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Type: Schemes

  • Agricultural Sector and Marketing Reforms – eNAM, Model APMC Act, Eco Survey Reco, etc.

    PM-Kisan Bhai (Bhandaran Incentive) Scheme

    Schemes | Agriculture | Mains Paper 3: Agriculture and related issues

    Note4Students

    From UPSC perspective, the following things are important:

    Prelims level: PM-Kisan Bhai Scheme

    Mains level: NA

    Central Idea

    • In a bid to empower small and marginal farmers and break the influence of traders in price determination, the Indian government is poised to launch the PM-Kisan Bhai (Bhandaran Incentive) scheme.

    PM-Kisan Bhai Scheme

    • This scheme aims to incentivize farmers to retain their produce for a minimum of three months post-harvest, granting them the autonomy to decide when and where to sell their crops.
    • It seeks to break the monopoly of traders in setting crop prices, giving farmers greater control over their produce.
    • This initiative grants farmers the autonomy to decide when to sell, in contrast to the current practice where most crops are sold around harvest, typically spanning 23 months.

    Implementation of the scheme

    • Initial Rollout: The scheme may be piloted in states such as Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, and Uttar Pradesh.
    • Two Key Components:
    1. Warehousing Rental Subsidy (WRS): Small farmers and farmer producer organizations (FPOs) can avail a WRS benefit of ₹4 per quintal per month for a maximum of three months, irrespective of warehousing charges.
    2. Prompt Repayment Incentive (PRI): The government proposes to extend a 3% additional interest subvention under the Kisan Credit Card (KCC) scheme for farmers pledging their produce and obtaining loans at subsidized interest rates.
    • The government has proposed that the storage incentive will be provided for a maximum of three months.
    • Besides, produce stored for 15 days or less will not be eligible for the subsidy.
    • The incentive will be calculated on day to day basis.

    Benefits offered

    • Resisting Price Dictation: With monetary support for storage during the harvest season, farmers can refuse prices dictated by buyers.
    • Access to a Wider Market: Promoting e-Negotiable Warehouse Receipt (eNWR) trade through platforms like e-National Agriculture Market (e-NAM) will connect farmers to a broader range of buyers across the country.

    Need for such a scheme

    • Pledge Finance Facility: While a pledge finance facility is currently available to farmers, its effectiveness is limited due to high carryover costs on farmers and credit risk to bankers.
    • Incentivizing Scientific Warehousing: The scheme aims to incentivize the storage of farmers’ produce in scientifically built warehouses, reducing interest rates on pledge finance.

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  • Organic Farming – Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojna (PKVY), NPOF etc.

    Kerala rolls out Organic Farming Mission  

    Schemes | Agriculture | Mains Paper 3: Agriculture and related issues

    Note4Students

    From UPSC perspective, the following things are important:

    Prelims level: Kerala Organic Farming Mission

    Mains level: NA

    Central Idea

    • In a proactive move towards sustainable and climate-smart farming, the Kerala Government has launched the Organic Farming Mission.

    Kerala Organic Farming Mission 

    Objective Expand organic farming to 5,000 hectares in 5 years
    Annual Target Convert 1,000 hectares annually
    Governance Structure Governing council chaired by Agriculture Minister

    Executive committee with government and farm sector reps
    Area Allocation State Agriculture department’s farms allocate 10% for organic
    Long-term Commitment Beneficiaries commit to organic farming for at least 5 years
    Certification & Marketing Enhance certification, branding, and marketing

    Implement organic farming protocols aligned with standards
    Value Addition Focus on adding value to organic products
    Access to Resources Ensure access to quality seeds and production equipment

    Utilize various channels like small-scale units, collectives,Karshika Karma Sena, Kudumbasree, Krishisree Centre, Agro Service Centres
    Local Engagement Collaborate with Krishikoottam collectives and FPOs
    Complementary Mission Poshaka Samriddhi Mission dedicated to millet and vegetable production for sustainable agriculture

    Complementary Mission: Poshaka Samriddhi

    • In addition to the Organic Farming Mission, the Kerala Government created the Poshaka Samriddhi Mission in September 2023.
    • This initiative is dedicated to ramping up millet and vegetable production, furthering the state’s commitment to sustainable agriculture.

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  • Food Procurement and Distribution – PDS & NFSA, Shanta Kumar Committee, FCI restructuring, Buffer stock, etc.

