State PCS - Uttar Pradesh (UP PCS)

• 26 Jul 2025

Gram-Urja Model of Uttar Pradesh

Why in News? 

The Uttar Pradesh government has unveiled plans to establish biogas plants in several villages under the Chief Minister's Gram-Urja Model.  

Key Points 

• About: This initiative aims to set up 2,250 biogas plants as part of a pilot project in the districts of Ayodhya, Varanasi, Gorakhpur, and Gonda. 
• Objectives: The primary objective is to localize the production of biogas, which will be directly used by the villagers.  
• Expansion Plans & Cost Details: If successful, this pilot project will be expanded to benefit 2.50 lakh rural households over the next four years.  
  • Each biogas unit is estimated to cost Rs 39,300, with farmers required to contribute only Rs 3,990. The remaining cost will be covered by government subsidies and the carbon credit model.  
  • This cost-sharing model ensures that the initiative remains financially viable and accessible for rural farmers. 
• Approval and Government Support: The project has already received formal approval from the state’s Department of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change, ensuring that the initiative aligns with environmental and climate goals. 
• Supporting Infrastructure: In addition to the biogas plants, the government plans to develop cow shelters (Gaushalas) in rural parts of UP.  
  • These shelters will be constructed under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA), providing employment opportunities to local villagers. 
  • In the first phase, 43 Gaushalas will be equipped with biogas and manure production units. Each Gaushala is expected to produce approximately 50 quintals of slurry per month, which will be distributed to nearby farmers as organic manure. 
• Significance: It has the potential to cut LPG usage by up to 70% in rural kitchens, significantly reducing environmental impact by lowering dependency on non-renewable energy.

Biogas 

• Biogas is a renewable energy source that's produced when organic matter breaks down in the absence of oxygen. This process is called anaerobic digestion.  
  • It's made up mostly of methane (CH4) and carbon dioxide (CO2).