Gram Ujala Scheme UPSC

The Union Power and Renewable Energy Minister launched the Gram Ujala scheme in Varanasi. Under the scheme, the government offers the world’s cheapest LED bulbs in rural areas at Rs. 10.

The Power Ministry in a press release mentioned that under the Gram Ujala scheme, Convergence Energy Services Limited, a wholly-owned subsidiary of EESL- Energy Efficiency Services Limited, will be distributing the high-quality LED bulbs at a cost of Rs. 10 in rural areas of Varanasi.

Significance of Gram Ujala Scheme:

• The Gram Ujala Scheme by the government will enable better illumination at an affordable price of just Rs. 10 per bulb.
• The scheme will help in promoting a better standard of life, more economic activity, financial savings, and better safety for the rural citizens of UP.
• Under the new scheme, the CFL- Compact fluorescent lamp and incandescent bulbs for rural consumers will be taken back and new LED bulbs will be provided.

How the scheme will benefit India’s energy savings?

• The scheme has been financed entirely through carbon credits.
• Gram Ujala scheme will be claiming the carbon credits under the United Nations’ Clean Development Mechanism- CDM.
• Under phase 1 of the scheme, 1.5 crores of LED bulbs will be distributed which will have a significant effect on the country’s climate change action energy savings of 2025 million kWh/year as well as the CO2 reductions of 1.65 million T CO2/year.
• India is a leading country in energy transition and energy efficiency & since the scheme has been particularly designed for the rural homes keeping affordability in planning, it will also result in the saving of energy as a 12-watt LED bulb will give equivalent light as of 100-watt incandescent bulb.

Key Highlights of Gram Ujala Scheme

• The scheme has been launched for rural households where the LED bulbs will be given at an affordable price of just Rs. 10.
• The government scheme has already crossed the 6,150 distribution mark in Arrah, Bihar only within two days of its launch.
• Under Gram Ujala Scheme, 12-watt bulbs and 7-watt bulbs with a warranty of 3 years will be given to rural consumers once they submit the incandescent bulbs.
• The scheme will be implemented only in the villages of the 5 districts where the beneficiary will be able to exchange a maximum of 5 LED bulbs.
• The rural households under the program will have meters installed in their houses in order to monitor the number of hours of usage.
• Under the Shine Program of Activities, carbon credits will be prepared. There will be an option for verifying under the Voluntary Carbon Standard which will depend on the need of the buyers.

UJALA Scheme:

• During the launch of the Gram Ujala Scheme in Varanasi, the Power Minister praised EESL’s efforts to implement the Ujala scheme.
• Under it, 36 crores LED bulbs have been distributed as well as 1.15 crores of street lights have been replaced with LED lights resulting in energy savings of thousands of megawatts.

• The main objective of the scheme is to promote efficient lighting, and enhance awareness of using efficient equipment which reduces electricity bills and helps preserve the environment.

• The scheme is being implemented by Energy Efficiency Services Limited (EESL), a joint venture of PSUs under the Union Ministry of Power.

• UJALA is a flagship project of the Govt. of India where it wants every home in India to use LED bulbs so that the net power or energy consumption rate comes down and the carbon emission rates can also be checked.