    Bharat Atta: Subsidized Wheat Flour Scheme

    Schemes | Governance | Mains Paper 2: Government Scheme/Policies

    Note4Students

    From UPSC perspective, the following things are important:

    Prelims level: Bharat Atta

    Mains level: Not Much

    Bharat Atta

    Central Idea

    • In a bid to maintain stability in food prices during the festive season, the Indian government has unveiled a subsidized packaged wheat flour initiative accessible to all consumers.
    • Termed “Bharat Atta,” the scheme aims to release a quarter of a million tonnes of state-owned wheat to various cooperative outlets and federations.

    Bharat Atta

    • Distribution Channels: The government has chosen Kendriya Bhandar, a network of cooperative general stores, along with the National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation and National Cooperative Consumers’ Federation, as the primary channels for distributing Bharat Atta.
    • Reduced Price: Bharat Atta is offered at a reduced price of ₹27.50 per kilogram, which is lower than the earlier rate of ₹29.50 at Kendriya Bhandar.
    • Expansion: To ensure accessibility, the subsidized flour will be available at Kendriya Bhandar, NAFED, NCCF, government cooperative outlets, and food vans operated by NAFED and NCCF.
    • Government Support: The government is facilitating this scheme by milling the wheat through firms selected through a tender process, thereby minimizing the milling cost, which is approximately ₹1.80 per kilogram for large wheat millers.

    Why such move?

    • Free Cereals: PM recently announced that cereals would be provided free of cost to 800 million beneficiaries entitled to subsidized food for the next five years.
    • Price Controls: The government has implemented various measures such as banning wheat and rice exports, setting a floor price for onion exports, and reducing import duties on pulses to combat rising food prices.
    • Election Context: These anti-inflation measures come as India faces key assembly elections in five states and a general election in the near future.

    Challenges in implementation

    • Cereal Inflation: Despite a significant wheat harvest, India continues to grapple with high cereal inflation, which has persisted for over a year, reaching double digits.
    • Record Foodgrain Production: The fourth and final round of estimates for the 2022-23 crop output indicates a record high in foodgrain production. However, wheat production slightly decreased from initial estimates.
    • Positive Outlook: Despite minor fluctuations, wheat production remains higher than the previous year, reflecting a positive outlook for addressing food price concerns.

    Conclusion

    • The government’s subsidized wheat flour initiative, Bharat Atta, exemplifies its dedication to ensuring that the joy of the festive season is not marred by soaring food prices.

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  • Air Pollution

    Delhi Odd-Even Scheme: Emergency Traffic Restrictions

    Schemes | Enviro & Biodiversity | Mains Paper 3: Conservation, Environmental Pollution & Degradation, Eia

    Note4Students

    From UPSC perspective, the following things are important:

    Prelims level: Odd-Even Scheme

    Mains level: Delhi Air Pollution Menace

    odd-even scheme

    Central Idea

    • The Odd-Even scheme, designed to reduce vehicular emissions and combat severe air pollution in Delhi, has garnered attention and scrutiny.
    • While this emergency action has been implemented in response to deteriorating air quality, experts emphasize that it may not be a panacea for all pollution woes.

    Odd-Even Scheme

    • Reduction in Vehicles: The scheme aims to curtail vehicular pollution by restricting the number of cars on the road. However, it has limitations, as it excludes two-wheelers and taxis, which are significant contributors to emissions.
    • Two Aspects of Transport Pollution: Transport pollution encompasses emissions from exhaust tailpipes and wear and tear of tires and brakes. Tailpipe emissions contain pollutants like PM2.5, soot, organics, nitrogen oxides, carbon monoxide, and poly-aromatic hydrocarbons.

    Why such move?

    • Curbing Local Sources of Pollution: Transport is a dominant source of pollutants when considering Delhi’s local emissions. Vehicles play a crucial role in exacerbating air quality issues.
    • Complex Challenges: Estimating the scheme’s exact impact on pollution levels is challenging due to multiple factors, including emissions from outside Delhi, restricted coverage of the transport fleet, and exemptions.

