CONTENTS
- National Bioenergy Programme
- Exercise ‘Garuda VII’
National Bioenergy Programme
Focus: GS II: Government policies and Interventions
Why in News?
Recently, The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE), Government of India has notified the National Bioenergy Programme.
- MNRE has continued the National Bioenergy Programme for the period from FY 2021-22 to 2025-26. The Programme has been recommended for implementation in two Phases.
Bioenergy:
- Bioenergy is renewable energy made available from organic materials derived from biological sources.
- It is the energy derived from biomass such as bagasse, cotton stalk, coconut shell and wood, plants, etc. With global warming and growing concerns biomass can play a vital role especially in rural areas.
About National Bioenergy Programme:
- The Indian Renewable Energy Development Agency (IREDA) will be the implementing agency for the programme.
- IREDA will be paid a service charge of 1% of CFA to process applications, besides 1% for the CFA (minimum ₹50,000) for implementing, and monitoring the performance once the plants are commissioned.
- It aims to produce biogas and bioCNG, and electricity from urban, industrial and agricultural waste and residues.
- The government will offer financial assistance to project developers and pay service charges to implementing agencies, including inspection firms for commissioning the waste-to-energy plants.
- It also comprises the biogas and biomass programmes.
- Standard central financial assistance (CFA) for the biogas projects will be ₹25 lakh for 12,000 cubic metre a day and maximum pegged at ₹5 crore.
- Financial assistance of ₹75 lakh per MW for new biogas plants and ₹50 lakh per MW for existing units will be given.
- If the waste-to-energy plants are set up in special category states, such as the North East, Himachal Pradesh, Sikkim, Jammu and Kashmir, Ladakh, Lakshadweep, Uttarakhand, and Andaman & Nicobar Islands, the eligible CFA will be 20% higher than the standard CFA pattern.
The National Bioenergy Programme will comprises of the following sub-schemes:
- Waste to Energy Programme (Programme on Energy from Urban, Industrial and Agricultural Wastes /Residues) to support setting up of large Biogas, BioCNG and Power plants (excluding MSW to Power projects).
- Biomass Programme (Scheme to Support Manufacturing of Briquettes & Pellets and Promotion of Biomass (non-bagasse) based cogeneration in Industries) to support setting up of pellets and briquettes for use in power generation and non-bagasse based power generation projects.
- Biogas Programme to support setting up of family and medium size Biogas in rural areas.
Exercise ‘Garuda VII’
Focus: Security challenges
Why in News?
The chiefs of Indian and French Air Forces joined the Air Exercise Garuda-VII in Jodhpur.
About Exercise ‘Garuda VII’
- This joint exercise will provide a platform for both the countries to enhance operational capability and interoperability, while also sharing best practices.
- This is the seventh edition of the bilateral exercise. The first, third and fifth editions were conducted in India in 2003, 2006 and 2014 at Air Force Stations Gwalior, Kalaikunda and Jodhpur, respectively.
- The second, fourth and sixth editions were conducted in France in 2005, 2010 and 2019.
- Participation of the IAF and FASF in this exercise will promote professional interaction, exchange of experiences and enhancement of operational knowledge, besides strengthening bilateral relations between the two countries.
