National Circular Bioenergy Scheme (GOBARdhan Scheme)

Government Scheme

Context

Recently, the Union Cabinet has approved the National Circular Bioenergy Scheme (GOBARdhan – Galvanising Organic Bio-Agro Resources Dhan) with a total outlay of ₹23,731 crore.

The GOBARdhan (National Circular Bioenergy Scheme)

It is a 10-year initiative (FY 2026–27 to 2035–36)
Implementation – Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas

Key Objectives & Components

Target: Boost Compressed Biogas (CBG) production tenfold to 5 MMSCMD.
Unified Framework: Consolidates previous initiatives like SATAT, Market Development Assistance (MDA), and Biomass Aggregation Machinery (BAM).

Additional Information – Biofuels

- Definition – Biofuels are alternative fuels made from plant and plant-derived resources.

Example: Bioethanol, Biodiesel, Green diesel, Biogas etc.

National Policy on Biofuels, 2018

The National Policy on Biofuels 2018 (amended in 2022) provides a framework for increasing the use of biofuels in India to enhance energy security.

Government Efforts for Biofuel Expansion

Pradhan Mantri JI-VAN Yojana (Jaiv Indhan – Vatavaran Anukool fasal awashesh Nivaran Yojana): It promotes 2G ethanol production from agricultural waste and residues.
SATAT Scheme (Sustainable Alternative Towards Affordable Transportation): It promotes Compressed Bio-Gas (CBG) production as a fuel alternative.

Good Samaritan Scheme

Government Schemes

Context

Only 813 people have been awarded under the Good Samaritan scheme over the past five years, from 2021-22 to 2025-26.

About

- It was launched in 2021

Implementation – Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH).

Objective – to reduce road accident fatalities by incentivising bystanders to rush victims to the hospital within the “Golden Hour” (the first 60 minutes).

Key Features

- Reward: A cash prize of ₹25,000 per incident and a Certificate of Appreciation.
- Duration – 2026-27 to 2030-31 cycle

Financing – Central sponsored scheme.

Integration: Operates alongside the PM RAHAT Scheme, which offers cashless medical treatment up to ₹1.5 lakh for accident victims.

PM RAHAT (Road Accident Victim Hospitalization and Assured Treatment)

- It is a newly launched initiative by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways.

Objective – to provide immediate, cashless medical treatment to road accident victims across India.

Significance – it aims to reduce fatalities during the “Golden Hour” (the critical first hour after an accident).

Key features of the scheme

It includes cashless treatment up to ₹1.5 lakh for up to 7 days.
It offers stabilization care for a maximum of 24 hours in cases that are not life-threatening and 48 hours in life-threatening situations.
The scheme covers all road accident victims on all types of roads.
Hospitals cannot ask for advance payments for emergency stabilization.
Implementation is linked with the 112 helpline for emergency response.
Treatment is available at hospitals empaneled under Ayushman Bharat (PM-JAY).
A digital system connects the eDAR and TMS 2.0 for reporting and claim processing. Funding comes from the Motor Vehicle Accident Fund (MVAF).
Grievances are handled by a Grievance Redressal Officer at the district level.

Farakka Treaty

International

Context

With the 1996 Farakka Treaty set to expire on 12 December 2026, demands have been raised to review its provisions in light of Bihar’s future water requirements.

Farakka Treaty

It is also known as the Ganga Water Treaty.
It was signed on 12 December 1996 between Prime Minister H.D. Deve Gowda of India and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina of Bangladesh.
It governs the sharing of Ganga waters at the Farakka Barrage.
The Farakka Barrage, built on the Bhagirathi River in West Bengal.
It was constructed to improve the navigability of the Kolkata Port by diverting water into the Hooghly River.

Padma River

The Padma River is one of the largest and most important rivers in Bangladesh.
It is the main distributary of the Ganges River after the Ganges enters Bangladesh from India.
The Padma flows southeast, joins the Jamuna River (the lower Brahmaputra), and later merges with the Meghna River before emptying into the Bay of Bengal.
It is a major part of the world’s largest delta system, the Ganges–Brahmaputra–Meghna Delta.

Additional Information – Ganga River System

The Ganga River System is India’s largest river basin.

Origin – The river starts as the Bhagirathi from the Gangotri Glacier.
Name: It becomes the Ganga when it joins the Alaknanda at Devprayag.
RiverLength: It is 2,525 km long.
States: It flows through five states: Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, and West Bengal.
The Delta: It splits in West Bengal. One part goes to Bangladesh (called Padma). It helps form the Sundarbans Delta, the biggest delta in the world.

Important Tributaries

Left-Bank (North): Ramganga, Gomti, Ghaghara, Gandak, Kosi.
Right-Bank (South): Yamuna (the longest one) and Son.

Key Exam Facts

National River: Named India’s National River in 2008.
Ganga Dolphin: This is India’s National Aquatic Animal. It is endangered.
Namami Gange: The main government project to clean and protect the river.

Agni-4

Defence

Context

India successfully test-fired the medium-range ballistic missile Agni-4 from the Integrated Test Range at Chandipur in Odisha.

Agni-IV

- It is a nuclear-capable surface-to-surface ballistic missile

Developed by – DRDO.

Type: Two-stage solid-fueled medium-range ballistic missile (MRBM).
Range: Approximately 4,000 km.
Payload: Can carry a 1,000 kg nuclear or conventional warhead.
Mobility: Launched from a road-mobile launcher for strategic flexibility.
Technology: Uses advanced Ring Laser Gyroscope navigation and a heat shield that resists 4,000°C re-entry temperatures.
Significance: Operated by the Strategic Forces Command to enforce India’s Credible Minimum Deterrence and No-First-Use policy.

Dr. M. S. Swaminathan Award for Environment Protection

Awards

News

P. Pechiyammal of Ramanathapuram and Govindhammal of Villupuram were given the Dr. M. S. Swaminathan Award for Environment Protection 2026.
Pechiyammal was recognised for pioneering the collection of ghost fishing gear (abandoned fishing nets, nylon ropes and plastic waste) from coastal areas, a move that has helped reduce marine pollution.
Govindhammal was recognised for her contribution toward promoting sustainable agriculture, empowering farmers with better seeds and improved farming practices.

Dr. M. S. Swaminathan Award for Environment Protection

It was instituted by the Rotary Club of Madras East (RCME) in the name of its honorary member and agricultural scientist, the late M.S. Swaminathan.
It is being supported by CavinKare Pvt. Ltd.
It is presented to either an individual, a company, or an NGO that has contributed, either directly or indirectly, to enhancing environmental protection and awareness.

Additional Information – M. S. Swaminathan

He was known as the Father of India’s Green Revolution.
The term ‘Green Revolution’, was coined by William S Gaud in 1968.

Awards in India:

1. Lal Bahadur Shastri National Award
2. Indira Gandhi Prize
3. Padma Shri in 1967
4. Padma Bhushan in 1972
5. Padma Vibhushan in 1989,

Bharat Ratna in 2024.

Green Revolution

It refers to a period of significant increase in agricultural production resulting from the adoption of modern technology, high-yielding variety (HYV) seeds, chemical fertilizers, irrigation, and mechanization.