Union Cabinet Approves Rs.23,731-Crore National Circular Bioenergy Scheme (GOBARdhan)
Union Cabinet Approves Rs.23,731-Crore National Circular Bioenergy Scheme (GOBARdhan)
Summary
The Union Cabinet approved the National Circular Bioenergy Scheme (GOBARdhan) with an outlay of Rs.23,731 crore, running till FY 2035-36, aiming to raise local Compressed Biogas (CBG) production capacity nearly tenfold from 300 to 5,000 plants.
Background
GOBARdhan (Galvanizing Organic Bio-Agro Resources Dhan) is a Government of India initiative to convert cattle dung and organic waste into biogas and organic manure, supporting clean energy and circular economy goals.
TNPSC Relevance
Central government schemes related to renewable energy and waste management are commonly tested under the Schemes and Environment sections of TNPSC exams.
Constitutional / Economic / Scientific Relevance
Environmentally and economically, the scheme supports India's biofuel blending targets and reduces reliance on fossil-fuel-based CNG through assured offtake and capital subsidies.
Key Highlights
- The Union Cabinet approved the National Circular Bioenergy Scheme (GOBARdhan) with an outlay of Rs.23,731 crore.
- The scheme runs until FY 2035-36.
- It aims to raise local CBG production from 300 to 5,000 plants, nearly a tenfold increase.
- The mandatory CBG-CNG blending requirement will rise from 3% to 4% to 5% over 2026-29.
Important Facts
| Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Scheme | GOBARdhan (National Circular Bioenergy Scheme) |
| Outlay | Rs.23,731 crore |
| Duration | Till FY 2035-36 |
| CBG plants target | 300 to 5,000 |
| Blending mandate | 3% to 5% over 2026-29 |
Timeline
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| 2026-08-07 | Union Cabinet approves GOBARdhan scheme |
Static GK Links
- Compressed Biogas (CBG) - production from organic/agricultural waste
- SATAT scheme (Sustainable Alternative Towards Affordable Transportation) - precursor initiative
Exam Notes & Memorization Points
GOBARdhan outlay: Rs.23,731 crore, till FY 2035-36.
CBG plants target: 300 -> 5,000 (~10x).
CBG-CNG blending: 3% -> 5% by 2029.
Practice MCQs
Q1. What is the total outlay approved for the National Circular Bioenergy Scheme (GOBARdhan)?
- (A) Rs.15,000 crore
- (B) Rs.18,500 crore
- (C) Rs.23,731 crore
- (D) Rs.30,000 crore
Answer: C — The scheme was approved with an outlay of Rs.23,731 crore.
Q2. GOBARdhan aims to raise local CBG production capacity from how many plants to how many?
- (A) 100 to 1,000
- (B) 300 to 5,000
- (C) 500 to 3,000
- (D) 200 to 2,000
Answer: B — The scheme targets raising CBG plants from 300 to 5,000.
Q3. By what year is the CBG-CNG mandatory blending requirement set to rise to 5%?
- (A) 2027
- (B) 2029
- (C) 2031
- (D) 2035
Answer: B — The blending mandate is set to reach 5% over the 2026-29 period.
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