PM-PRANAM Scheme gets cabinet nod

The PM-PRANAM scheme, which seeks to encourage the use of alternative fertilisers and balanced use of chemical fertilisers, has received approval from the union cabinet.

This programme, which was unveiled in the budget for 2023–2024, demonstrates the government’s dedication to natural resource preservation and sustainable agriculture methods.

PM-PRANAM Scheme: What is it?

The Prime Minister Promotion of Alternate Nutrients for Agriculture Management Yojana is known as PM-PRANAM.

The plan was put up at the September 2022 National Conference on Agriculture for Rabi Campaign.

By encouraging the use of alternative fertilisers, it seeks to lessen the subsidy burden on chemical fertilisers.

Notable features of the scheme

Incentivizing States and UTs: The scheme incentivizes states and Union Territories to promote the usage of alternative fertilizers and achieve a balanced use of chemical fertilizers. States that demonstrate significant savings in funds due to reduced chemical fertilizer usage receive grants as incentives.

Subsidy Savings Allocation: Around 50% of the subsidy savings resulting from reduced chemical fertilizer consumption will be allocated as a grant to the state that exhibits the highest savings. This encourages states to actively participate in the adoption of alternative fertilizers.

Creation of Assets: A significant portion (70%) of the granted funds will be utilized for creating assets associated with the technological integration of alternate fertilizers. This includes establishing production units at the village, block, and district levels, facilitating local production and availability of alternative fertilizers.

Recognition and Incentives for Farmers: The remaining 30% of the granted funds will be utilized to incentivize and recognize farmers and other village entities for their contributions to reducing fertilizer usage. This recognizes their efforts in adopting sustainable agricultural practices.

Environmentally Friendly Farming Practices: The scheme aims to promote environmentally friendly farming practices by encouraging the adoption of alternative fertilizers. This reduces the dependency on chemical fertilizers, which in turn contributes to environmental conservation and sustainability.

Long-term Soil Health and Agricultural Ecosystems: By promoting a balanced use of fertilizers, the scheme ensures the long-term health and fertility of agricultural ecosystems. It emphasizes sustainable agricultural practices that preserve soil health and protect natural resources.

Technological Integration: The scheme supports the integration of technology into agriculture for the production and utilization of alternative fertilizers. This includes the establishment of production units at the grassroots level, encouraging local production and accessibility of alternative fertilizers.

Green Credit Scheme to Incentivize Environmental Actions

A draught announcement outlining a planned “Green Credit Scheme” to offer incentives for various environmental efforts has been released by the Ministry of Environment.

By enabling people and organisations to produce trade “green credits,” the programme hopes to promote initiatives like reforestation, water conservation, waste management, and tackling air pollution.

What is the GCP (Green Credit Programme)?

GCP will be introduced at the national level and will promote voluntary environmental measures through a competitive market-based strategy.

The programme will encourage positive individual and social behaviours as well as encourage businesses, organisations, and other private sector entities to uphold their current commitments.

Creating Supply and Demand for Green Credits

The government’s immediate focus is to create a supply of green credits through voluntary actions.

The subsequent step involves introducing laws or regulations to incentivize companies and organizations to purchase credits, thereby creating demand.

Unlike carbon markets that primarily trade greenhouse gas emissions, the Green Credit Scheme accounts for a broader range of actions, making it more complex.

Sectors for Green Credit Generation

The notification outlines following sectors or activities that qualify for generating green credits:

Tree plantation-based green credit: Promotes activities to increase green cover through tree plantation and related initiatives.

Water-based green credit: Encourages water conservation, water harvesting, efficient water use, and wastewater treatment and reuse.

Sustainable agriculture-based green credit: Promotes natural and regenerative agricultural practices, land restoration, and improvement of productivity, soil health, and nutritional value.

Waste management-based green credit: Fosters sustainable waste management practices and improvements in waste handling.

Uniqueness and Complexity of the Scheme

The proposed Green Credit Scheme covers a wider range of actions compared to similar initiatives worldwide.

Unlike existing schemes, this program accounts for diverse activities, making its implementation and accounting mechanisms more intricate.

What is Time-of-Day Tariff?

The Time-of-Day (ToD) pricing for energy was recently introduced by the Ministry of Power. It will go into effect for business users next year and for residential users in 2025.

This article tries to define ToD tariff, discuss how it affects customers, and discuss the significance of ToD tariff for the power sector.

Time-of-Day Tariff: What is it?

The Electricity (Rights of Consumers) Rules 2020 have been amended by the government, who also introduced ToD tariff and rationalised the use of smart metres.

