield = TBCB; Brownfield = CPB.

    UPSC Prelims Trap

    • GEC-III is focused on Intra-State transmission, not solely inter-state transmission.
    • 50 GWh refers to BESS deployment, while 135 GW refers to renewable energy evacuation capacity.
    • TBCB applies to greenfield InSTS projects, whereas CPB applies to brownfield upgradation and network strengthening.
    • STUs are the overall implementing agencies; TSPs participate under the TBCB model.

  • Eye on transmission bottlenecks, Cabinet clears green energy plan

    Why in the News

    For the first time, India’s Green Energy Corridor (GEC) programme will fund battery storage alongside transmission lines, so that solar power is not wasted for want of grid capacity. The Union Cabinet has approved Green Energy Corridor Phase-III (GEC-III) to evacuate up to 135 gigawatts (GW) of renewable energy across States, with completion targeted by FY 2032-33.

    What is GEC-III, and why is it needed?

    1. What it is: GEC-III builds transmission lines and storage to evacuate renewable power, meaning carry it out of solar and wind plants into the grid. It is like widening the roads out of a busy factory town.
    2. Grid bottleneck: Peak power demand keeps hitting record highs, yet grid operators are forced to curtail (switch off) solar generation because transmission lines cannot carry it.
    3. The takeaway: Without new lines and storage, added solar capacity is wasted, so GEC-III is central to the Prime Minister’s stated push towards 900 GW of non-fossil capacity by 2035.

    How large is the transmission gap?

    1. Temporary connections: Close to 21 GW, about 9% of installed renewable capacity, runs on temporary grid connections, awaiting dedicated transmission lines.
    2. Peak-hour limits: Around 12 GW of this faces evacuation restrictions at peak solar hours, so developers lose revenue and several projects’ financial viability is in doubt.
    3. Lost clean power: In FY 2025-26, around 6,900 gigawatt-hours (GWh) of clean electricity faced restrictions because renewable capacity grew faster than transmission.

    What are the components of GEC-III?

    1. Storage at generation, Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS): 50 GWh of storage at renewable developer or generator sites, or other grid-critical locations, with an outlay of Rs 50,000 crore; primary stakeholder: renewable energy developers and generators.
    2. Evacuation, Intra-State Transmission System (InSTS): New and upgraded intra-State transmission lines, with an outlay of Rs 1,36,378 crore; primary stakeholder: State transmission utilities.
    3. Total outlay: The scheme costs Rs 1,86,405 crore, of which the Centre gives Rs 54,082 crore as central financial assistance (CFA).
    4. Purpose of central support: The CFA offsets intra-State transmission charges, keeping power costs lower for end consumers.
    5. Purpose of storage: Batteries store surplus solar power and release it later:
      • supply stays steady through intermittency, the rise and fall of solar output with sunlight;
      • less power is switched off when lines are congested at peak solar hours;
      • stored power meets demand in non-solar hours.

    How will the projects be built?

    1. Greenfield lines: All new InSTS projects will be awarded through Tariff Based Competitive Bidding (TBCB), where the bidder quoting the lowest tariff wins.
    2. Brownfield upgrades: Upgrading and strengthening existing networks will run on a Cost Plus Basis (CPB), where the utility recovers its approved cost plus a return.
    3. Implementing agency: State transmission utilities will be the overall implementing agency.
    4. Private builders: Transmission service providers (TSPs) will bid under TBCB on a Build-Own-Operate-Maintain (BOOM) model, so they finance, own and run the lines.

    Challenges

    1. Right of way: New lines need land and right-of-way clearance across farms and forests, which often delays transmission projects.
    2. Weak State utility finances: Loss-making State power utilities may struggle to fund their share of the investment.
    3. Battery import dependence: India imports nearly all its lithium and cobalt, so storage costs depend on foreign supply chains.
    4. Timeline mismatch: The scheme runs into the next decade, but renewable capacity is added every year, so curtailment can persist meanwhile.

