UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — Cabinet approves GOBARdhan, India’s National Unified Scheme for Compressed Biogas, with an outlay of Rs.23,731 crore

Q1. Consider the following in respect of the National Unified Scheme for Compressed Biogas (GOBARdhan) cleared by the Union Cabinet in August 2026: 1. A total outlay of Rs. 23,731 crore 2. An implementation window running from FY 2026-27 to FY 2035-36 3. The Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation, Ministry of Jal Shakti, as the administering department for the unified scheme 4. A government-backed administered CBG price of Rs. 2,110 per MMBTU Which of the above is/are correctly identified?

  1. A total outlay of Rs. 23,731 crore
  2. An implementation window running from FY 2026-27 to FY 2035-36
  3. The Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation, Ministry of Jal Shakti, as the administering department for the unified scheme
  4. A government-backed administered CBG price of Rs. 2,110 per MMBTU
  • A. 1, 2 and 3
  • B. 1, 2 and 4
  • C. 2, 3 and 4
  • D. 1, 3 and 4

Q2. Consider the following in respect of the original GOBARdhan initiative: 1. The acronym expands to 'Galvanizing Organic Bio-Agro Resources Dhan'. 2. It was launched in 2018 as an initiative under the Swachh Bharat Mission (Grameen). 3. Its Unified Registration Portal was introduced by the Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation. 4. Registration on that portal is restricted exclusively to already functional Compressed Bio-Gas plants, all other categories of plants being ineligible. Which of the above is/are correctly identified?

  1. The acronym expands to 'Galvanizing Organic Bio-Agro Resources Dhan'.
  2. It was launched in 2018 as an initiative under the Swachh Bharat Mission (Grameen).
  3. Its Unified Registration Portal was introduced by the Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation.
  4. Registration on that portal is restricted exclusively to already functional Compressed Bio-Gas plants, all other categories of plants being ineligible.
  • A. 1, 2 and 3
  • B. 1 and 4
  • C. 2, 3 and 4
  • D. 1, 2 and 4

Q3. Consider the following statements comparing the original GOBARdhan initiative with the National Unified Scheme for Compressed Biogas approved in 2026: 1. The original initiative was coordinated by the Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation, whereas the unified scheme is administered by the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas. 2. Unlike the original initiative, the unified scheme provides for an administered CBG price supported by a government-backed pricing framework offering long-term revenue visibility. 3. The original initiative was launched under the Swachh Bharat Mission (Urban) of the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, while the unified scheme is a standalone decade-long scheme. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. The original initiative was coordinated by the Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation, whereas the unified scheme is administered by the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas.
  2. Unlike the original initiative, the unified scheme provides for an administered CBG price supported by a government-backed pricing framework offering long-term revenue visibility.
  3. The original initiative was launched under the Swachh Bharat Mission (Urban) of the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, while the unified scheme is a standalone decade-long scheme.
  • A. 1 only
  • B. 1 and 2 only
  • C. 2 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3

Q4. As described by the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas at the launch of the SATAT initiative, purified and compressed biogas marketed as Compressed Bio-Gas has a pure methane content of over how much?

  • A. Over 75 per cent, comparable to raw digester gas
  • B. Over 85 per cent, comparable to landfill recovery gas
  • C. Over 90 per cent, comparable to blended transport fuel
  • D. Over 95 per cent, comparable to commercial natural gas

Q5. Consider the following statements comparing the SATAT initiative with the 2026 National Unified Scheme for Compressed Biogas: 1. Both SATAT and the 2026 unified scheme are administered by the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy. 2. SATAT envisaged 5,000 CBG plants producing 15 MMT of CBG per annum by 2023-24, whereas the unified scheme frames its ambition as an approximately ten-fold rise in domestic CBG output. 3. Under SATAT, offtake rested on Expressions of Interest issued by oil and gas marketing companies, whereas the unified scheme places a notified percentage offtake obligation on city gas distribution entities. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. Both SATAT and the 2026 unified scheme are administered by the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy.
  2. SATAT envisaged 5,000 CBG plants producing 15 MMT of CBG per annum by 2023-24, whereas the unified scheme frames its ambition as an approximately ten-fold rise in domestic CBG output.
  3. Under SATAT, offtake rested on Expressions of Interest issued by oil and gas marketing companies, whereas the unified scheme places a notified percentage offtake obligation on city gas distribution entities.
  • A. 1 and 2 only
  • B. 1 only
  • C. 2 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3

Q6. In the policy framework built by the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas around SATAT, 'Compressed Bio-Gas' most precisely denotes which one of the following?

  • A. Raw gas from anaerobic digestion of biomass, compressed for storage without removal of carbon dioxide and hydrogen sulphide
  • B. Gas from anaerobic digestion that is purified to strip carbon dioxide and other impurities and then compressed, with methane above 95 per cent
  • C. Fossil-origin natural gas blended with up to five per cent bio-gas and compressed for dispensing as an automotive transport fuel
  • D. Methane recovered from municipal landfill sites and compressed after being blended with liquefied petroleum gas for domestic use

Q7. Closing the waste-to-wealth loop required giving the bio-manure produced by CBG plants a regulated market identity as 'Fermented Organic Manure'. This was achieved by bringing it under which one of the following?

  • A. The Fertilizer (Control) Order, 1985, issued under the Essential Commodities Act, 1955
  • B. The Insecticides Act, 1968, administered by the Central Insecticides Board and Registration Committee
  • C. The Environment (Protection) Act, 1986, through the Solid Waste Management Rules notified thereunder
  • D. The Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, through standards notified by the FSSAI for organic inputs

Q8. Under the GOBARdhan unified scheme, the notified CBG offtake obligation on city gas distribution entities in the CNG (transport) and PNG (domestic) segments settles at what level from FY 2028-29 onwards?

  • A. 3 per cent
  • B. 4 per cent
  • C. 5 per cent
  • D. 10 per cent

Q9. Of the 500 waste-to-wealth plants announced under GOBARdhan in the Union Budget 2023-24 with a total investment of Rs. 10,000 crore, how many were to be compressed biogas plants?

  • A. 75
  • B. 200
  • C. 300
  • D. 500

Q10. Which one of the following correctly describes the agency through which the roughly ten-fold expansion of domestic CBG output under the 2026 GOBARdhan scheme is to be operationalised?

  • A. The Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, with city gas distribution entities carrying a phased CBG offtake obligation
  • B. The Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation, Ministry of Jal Shakti, which alone procures the entire quantity of CBG produced
  • C. The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy, whose Waste to Energy Programme is the sole channel for all capital assistance
  • D. The Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, which requires the entire feedstock for the scheme to be municipal solid waste