Tariff system: Electricity prices will change depending on the time of day under the ToD tariff. There will be a change from the existing flat rate arrangement. The tariff may drop by up to 20% during the day, which is good for customers. On the other hand, the rate will rise by the same amount at night.

Benefits for consumers: ToD tariff allows consumers to regulate and manage their electricity consumption and control their bills. It gives them the flexibility to take advantage of lower tariffs during off-peak hours.

Impact on electricity bills

Impact on different households: For small working couples who primarily use electricity at night, their bills are likely to increase. However, other households can offset the nighttime spike by shifting some of their electricity usage to daytime hours.

Power consumption patterns: Power consumption typically peaks in the morning when schools and offices open, in the late afternoon when children return home, and in the early evening when air conditioners and heaters are in high demand. ToD tariff aims to discourage excessive power consumption during these peak hours.

Power guzzling appliances

Identifying power-consuming appliances: Appliances such as air conditioners, coolers, refrigerators, heaters, and geysers are the major contributors to electricity consumption in households. Other significant power-consuming appliances include washing machines, dishwashers, and microwaves.

Energy-efficient alternatives: It is worth noting that energy-efficient versions of most electrical appliances are available in the market, which can help reduce overall electricity consumption.

Readiness of infrastructure

Requirement of smart meters: To implement ToD tariff, smart meters are necessary. These meters automate the meter-reading process and provide accurate cost estimation, minimizing wastage. They send consumption information to power distribution companies every 15 minutes, which is crucial for calculating ToD charges.

Status of smart meter installation: Currently, over 6.5 million smart meters have been installed in the country, with a target of reaching 250 million by 2026. Approximately 230 million smart meters have been sanctioned so far.

Benefits for the power sector

Improved billing efficiency: ToD tariff and smart metering can enhance billing efficiency and reduce transmission and distribution losses.

Differential tariff for renewable power: As the share of renewable power increases, it needs to be blended with coal-based power, requiring differential tariff structures. ToD tariff can facilitate this blending effectively.

Electric vehicles (EVs) and ToD tariff: With the expected surge in EV adoption, ToD tariff can encourage consumers to charge their vehicles during off-peak hours, reducing the strain on the power grid.

Flexibility for discoms: ToD tariff provides flexibility for loss-making distribution companies (discoms) to revise tariffs, addressing their financial challenges.

Euclid Mission in quest of Dark Energy

The launch of the Euclid Space Telescope by the European Space Agency (ESA) marks the start of an incredible mission.

Millions of galaxies will be surveyed as part of this huge research, which will shed light on the universe’s evolution as well as the puzzling concepts of dark energy and dark matter.

Euclid Mission: What is it?

The main objective of the Euclid mission is to investigate the nature and characteristics of dark matter and energy, which together make up a sizeable fraction of the universe.

Euclid’s goal is to give light on the underlying forces that are responsible for the cosmos’ shaping by studying the distribution and evolution of galaxies.

(1) Mission Scope and Duration

Euclid is a space-based mission, equipped with a sophisticated telescope and state-of-the-art scientific instruments.

The mission is expected to have a nominal operational lifetime of 6 years, during which it will conduct an extensive survey of the sky.

(2) Launch and Spacecraft

Euclid was launched on July 1, 2023, from Cape Canaveral in Florida using a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket.

The spacecraft carries the Euclid Space Telescope, which is designed to observe galaxies across a wide range of wavelengths.

(3) Investigating Dark Energy and Dark Matter 

Dark energy, discovered in 1998, explains the unexpected acceleration of the universe’s expansion.

Euclid’s mission aims to provide a more precise measurement of this acceleration, potentially uncovering variations throughout cosmic history.

Dark matter, inferred through the gravitational effects it exerts on galaxies and clusters, plays a vital role in preserving their integrity.

Scientific Instruments and Observations

(a) Euclid Space Telescope

The Euclid Space Telescope is equipped with a 1.2-meter primary mirror, allowing it to capture detailed observations of galaxies.

It carries two main scientific instruments: the visible-wavelength camera (VIS) and the near-infrared camera and spectrometer (NISP).

(b) Visible-Wavelength Camera (VIS)

The VIS instrument will capture images in visible light, enabling the study of the shapes, sizes, and morphological properties of galaxies.

(c) Near-Infrared Camera and Spectrometer (NISP)

NISP will observe galaxies in the near-infrared range, providing essential data on their distance, redshift, and clustering properties.

By measuring the distribution of galaxies at different cosmic epochs, NISP will aid in the study of large-scale cosmic structures.