GREEN GROWTH

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GREEN GROWTH

 

Mains General Studies: 3

(Government schemes for green development related to environment and agriculture sector)

Why in the News:

  • Recently the Prime Minister addressed a webinar on various aspects related to 'Green Growth'.

Key points:

  • Organized under the leadership of the Union Ministry of Power, the objective of this webinar are:
  • Bringing people working in public and private sectors, academia, industry and different sectors on a single platform
  • Collaboratively work on implementation strategies for various sectors.
  • Green development is one of the "Sapta Rishi" top priorities of the Union Amrit Kaal Budget 2023-24.
  • To start a green industrial and economic transition, eco-friendly agriculture and sustainable energy in the country, the Prime Minister mentioned three pillars of green growth and energy transmission in the webinar:
  • First, increasing the production of renewable energy;
  • Second, to reduce the use of fossil fuels in its economy;
  • And third, to rapidly move the country towards a gas-based economy.
  • India has immense potential to lead the world in the field of green energy.
  • Green growth will advance global well-being apart from creating jobs.

Various schemes/initiatives of Government of India for Green Growth:

  • These schemes related to green development are the foundation stone for the bright future of the future generation and will pave the way for it.
  • Ethanol Blending
  • India has achieved the target of blending 10 percent ethanol in petrol.
  • Country will try to achieve the target of 20 per cent blending of ethanol in petrol by 2025-26 instead of 2030.
  • PM Kusum Yojana
  • Under this scheme, farmers have been given the facility of solar panels for irrigation. Under this scheme, 90 percent of the total cost of installation of solar pumps will be borne by the government. The remaining 10 percent cost will be paid by the farmers themselves.
  • Solar pump will become a source of income for the farmers.
  • Incentives for Solar Manufacturing
  • Rooftop Solar Scheme
  • In this scheme, 40% subsidy is given by the government to install solar panels.
  • Announcement of measures such as coal gasification and battery storage
  • India has to increase its battery storage capacity to 125-gigawatt hours in the next 6-7 years.
  • Green Loans for Industries
  • PM Pranam Yojana for farmers
  • It is a program for land reform, awareness, nurturing and improvement.
  • The main objective of the scheme is to reduce the use of chemical fertilizers and promote balanced use of chemicals, so as to promote green growth and reduce the negative impact on the environment.
  • Gobar-Dhan Yojana for villages
  • The scheme is an important component of India's biofuel strategy.
  • India has the potential to produce 10 thousand million cubic meters of biogas and 1.5 lakh cubic meters of gas from cow dung which can contribute up to 8 percent of city gas distribution in the country.
  • The government has announced plans to set up 500 new plants under the Gobar-Dhan scheme.
  • Vehicle Scrapping Policy for Cities
  • The government has made a provision of Rs 3000 crore for scrapping about 3 lakh vehicles older than 15 years, including police vehicles, ambulances and buses, owned by the central and state governments.
  • This policy will give new strength to the country's circular economy and the youth of India will get benefits through various means of circular economy.
  • National Green Hydrogen Mission
  • Under this mission, India has set a target of producing 5 MMT of green hydrogen by the year 2030.
  • To promote the production of green hydrogen in the country, the central government has recently approved the construction of a hydrogen plant.
  • This is the first hydrogen plant to be built in the country.
  • This plant will be set up by 'The Green Billions Limited Company' in Pune, Maharashtra.
  • Hydrogen gas will be generated from the waste in this plant to provide an environment friendly solution.
  • Energy storage projects,
  • Renewable Energy Extract,
  • Green Credit Program,
  • This program encourages people to plant trees outside traditional forest land.
  • Indian Natural Farming Bio-input Resource Centre,
  • Mishti
  • The main objective of the Mishti scheme is to "conserve and plant mangrove forests" along the sea coast.
  • Amrit Dharohar Yojana
  • The objective of the scheme is to conserve wetlands by promoting their optimum use.
  • Coastal Shipping and Vehicle Replacement.
  • There is a vast area for water-based transport in India.
  • India currently transports only 5 per cent of its cargo through its coastal route while only 2 per cent of cargo is transported in India through inland waterways.
  • The development of waterways in India will open up several opportunities for all the stakeholders in this sector.
  • An allocation of Rs 19,000 crore was made to encourage the private sector in this sector.
  • Providing additional opportunities to the private sector for manufacturing electrolysers, green steel and long-life fuel cells.

Significance of Green Growth for India:

  • India's leading position in renewable energy will ensure a favorable change in the world.
  • It will invite every stakeholder in the energy world to invest in India.
  • This will give success to the ongoing global efforts towards diversification of energy supply chain.
  • It will provide a huge opportunity for every green energy investor to invest in India.
  • It will also prove to be extremely useful for startups associated with this sector.
  • Green growth will lay the foundation stone for a bright future for the future generations.
  • Green growth will play an important role in establishing India as a leader in the global green energy market.
  • This will also create a large number of green employment opportunities.

Conclusion:

  • India has been at the forefront of the world's major economies in adding renewable energy capacity at a rapid pace since 2014.
  • The potential of solar, wind and biogas in India is no less than a gold mine or an oil field for the private sector.
  • Green growth is not only an opportunity, but also a guarantee of future security.
  • Green growth will work to find solutions to current challenges as well as drive new age reforms.
  • Nevertheless, the government should reform the Energy Conservation Act-2001 to meet the growing energy needs of the country and keeping in mind the sustainable development.

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Mains Exam. Question:

Mention the major initiatives of the Government of India to promote green growth.