Context:

• Rajasthan has become the first State in the country to implement the national policy on biofuels unveiled by the Centre in May this year.
• The desert State will lay emphasis on increasing production of oilseeds and establish a Centre for Excellence in Udaipur to promote research in the fields of alternative fuels and energy resources.
• The policy on biofuels seeks to help farmers dispose of their surplus stock in an economic manner and reduce the country’s oil import dependence.
• It has expanded the scope of raw material for ethanol production by allowing the use of sugarcane juice, sugar-containing materials, starch-containing materials and damaged foodgrains like wheat, broken rice and rotten potatoes for ethanol production.
• The State Rural Livelihood Development Council would also encourage women’s self-help groups to explore the scope for additional income through the supply of biodiesel.

About National Policy on Biofuels – 2018

• The Policy categorises biofuels as “Basic Biofuels” viz. First Generation (1G) bioethanol & biodiesel and “Advanced Biofuels” – Second Generation (2G) ethanol, Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) to drop-in fuels, Third Generation (3G) biofuels, bio-CNG etc. to enable the extension of appropriate financial and fiscal incentives under each category.
• It expands the scope of raw material for ethanol production by allowing the use of Sugarcane Juice, Sugar-containing materials like Sugar Beet, Sweet Sorghum, Starch-containing materials like Corn, Cassava, Damaged food grains like wheat, broken rice, Rotten Potatoes, unfit for human consumption for ethanol production.
• It seeks to help farmers dispose of their surplus stock in an economic manner and reduce country’s oil import dependence.

Source:TH