In 2018, the Government of India launched the GOBAR-Dhan Scheme as a national priority project under the Swachh Bharat Mission Gramin – Phase II programme. The scheme aims to promote a circular economy by keeping villages clean, increasing rural household income, and generating energy from cattle waste. In the Union Budget 2023, the Finance Minister announced 500 new ‘waste to wealth’ plants for promoting a circular economy with a total investment of Rs 10,000 crore under the GOBAR-Dhan scheme.

Overview of the GOBAR-Dhan Scheme

The GOBAR-Dhan scheme was launched in April 2018 by the Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation under the Jal Shakti Ministry. The scheme aims to support villages in safely managing their cattle waste, agricultural waste, and all organic waste. It supports communities in converting their waste into wealth using decentralized systems. The scheme promotes rural entrepreneurship, employment, and income-generation opportunities.

The Swachh Bharat Mission (Gramin) comprises two main components for creating clean villages – creating open defecation-free (ODF) villages and solid and liquid waste management (SLWM) in villages. The GOBAR-Dhan scheme is being implemented as part of the SLWM component.

Objectives of the GOBAR-Dhan Scheme

The objectives of the GOBAR-Dhan scheme are:

  • To support villages to safely manage their cattle waste, agricultural waste, and all organic waste.
  • To promote the conversion of organic waste, especially cattle waste, to biogas and fertilizer for use in rural areas.
  • To curb vector-borne diseases through effective waste disposal in rural regions.
  • To promote rural entrepreneurship, employment, and income-generation opportunities.
Implementation of the GOBAR-Dhan Scheme

The GOBAR-Dhan scheme has four implementation models. The incentives vary depending on the model and the number of households covered under it. The four models are:

  • Model-A (Gram Panchayat)
  • Model-B (Self-Help Group Federation)
  • Model-C (Bulk Waste Generator/Entrepreneur)
  • Model-D (Any Eligible Enterprise)
Stakeholders in the GOBAR-Dhan Scheme

Several government departments and ministries are involved in the implementation of the GOBAR-Dhan scheme. These include:

  • Department of Agricultural Research and Education
  • Department of Agriculture, Cooperation and Farmers’ Welfare
  • Department of Rural Development
  • Ministry of New and Renewable Energy
  • Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship
  • Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation
  • Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas
  • Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying
  • Ministry of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change
  • Department of Science and Technology
  • Department of Fertilizers
Biogas and Compressed Biogas (CBG)

Biogas is a renewable energy source that contains about 55-65% methane, 35-44% carbon dioxide, and traces of other gases such as ammonia, hydrogen sulphide, and nitrogen. In its raw form, biogas can be used as a clean cooking fuel like LPG for lighting, motive power, and electricity generation. Biogas can be purified and upgraded up to 98% of purity to make it suitable to be used as a green fuel for transportation or filling of cylinders. The process relies on a high pressure of circa 250 bar and hence is called compressed biogas (CBG).

Why In News

In April 2018, the Government of India (GoI) launched the GOBAR-Dhan Scheme as a national priority project under the Swachh Bharat Mission Gramin – Phase II programme. The scheme aims to promote organic waste management, rural entrepreneurship, and the generation of biogas and fertilizers from cattle and agricultural waste.

MCQs about GOBAR-Dhan Schem

  1. Which of the following is the objective of the GOBAR-Dhan Scheme launched by the GoI?
    A. To promote a circular economy through waste-to-wealth plants
    B. To provide financial aid to farmers
    C. To increase the production of fossil fuels
    D. To improve the quality of education in rural areas
    Correct Answer: A. To promote a circular economy through waste-to-wealth plants.
    Explanation: The GOBAR-Dhan Scheme was launched in 2018 as a national priority project under the Swachh Bharat Mission Gramin – Phase II programme with the objective of promoting a circular economy through waste-to-wealth plants.
  2. What was announced in the Union Budget 2023 regarding the GOBAR-Dhan Scheme?
    A. 500 new waste-to-wealth plants with a total investment of Rs 10,000 crore
    B. A new education program for rural areas
    C. A new health program for rural areas
    D. A new housing program for rural areas
    Correct Answer: A. 500 new waste-to-wealth plants with a total investment of Rs 10,000 crore.
    Explanation: In the Union Budget 2023, the Finance Minister announced 500 new waste-to-wealth plants for promoting a circular economy with a total investment of Rs 10,000 crore under the GOBAR-Dhan scheme. Of the 500 new plants, 200 will be compressed biogas plants (CBG), including 75 in cities, and the remaining 300 will be community or cluster-based plants.
  3. How many compressed biogas plants (CBG) will be included in the 500 new waste-to-wealth plants announced in the Union Budget 2023?
    A. 200
    B. 75
    C. 300
    D. 500
    Correct Answer: A. 200.
    Explanation: Of the 500 new waste-to-wealth plants announced in the Union Budget 2023 under the GOBAR-Dhan scheme, 200 will be compressed biogas plants (CBG), including 75 in cities, and the remaining 300 will be community or cluster-based plants.

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