·PIB

FAME INDIA SCHEME

In this note
  1. At a Glance
  2. Why in the News
  3. Background & Evolution
  4. Core Static Facts
  5. Multi-Dimensional Analysis
  6. Recent Developments (last 12-18 months)
  7. Prelims Hooks
  8. Mains Relevance
  9. Related Topics to Study Next
  10. Common Errors / Trap Areas

1. At a Glance

  • FAME India = Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of (Hybrid &) Electric Vehicles in India; flagship demand-incentive + charging-infrastructure scheme of the Ministry of Heavy Industries (MHI) to push electric mobility [1][2].
  • Operationalised under the National Electric Mobility Mission Plan (NEMMP) 2020; ran in two phases — Phase-I (2015-19) and Phase-II (2019-24) [1][3].
  • Subsumed in 2024 by EMPS 2024 (interim) and the PM E-DRIVE scheme; standard UPSC angle covers EV ecosystem, energy security, climate commitments and Atmanirbhar Bharat manufacturing [4].

2. Why in the News

  • PIB note (24 Mar 2026) by MHI summarised final implementation status of FAME-I and FAME-II as both phases have now concluded [1].
  • PM E-DRIVE (the successor scheme) was extended by 2 years — from 31 Mar 2026 to 31 Mar 2028 — keeping the FAME legacy alive [4].

3. Background & Evolution

  • 2013: NEMMP 2020 unveiled — target of 6-7 million EV sales by 2020 [3].
  • FAME-I: notified 1 April 2015, ran till 31 March 2019; acted as a pilot to test technology viability [1].
  • FAME-II: notified for 1 April 2019 – 31 March 2024; original outlay ₹10,000 crore, later enhanced to ₹11,500 crore [2][5].
  • 2024: Electric Mobility Promotion Scheme (EMPS) 2024 ran 1 Apr – 30 Sep 2024 as bridge; PM E-DRIVE notified 29 Sep 2024 with ₹10,900 crore outlay [4].

4. Core Static Facts

  • Nodal ministry: Ministry of Heavy Industries (MHI) — not MoRTH or MNRE [1].
  • Parent policy: NEMMP 2020 [3].
  • FAME-I outcomes: ~2.8 lakh electric/hybrid vehicles incentivised (₹359 cr); 425 e-buses sanctioned (₹280 cr); 520 charging stations sanctioned (₹43 cr) [1].
  • FAME-II outlay: ₹11,500 cr (enhanced from ₹10,000 cr) [5].
  • FAME-II vehicle support: subsidy of ~₹5,248 cr on sale of 11,61,350 EVs (as on 5 Dec 2023) [2].
  • FAME-II e-buses: 6,862 sanctioned; 5,135 supplied by 28 Feb 2025 [2].
  • Charging infra under FAME-II: ₹800 cr capital subsidy to 3 Oil Marketing Companies for 7,432 public EV charging stations [2].
  • Eligible vehicle segments (FAME-II): e-2W, e-3W, e-4W (commercial), e-buses (4 segments) [2].

5. Multi-Dimensional Analysis

  • Economic: Demand-side fiscal incentive lowered upfront EV cost; capital subsidy seeded charging market; complemented PLI-Auto and PLI-ACC (Advanced Chemistry Cell) schemes [4].
  • Environmental: Reduces tail-pipe emissions and oil-import dependence; aligns with India's Panchamrit pledge at COP-26 (net-zero by 2070) [1].
  • Administrative: Centrally Sponsored; phased — Phase-I as pilot, Phase-II for scale; demand-incentive via OEMs with Phased Manufacturing Programme (PMP) localisation rider [3].
  • Strategic/Energy security: Cuts crude oil import bill; supports domestic ACC battery ecosystem [4].
  • Federal/Implementation bottlenecks: Initial slow e-bus deployment, OEM subsidy-misuse probes, slow charging-station rollout drove transition to PM E-DRIVE model [4].