    Prior Experience and Expert Opinions

    • Experience from 2016: A study conducted on the Odd-Even scheme implemented in January 2016 indicated limited success in mitigating air pollution. PM2.5 levels decreased marginally in specific areas but not significantly citywide.
    • Comprehensive Approach Needed: Experts argue that while the Odd-Even scheme can contribute to pollution reduction, it should be viewed as one element of a comprehensive strategy, combined with measures like construction halts, during periods of stagnant air.
    • Not a Silver Bullet: Emergency actions, including the Odd-Even scheme, cannot independently solve air quality issues, and their effectiveness is influenced by various factors.

    Assessing Impact Based on Pollution Concentration

    • Air Quality Index (AQI) May Not Tell the Full Story: Experts emphasize the importance of considering pollutant concentration levels rather than relying solely on the Air Quality Index (AQI) for assessing the scheme’s impact.
    • Concentration Matters: Monitoring the concentration of pollutants provides a clearer picture of the scheme’s effectiveness in reducing harmful substances in the air.

    Transportation Role in Delhi’s Pollution

    • Contributor to Emissions: Transport, including vehicles and cars, is a substantial contributor to PM2.5 emissions in Delhi, accounting for a significant portion of the pollution.
    • Role of Four-Wheeler Cars: Four-wheeler cars contribute about 8% of emissions within the transport sector. Reducing their presence on the road can make a notable difference.

    Lessons from Other Cities

    • Global Precedents: Other major cities, such as Beijing and Paris, have implemented vehicle restrictions to address pollution issues.
    • Comprehensive Measures: The success of such schemes often depends on their comprehensive nature and alignment with specific local conditions.

    Conclusion

    • The Odd-Even scheme in Delhi serves as a critical emergency measure to combat air pollution during periods of severe deterioration.
    • While it can contribute to reducing vehicular emissions, experts emphasize that it should be part of a broader strategy that addresses multiple pollution sources.
    • Analyzing pollutant concentration levels provides a more accurate assessment of the scheme’s impact, and it is crucial to view it in conjunction with other measures to ensure sustained improvements in air quality.

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  • Food Procurement and Distribution – PDS & NFSA, Shanta Kumar Committee, FCI restructuring, Buffer stock, etc.

    PM Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PMGKAY) extended for 5 Years

    Schemes | Governance | Mains Paper 2: Government Scheme/Policies

    Note4Students

    From UPSC perspective, the following things are important:

    Prelims level: PMGKAY

    Mains level: No

    Central Idea

    What is PMGKAY?

    • PMGKAY is a food security welfare scheme announced by the GoI in March 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic in India.
    • The program is operated by the Department of Food and Public Distribution under the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution.
    • The scale of this welfare scheme makes it the largest food security program in the world.

    Targets of the scheme

    • To feed the poorest citizens of India by providing grain through the Public Distribution System to all the priority households (ration card holders and those identified by the Antyodaya Anna Yojana scheme).
    • PMGKAY provides 5 kg of rice or wheat (according to regional dietary preferences) per person/month and 1 kg of dal to each family holding a ration card.

    At what rate are food grains provided under the NFSA?

    • NFSA beneficiaries are entitled to receive food grains at highly subsidised rates.
    • Under the food law, rice is provided at Rs 3 per kg, wheat at Rs 2 per kg, and coarse grains at Re 1 per kg.

    Success

    • Pandemic mitigation: It was the first step by the government when pandemic affected India.
    • Wide section of beneficiaries: The scheme reached its targeted population feeding almost 80Cr people.
    • Support to migrants: It has proven to be more of a safety net to migrant people who had job and livelihood losses.
    • Food and Nutrition Security: This has also ensured nutrition security to children of the migrant workers.

    Limitations of the scheme

    • Corruption: The scheme has been affected by widespread corruption, leakages and failure to distribute grain to the intended recipients.
    • Leakages: Out of the 79.25 crore beneficiaries under the National Food Security Act (NFSA), only 55 crore have so far received their 5 kg.
    • Inaccessibility: Many people were denied their share due to inability to access ration cards.
    • Low consumption: Livelihood losses led to decline in aggregate demand and resulted into lowest ever consumption expenditure by the people owing to scarcity of cash.
    • Resale of subsidized grains: This in turn led to selling of the free grains obtained in the local markets for cash.