    Way Forward

    1. Time-bound clearances: States should fix time-bound right-of-way and land approvals for GEC-III lines.
    2. Congested zones first: State transmission utilities should first build lines where plants run on temporary connections.
    3. Domestic battery cells: The Centre should link BESS procurement to domestic cell manufacturing under the Production Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme for advanced chemistry cells.
    4. Transparent bidding: States should publish TBCB awards and completion timelines so private builders stay accountable.

    Conclusion

    GEC-III shifts India’s renewable push from adding capacity to moving and storing the power already produced. Whether State utilities award and finish the lines on time will decide how quickly curtailment falls.

    Matching Previous Year Question

    “[2026] Which of the following statements with regard to Green Hydrogen is/are correct? 1. It is decarbonized hydrogen obtained from natural gas reforming combined with carbon capture and storage (CCS). 2. It is produced using electrolysis of water with electricity generated by renewable energy. 3. National Green Hydrogen Mission of India aims for abatement of nearly 50 MMT of annual greenhouse gas emissions by 2030. (a) 1 only (b) 2 and 3 only (c) 2 only (d) 1, 2 and 3 Answer: B”

  • FASTag Annual Pass

    FASTag Annual Pass

    Why in the News?

    • The FASTag Annual Pass has crossed the milestone of 1 crore passes issued since its launch on 15 August 2025.
    • It provides private vehicle owners a seamless and economical toll payment option on National Highways and Expressways.

    Key Highlights

    • Launch: 15 August 2025
    • Milestone: Over 1 crore passes issued.
    • Applicable at about 1,150 fee plazas on National Highways and National Expressways.
    • Fee: ₹3,075 for one year.
    • Valid for:
      • 1 year, or
      • 200 toll plaza crossings
    • Applicable to non-commercial vehicles with a valid FASTag.
    • The Annual Pass is activated on the existing FASTag linked to the vehicle.
    • One-time payment can be made through the Rajmargyatra App.

    FASTag Annual Pass

    • Provides a one-time payment mechanism instead of frequent FASTag recharges.
    • Designed specifically for private/non-commercial vehicles.
    • The pass is linked to the vehicle’s existing valid FASTag.
    • It covers eligible National Highways and National Expressways fee plazas.

    Important Full Forms

    • FASTag: Electronic toll collection system using Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) technology.

    Prelims Quick Revision

    • FASTag Annual Pass launched on 15 August 2025.
    • Crossed 1 crore passes issued.
    • Fee: ₹3,075.
    • Validity: 1 year or 200 toll plaza crossings.
    • Applicable at about 1,150 fee plazas.
    • Applicable to non-commercial vehicles with valid FASTag.
    • Annual Pass is activated on the existing FASTag.
    • Payment is made through the Rajmargyatra App.

    UPSC Prelims Trap

    • ₹3,075 is the one-time fee, not a recurring monthly recharge.
    • The pass is for non-commercial vehicles, not all vehicles.
    • Validity is based on either 1 year or 200 crossings.
    • The Annual Pass is not a separate physical toll tag; it is activated on the existing FASTag linked to the vehicle.
  • Green Highways: Sustainable Road Infrastructure

    Green Highways: Sustainable Road Infrastructure

    Why in the News?

    • India’s Green Highways approach is promoting sustainable road infrastructure through plantation, climate-resilient design and resource-efficient construction.
    • More than 3.61 crore saplings have been planted across approximately 1.32 lakh km of National Highways over the last five years.

