Environment · GS3
GOBARdhan National Circular Bioenergy Scheme
One line
The Cabinet approved GOBARdhan with a stated outlay of ₹23,731 crore to convert dung, crop residue, organic waste, and other biomass into compressed biogas and manure.
Summary
GOBARdhan links waste management, clean fuel, rural income, and soil health. Compressed biogas can substitute for some fossil gas, but its climate and economic value depend on feedstock collection, methane leakage, digestate quality, transport, and plant viability.
PYQ pattern
UPSC environment questions often test waste-to-energy pathways and their limits. Use the official UPSC archive and distinguish feedstock, process, fuel, and residue.
Core notes
- Anaerobic digestion breaks down organic matter without oxygen and produces biogas and digestate.
- Compressed biogas is purified and compressed for use as a fuel.
- Digestate can be used as organic manure if contaminants and nutrient quality are controlled.
- The scheme builds on initiatives such as SATAT and biomass aggregation support. The stated aim is scale, not proof that all waste is already collected.
Prelims lens
- Biogas and compressed biogas are not the same as green hydrogen.
- Anaerobic digestion occurs without oxygen.
- Organic waste, cattle dung, press mud, and crop residue are feedstocks, not finished fuel.
MCQ 1
Anaerobic digestion:
- A. breaks down organic matter without oxygen
- B. requires direct sunlight on solar cells
- C. is the same as open burning
- D. produces only nitrogen gas
Reveal answerHide answer
A
Anaerobic digestion produces biogas and digestate through microbial breakdown in oxygen-limited conditions.
MCQ 2
GOBARdhan aims to connect:
- Organic waste with clean fuel production.
- Biomass processing with rural income and manure.
- A. 1 only
- B. 2 only
- C. Both 1 and 2
- D. Neither 1 nor 2
Reveal answerHide answer
C
These links are central to the National Circular Bioenergy Scheme described by PIB.
Mains
Question, 10 marks, 150 words: Can compressed biogas turn rural organic waste into an energy and livelihood opportunity? Examine the conditions for success.
Approach:
- Explain anaerobic digestion, biogas, compressed biogas, and digestate.
- Discuss waste reduction, fuel substitution, manure, jobs, and rural value chains.
- Examine collection, contamination, leakage, transport, water, plant finance, and demand.
- Recommend local feedstock plans, quality standards, stable offtake, safety, and lifecycle monitoring.