    Back2Basics: National Food Security (NFS) Act

    • The NFS Act, of 2013 aims to provide subsidized food grains to approximately two-thirds of India’s 1.2 billion people.
    • It was signed into law on 12 September 2013, retroactive to 5 July 2013.
    • It converts into legal entitlements for existing food security programmes of the GoI.
    • It includes the Midday Meal Scheme, Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) scheme and the Public Distribution System (PDS).
    • Further, the NFSA 2013 recognizes maternity entitlements.
    • The Midday Meal Scheme and the ICDS are universal in nature whereas the PDS will reach about two-thirds of the population (75% in rural areas and 50% in urban areas).
    • Pregnant women, lactating mothers, and certain categories of children are eligible for daily free cereals.

    Key provisions of NFSA

    • The NFSA provides a legal right to persons belonging to “eligible households” to receive food-grains at a subsidised price.
    • It includes rice at Rs 3/kg, wheat at Rs 2/kg and coarse grain at Rs 1/kg — under the Targeted Public Distribution System (TPDS).
    • These are called central issue prices (CIPs).

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  • Electoral Reforms In India

    SC flags Selective Confidentiality in Electoral Bonds

    SC JudgementsSchemes | Governance | Mains Paper 2: Governance, Transparency & Accountability, Citizens Charters

    Note4Students

    From UPSC perspective, the following things are important:

    Prelims level: Electoral Bond Scheme

    Mains level: Transparency in Election Funding

    Electoral Bonds

    Central Idea

    • The Supreme Court expressed concerns about the selective confidentiality of the electoral bonds scheme, which allows the ruling party to discover the identities of donors to opposition parties.
    • The court questioned the government’s presumption of confidentiality and explored the potential disadvantages faced by opposition parties in the electoral process.

    About Electoral Bond Scheme

    Definition Banking instruments for political party donations with donor anonymity.
    Purchase Method Available to Indian citizens and Indian-incorporated companies from select State Bank of India branches. Can be bought digitally or via cheque.
    Donation Process Purchasers can donate these bonds to eligible political parties of their choice.
    Denominations Available in multiples of ₹1,000, ₹10,000, ₹10 lakh, and ₹1 crore.
    KYC Requirements Purchasers must fulfill existing KYC norms and pay from a bank account.
    Lifespan of Bonds Bonds have a 15-day life to prevent them from becoming a parallel currency.
    Identity Disclosure Donors contributing less than ₹20,000 need not provide identity details like PAN.
    Redemption Electoral Bonds can be encashed only by eligible political parties through an Authorized Bank.
    Eligibility of Parties Only parties meeting specific criteria, including securing at least 1% of votes in the last General Election, can receive Electoral Bonds.
    Restrictions Lifted Foreign and Indian companies can now donate without disclosing contributions as per the Companies Act.
    Objective To enhance transparency in political funding and ensure funds collected by political parties are accounted or clean money.

    Selective Confidentiality Challenges

    • Justice Khanna’s Address: The Judge pointed out that the ruling party had easier access to information about contributions to opposition parties, creating an imbalance in transparency.
    • State Bank of India’s Role: CJI Chandrachud questioned whether the SBI, through which electoral bonds were purchased, had a statutory obligation to maintain confidentiality.

    Government’s Defense

    • Confidentiality Key: The solicitor-General argued that confidentiality regarding donor identities and contributions was crucial to the electoral bonds scheme. He contended that eliminating the scheme would revert the country to a period when political donations were made in unaccounted cash, leading to black money circulation.
    • Economic Impact: He emphasized that the scheme aimed to channel clean money into the electoral system, reducing the influence of black money. He referred to a report highlighting the increase in income from unknown sources to political parties and the discovery of shell companies during the previous donation regime.

    Concerns Raised by CJI

    • Information Blackhole: The CJI noted that while the scheme aimed to bring white money into the electoral process, it introduced opacity, creating an “information blackhole.” He emphasized the need for proportionality in achieving the scheme’s objectives.
    • Expectations of Donors: Chandrachud questioned how substantial donations were consistently made to the ruling party, implying certain expectations from donors.
    • Donations Not Charity: Solicitor-General Mehta clarified that donors were primarily motivated by their own interests, often related to business or market-driven factors. He argued that larger donations to a party did not necessarily indicate an issue with the scheme.
    • Right to Privacy: Mehta argued that revealing the political affiliations of donors would infringe on their right to privacy.

    Transparency and Quid Pro Quo Concerns

    • Justice Khanna’s Query: Justice Khanna raised concerns about how confidentiality in the electoral bonds scheme could prevent quid pro quo arrangements between political parties and donors.
    • Proxy Donations: The judge questioned the possibility of parties funneling unaccounted money back into the system through proxy political donations.

