Why in news?
As of January 27, 2026, India has 189 functional CBG projects across states, led by Uttar Pradesh (37), Gujarat (25), and Haryana (20), alongside 979 community/cluster-based biogas projects.
About
The GOBARdhan Scheme (Galvanizing Organic Bio‑Agro Resources Dhan) is a Government of India initiative under the Ministry of Jal Shakti that converts cattle dung and organic waste into biogas, compressed biogas (CBG), and bio‑CNG.
Objectives of GOBARdhan
- Waste to Wealth: Transform cattle dung, agricultural residue, municipal solid waste, and sewage sludge into renewable energy.
- Village Cleanliness: Reduce open dumping and burning of waste.
- Rural Income: Provide farmers and rural households with additional revenue streams.
- Energy Security: Promote biogas and compressed biogas as substitutes for fossil fuels.
- Circular Economy: Encourage sustainable practices by recycling waste into energy and organic manure.
Key Features
- Compressed Biogas (CBG): Produced from organic waste, usable as a clean fuel alternative to LPG, petrol, and diesel.
- Bio‑CNG Plants: Infrastructure support for setting up plants across districts.
- Unified Registration Portal: A centralized platform for registering biogas/CBG plants.
- Multi‑Ministry Collaboration: Involves Ministry of New & Renewable Energy, Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas, Department of Animal Husbandry, Agriculture, Rural Development, and Drinking Water & Sanitation.
Benefits
- Environmental: Reduces methane emissions, improves waste management, and curbs pollution.
- Economic: Generates rural employment and provides farmers with income from waste.
- Energy: Strengthens India’s renewable energy mix and reduces dependence on imported fuels.
- Agricultural: Produces organic manure, improving soil fertility and reducing chemical fertilizer use.
Challenges
- Transparency Issues: Reports highlight lack of clear data on operational CBG plants.
- Implementation Gaps: Some states lag in setting up functional plants.
- Awareness & Training: Farmers and local bodies need more capacity‑building support.
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