6. Recent Developments (last 12-18 months)

  • 31 Mar 2024: FAME-II concluded [1].
  • 1 Apr – 30 Sep 2024: EMPS 2024 bridge scheme [4].
  • 11 Sep 2024: Cabinet approves PM E-DRIVE — ₹10,900 cr / 2 years [4].
  • 29 Sep 2024: PM E-DRIVE notified by MHI [4].
  • 2026: PM E-DRIVE extended to 31 Mar 2028 [4].
  • 24 Mar 2026: MHI PIB statement consolidating FAME-I/II outcomes [1].

7. Prelims Hooks

  • Nodal ministry of FAME India = Ministry of Heavy Industries [1].
  • FAME = Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of (Hybrid &) Electric vehicles [1].
  • Parent plan = NEMMP 2020 (launched 2013) [3].
  • FAME-I duration: 1 Apr 2015 – 31 Mar 2019 [1].
  • FAME-II duration: 1 Apr 2019 – 31 Mar 2024; outlay ₹11,500 cr (revised) [2][5].
  • FAME-I supported ~2.8 lakh EVs/hybrids with ₹359 cr [1].
  • FAME-II sanctioned 6,862 e-buses [2].
  • 7,432 EV charging stations sanctioned to 3 OMCs with ₹800 cr subsidy under FAME-II [2].
  • Successor: PM E-DRIVE, outlay ₹10,900 cr, notified 29 Sep 2024 [4].
  • Bridge scheme between FAME-II and PM E-DRIVE = EMPS 2024 (Apr–Sep 2024) [4].
  • PM E-DRIVE now extended till 31 Mar 2028 [4].
  • PM E-DRIVE earmarks ₹2,000 cr for 72,300 chargers (22,100 fast + 1,800 for e-buses + 48,400 for 2W/3W) [4].

8. Mains Relevance

  • GS-III: Indian Economy — Infrastructure (energy); Science & Tech — indigenisation; Environment — climate change mitigation.
  • GS-II: Government policies/interventions for development.
  • Probable stems: 1. "Critically examine the role of the FAME India scheme in accelerating EV adoption. How does PM E-DRIVE address its limitations?" 2. "Electric mobility is central to India's net-zero pathway. Discuss in light of NEMMP 2020 and successor schemes." 3. "Demand-side incentives alone cannot decarbonise transport. Comment with reference to FAME-II experience."

9. Related Topics to Study Next

  • PM E-DRIVE Scheme — direct successor [4].
  • PLI-ACC (Advanced Chemistry Cell) Battery Storage — supply side for EVs [4].
  • PLI-Auto Scheme — manufacturing-side complement.
  • NEMMP 2020 — parent policy [3].
  • National Green Hydrogen Mission — adjacent clean-mobility lever.
  • Bharat Stage VI norms — emission regulation backdrop.
  • India's COP-26 Panchamrit & 2070 net-zero pledge.
  • Battery Swapping Policy (NITI Aayog draft).

10. Common Errors / Trap Areas

  • Wrong ministry: FAME is under MHI, not MoRTH / MNRE / MoP&NG.
  • FAME-II outlay is ₹11,500 cr (post-enhancement), not the original ₹10,000 cr [5].
  • FAMEPM E-DRIVEEMPS 2024 — three distinct schemes in sequence [4].
  • Charging stations under FAME-II were routed via 3 OMCs, not directly by MHI [2].
  • NEMMP was launched in 2013 (target year 2020), often confused with FAME's 2015 start [3].

Sources

  1. 1FAME India Scheme — Ministry of Heavy Industriespib.gov.in · tier 1
  2. 2Current Status of FAME-II Schemepib.gov.in · tier 1
  3. 3FAME India backgrounder (PIB static doc)static.pib.gov.in · tier 1
  4. 4PM E-DRIVE tenure extension & scheme detailspib.gov.in · tier 1
  5. 5Scheme outlay of FAME-II enhanced from ₹10,000 cr to ₹11,500 crpib.gov.in · tier 1

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