    Conclusion

    • The Supreme Court’s scrutiny of the electoral bonds scheme centers on issues of transparency, confidentiality, and potential imbalances in the electoral process.
    • The court’s questions and concerns highlight the importance of ensuring fairness and proportionality in political funding mechanisms.

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  • Primary and Secondary Education – RTE, Education Policy, SEQI, RMSA, Committee Reports, etc.

    Gyan Sahayak Scheme for Contractual Teachers

    Schemes | Governance | Mains Paper 2: Government Scheme/Policies

    Note4Students

    From UPSC perspective, the following things are important:

    Prelims level: Gyan Sahayak Scheme

    Mains level: Not Much

    Gyan Sahayak Scheme

    Central Idea

    • The Gyan Sahayak Scheme, introduced by the Gujarat state government, has stirred controversy, facing opposition from various quarters of society.

    Why discuss this?

    • The scheme seeks to address teacher vacancies in government schools through contractual appointments until regular appointments are finalized.
    • Many states in India have opted for the contractual filling of govt job vacancies ever since the regime change in 2014.

    Understanding the Gyan Sahayak Scheme

    • Interim Solution: The scheme aims to temporarily fill teaching positions in primary, secondary, and higher secondary government schools until regular appointments could be made.
    • Basis in National Education Policy (NEP) 2020: The scheme draws inspiration from the NEP 2020, which emphasizes the need for teachers with interdisciplinary skills, beyond traditional academic subjects.

    Scope of the Scheme

    • Applicability: The Gyan Sahayak Scheme is applicable to government and grant-in-aid schools, particularly Mission Schools of Excellence.
    • Vacancy Statistics: The government announced the hiring of 15,000 Gyan Sahayaks for primary schools and 11,500 for secondary and higher secondary schools.
    • Salary Structure: Gyan Sahaks receive varying monthly salaries based on their school level: Rs 21,000 for primary, Rs 24,000 for secondary, and Rs 26,000 for higher secondary.
    • Vacancy Context: Gujarat reports an estimated 32,000 teaching vacancies in government and grant-in-aid schools, primarily affecting primary and secondary schools. Some secondary schools rely on Pravasi teachers to meet staffing needs.

    Eligibility Criteria

    • Primary Gyan Sahayak: Candidates must have cleared the Gujarat Examination Board’s Teachers Eligibility Test (TET)-2.
    • Secondary and Higher Secondary Gyan Sahayak: Candidates should have cleared the Teacher Aptitude Test (TAT).
    • Age Limit: Both primary and secondary school Gyan Sahayaks must be under 40 years of age, while higher secondary school Gyan Sahayaks can be up to 42 years old.
    • Merit-Based Selection: Selection involves the preparation of a merit list based on percentile ranks from TET-2 results, followed by the allocation of Gyan Sahayak positions to School Management Committees (SMCs) through district education officers.

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  • Roads, Highways, Cargo, Air-Cargo and Logistics infrastructure – Bharatmala, LEEP, SetuBharatam, etc.

    [pib] Setu Bandhan Scheme

    Schemes | Economics | Mains Paper 3: Infrastructure: Energy, Ports, Roads, Airports, Railways Etc.

    Note4Students

    From UPSC perspective, the following things are important:

    Prelims level: Setu Bandhan Scheme

    Mains level: NA

    Central Idea

    • Recently, the Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways announced the approval of Setu Bandhan Scheme for seven bridge projects in Arunachal Pradesh, utilizing funds from the Central Road and Infrastructure Fund (CRIF).

    What is Setu Bandhan Scheme?

    • Setu Bandhan is an initiative under the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways.
    • Its primary aim is to enhance inter-state connectivity, particularly in rural border areas that have been historically underserved by state roads.
    • The scheme aims to replace railway line Level Crossings (LCs) with Road Over Bridges (ROBs) or Rail Under Bridges (RUBs) in various states.

    About Central Road and Infrastructure Fund (CRIF)

    • Established in 2000 through the Central Road Fund Act, 2000.
    • Previously known as the Central Road Fund.
    • It falls under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Finance.
    • The fund is financed through a cess levied in conjunction with excise duty on petrol and diesel.

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  • Climate Change Impact on India and World – International Reports, Key Observations, etc.

