Context: Recently, the Unified Registration Portal for GOBARdhan was launched as a part of the Government of India's initiative to convert waste to wealth and promote a circular economy.

Key highlights

• The new  provision in the scheme shall act as a one stop repository to assess investment and participation in the Biogas/CBG sector at pan India level and more importantly streamline the process of settling up CBG/Biogas plants in India.

• Any government ,cooperative or private entity operating or intending to set up a Biogas/CBG/BioCNG plant in India can obtain registration number by enrolling in this unified registration portal.

• The registration number shall enable availing multiple benefits and support from the  Ministries and Departments of Government of India.

Benefits

Stakeholder Participation

• The launch of the portal demonstrates cooperative federalism, with stakeholders from central Ministries, line departments of the Centre and States collaborating on its development and deployment.

• The Union Minister of Jal Shakti emphasizes the significant achievements in waste to wealth generation through more than 650 GOBARdhan plants and the unified registration portal.

Ease of Doing Business

• The portal ensures ease of doing business and attracts greater investment from private players in the Biogas/CBG sector.

Aligns with Climate Action Goals

• It aligns with India's climate action goals, promotes clean energy, rural employment, improved health outcomes, and contributes to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and Govt. of India’s Mission LiFE.

Strengthen Supply Chain

• The Union Government aims to strengthen the CBG/Biogas supply chain through biomass aggregation, grid pipeline connectivity, organic farming practices, research and development, and continuous engagement with stakeholders.

About GOBARdhan

• The Galvanizing Organic Bio-Agro Resources Dhan (GOBARdhan) is an initiative of the government of India with an approach and aim to convert waste to wealth promoting a circular economy. 

• The government through the scheme aims to build a robot ecosystem for setting up Biogas/compressed biogas (CBG)/ Bio-Compressed Natural gas(CNG) plants for a sustainable economic growth promoting a circular economy.

• The new portal is created by the nodal department of the scheme , the Department of Drinking water and Sanitation and the Ministry of Jal shakti.

• The GOBARdhana were initially launched in 2018 under the Swachh Bharat Mission To ensure cleanliness in villages by converting bio-waste (cattle waste,kitchen leftovers ,crop residue and market waste) to improve the lives of villagers, providing economic benefits to farmers and  households. 

• The schemes aimed to support biodegradable waste recovery and conversion of waste into resources, reduction of greenhouse gases , reduction in import of crude oil, give boost to entrepreneurship and promote organic farming.