UPSC DAW Mains Answer Writing 2025 13th September
Question
Discuss the need for a national strategy to support low carbon fuels and suggest measures to accelerate the country’s shift to low carbon fuels?
Model Answer
Introduction:
Low carbon fuels are fuels that significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions compared to traditional fossil fuels throughout their entire lifecycle. They can be produced from sustainable sources like biomass, waste, or captured carbon dioxide. Examples include biofuels, hydrogen, and synthetic fuels.
► Status of Low Carbon Fuels Production and Usage in India:
As of January 2025, India’s total non-fossil fuel-based energy capacity has reached 217.62 GW.
India has successfully achieved 20 percent ethanol blending in petrol in 2025, five years ahead of its original target set for 2030.
Need for a National Strategy to Promote Low Carbon Biofuels:
Economic Development:
(a) Reduce Import Dependency: Domestically produced low carbon fuels reduce the nation’s trade deficit and contribute to the overall economy.
Example: In FY 2024-25 till January 2025, import dependency on fossil fuels has decreased to 19.60 percent.
(b) Employment Generation: Low carbon fuel generation requires new skills and workers in various fields such as production, research, and development.
Example: One 100 KLPD 2G bio-refinery can contribute 1,200 jobs in plant operations, village-level entrepreneurship, and supply chain management.
Environmental Sustainability:
(a) Pollution-Free Environment: Pure biofuels generally produce fewer emissions of particulates, sulphur dioxide, and air toxics than their fossil fuel-derived counterparts.
(b) Solid Waste Management: Low carbon biofuels divert waste from landfills and reduce the generation of harmful gases like methane.
Example: It is estimated that annually, 62 MMT of municipal solid waste gets generated in India. One ton of such waste has the potential to provide around 20 percent of drop-in fuels.
Measures to Encourage Shifting Towards Low Carbon Fuels:
Scale Up Production of Low Carbon Biofuels:
By providing capital subsidies, loans, and credit facilities to establish biofuel production units; tax benefits; production incentives, etc.
Example: Subsidies for setting up biodiesel refineries, especially those using non-edible oil sources such as jatropha and pongamia.
Expand Scope of Biofuel Resources:
By advancing third-generation biofuels from algae and other microorganisms and fourth-generation biofuels, which use genetically engineered microbes for higher yields and enhanced carbon fixation.
Accelerate Blending of Ethanol:
Recognizing challenges in mandatory blending and reforming policies, strengthening supply chain infrastructure—including dedicated transport corridors and storage facilities for biodiesel.
Example: India has set an accelerated target of 20 percent ethanol blending in petrol by 2025–2026.
Promote Innovation and Research:
By improving advanced feedstock research and development in non-food feedstocks, such as agricultural residues, forest waste, algae, and municipal solid waste.
International Collaborations:
International collaborations like the Global Biofuel Alliance (GBA) and the Clean Skies for Tomorrow Coalition promote best practices and foster consensus on biofuel sustainability among member countries.
Conclusion:
Despite challenges like “food versus fuel,” low R&D facilities, and dependence on fossil fuels, with strong policy support, lucrative subsidies, and increasing market demand, biofuel production in India is set to expand rapidly in the upcoming years. This will help achieve net zero emissions by 2070.