    Centre launches Green Credit Program (GCP)

    Schemes | Economics | Mains Paper 3: Conservation, Environmental Pollution & Degradation, Eia

    Note4Students

    From UPSC perspective, the following things are important:

    Prelims level: Green Credit Program

    Mains level: Read the attached story

    Green Credit Program (GCP)

    Central Idea

    • The Centre has introduced a Green Credit Program (GCP) that allows individuals and entities to earn Green Credits, which can be traded on a dedicated exchange.

    What is the Green Credit Program (GCP)?

    • Objective: Aims to establish a competitive, market-based approach encouraging diverse stakeholders to undertake environmental actions.
    • Nodal Agency: Ministry of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change.

    Mechanics of Green Credit

    • Voluntary Participation: Reflects inclusivity, as engagement in the program is entirely voluntary.
    • Entities: The program extends to a diverse range of entities, encompassing individuals, industries, farmer producer organizations (FPOs), urban local bodies (ULBs), gram panchayats, and private sectors.
    • Tradability: Tradable, fostering participation in a proposed domestic market platform.
    • Certificates: Upon approval, applicants receive Green Credit certificates.

    Covered Activities

    • Qualifying Activities: The program includes various activities such as tree plantation, water conservation, sustainable agriculture, waste management, air pollution reduction, mangrove conservation, eco-mark initiatives, sustainable building, and infrastructure development.
    • Registration and Verification: Participants must register their activities on the program’s website, which will undergo verification by a designated agency.

    How are Green Credits computed?

    • Equitable Calculation: Green Credits are determined based on resource equivalence, scalability, scope, size, and other relevant parameters, aiming to achieve desired environmental outcomes.
    • Credit Registry: A dedicated Green Credit Registry will oversee the tracking and management of these credits.
    • Trading Platform: An administrator will establish and maintain a trading platform for the exchange of Green Credits within the domestic market.

    Alignment with Legal Obligations

    • Non-Tradable for Legal Compliance: Green Credits obtained for legal compliance purposes will not be tradable, ensuring adherence to existing laws.
    • Independent from Carbon Credit Scheme: The GCP operates separately from the Carbon Credit Trading Scheme, 2023, established under the Energy Conservation Act, 2001.
    • Additional Climate Benefits: Activities generating Green Credits may also yield climate-related advantages, such as carbon emissions reduction, potentially resulting in the acquisition of carbon credits.

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  • Oil and Gas Sector – HELP, Open Acreage Policy, etc.

    Centre hikes LPG Subsidy for Ujjwala Beneficiaries to ₹300 per Cylinder

    Schemes | Economics | Mains Paper 2: Government Scheme/Policies

    Note4Students

    From UPSC perspective, the following things are important:

    Prelims level: Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY)

    Mains level: Not Much

    Central Idea

    • The Union Cabinet has approved an increase in the subsidy provided on LPG cylinders under the Ujjwala scheme, raising it from ₹200 to ₹300.
    • The subsidy increase applies to up to 12 refills per year for beneficiaries.

    Why such move?

    • The decision to enhance the subsidy comes ahead of crucial Assembly elections in five states: Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Telangana, Chattisgarh, and Mizoram.

    Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY)

    • PMUY, introduced by the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, aims to provide clean cooking fuel, such as LPG, to rural and disadvantaged households, reducing their reliance on traditional fuels like firewood, coal, and cow dung cakes.
    • Phases of PMUY:
    1. Phase I: Launched on May 1, 2016, with a target to release 8 Crore LPG connections by March 2020, achieving a significant increase in LPG coverage.
    2. Ujjwala 2.0: This phase aimed to release an additional 1 crore LPG connections, a target achieved in January 2022, subsequently expanded to release an additional 60 lakh LPG connections under Ujjwala 2.0.

    Key Features

    • Provides ₹1600 financial support for each LPG connection to Below Poverty Line (BPL) households.
    • Offers deposit-free LPG connections, including the first refill and a free hotplate for beneficiaries.
    • Benefits for beneficiaries include:
    1. Eligible beneficiaries receive a free LPG connection.
    2. Subsidy on the first six refills of 14.2 kg cylinders or eight refills of 5 kg cylinders.
    3. Option to use EMI facility for stove and first refill costs.
    4. Opportunity to join the PAHAL scheme for direct subsidy transfers to bank accounts.

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