    Key Highlights

    • National Highway network increased by nearly 61%:
      • 2014: 91,287 km
      • March 2026: 1,46,572 km
    • More than 3.61 crore saplings planted across approximately 1.32 lakh km of National Highways as of July 2026.
    • Green highway practices include:
      • Plantation and afforestation
      • Miyawaki plantations
      • Tree transplantation and compensatory afforestation
      • Recycled and waste-derived materials
      • Bio-bitumen
      • Drone and satellite-based monitoring

    Green Highways Policy, 2015

    • Official name: Green Highways (Plantation, Transplantation, Beautification and Maintenance) Policy, 2015.
    • Key objectives:
      • Framework for plantation along National Highways.
      • Reduce air pollution and dust.
      • Arrest soil erosion on embankment slopes.
      • Moderate wind and incoming radiation.
      • Generate employment for local communities.
    • Implementation involves Self Help Groups, private agencies, State Forest Departments, Forest Corporations and contractors.
    • A Plantation Cell monitors implementation through NHAI regional offices and other agencies.

    Miyawaki Plantation

    • Miyawaki technique creates dense forests in limited spaces.
    • Also known as the “pot plantation method”.
    • Trees and shrubs are planted close together to promote rapid growth.
    • Plants can grow up to 10 times faster under this method.
    • Useful particularly for expanding green cover in space-constrained urban areas.

    National Highways Green Cover Index

    • National Highways Green Cover Index (NH-GCI) 2025-26 is the first Annual Report on the index.
    • Prepared in collaboration with National Remote Sensing Centre (NRSC) of ISRO.
    • Provides the first scientific and quantitative assessment of green cover within the Right of Way (RoW) along National Highways.
    • Covers nearly 30,000 km of National Highways under the Operations and Maintenance (O&M) phase across 24 states.
    • Uses space-based technologies for monitoring.
    • Provides a baseline for comparison, ranking and targeted interventions.

    Sustainable Highway Materials

    • Bio-bitumen technology was transferred in January 2026.
    • Developed jointly by:
      • CSIR-Central Road Research Institute (CSIR-CRRI), New Delhi
      • CSIR-Indian Institute of Petroleum (CSIR-IIP), Dehradun
    • Uses post-harvest rice straw as feedstock.
    • Rice straw undergoes pyrolysis to produce bio-oil, which is blended with conventional bitumen.
    • A 100-metre trial stretch was laid on the Jorabat-Shillong Expressway (NH-40), Meghalaya.
    • India meets nearly 50% of its bitumen requirement through imports.
    • Other materials include fly ash, pond ash, Reclaimed Asphalt Pavement (RAP), Construction and Demolition (C&D) waste, recycled aggregates, plastic waste, slag and crumb rubber.

    Green Highway Compliance

    • NHAI’s September 2026 guidelines require:
      • At least 80% of available Right of Way (RoW) earmarked for plantation to be covered for provisional completion certification.
      • Minimum 90% survival rate of planted saplings at inspection.
      • The same 90% survival benchmark applies during the Operations and Maintenance period.
    • Green Highways Excellence Awards were instituted by NHAI in 2025.
    • The 2026 awards gave highest weightage to plantation survival.

    Prelims Quick Revision

    • Green Highways Policy launched in 2015.
    • National Highway network: 91,287 km in 2014 → 1,46,572 km in March 2026.
    • 3.61 crore+ saplings planted across approximately 1.32 lakh km of National Highways.
    • NH-GCI 2025-26 provides scientific assessment of highway green cover.
    • NH-GCI assessment covers nearly 30,000 km across 24 states.
    • NH-GCI prepared with NRSC, ISRO.
    • Bio-bitumen uses rice straw pyrolysis and has been trialled on NH-40 in Meghalaya.
    • NHAI plantation compliance requires 80% RoW coverage and 90% sapling survival.

    UPSC Prelims Trap

    • Green Highways Policy, 2015 is not limited to plantation; it also covers transplantation, beautification and maintenance.
    • NH-GCI measures green cover scientifically using space-based technologies; it is not simply a count of saplings planted.
    • Miyawaki plantation is associated with dense plantation in limited spaces, not conventional large-scale forest plantation.
    • Bio-bitumen in the article is produced using post-harvest rice straw through pyrolysis, not directly by mixing raw agricultural residue with conventional bitumen.