Vishwakarma scheme

After the announcement of Prime minister (PM) to launch ‘Vishwakarma scheme’ in his Independence day speech, the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs approves the scheme, with an outlay of Rs.13,000 crore.

Highlights of the scheme:

• Objective: The scheme aims at improving the quality, as well as the reach of products and services of artisans and craftspeople and to ensure that the ‘Vishwakarmas’ are integrated with the domestic and global value chains.
• Targeted beneficiaries: 18 traditional trades such as carpenter, boat maker, armourer, blacksmith, hammer and tool kit maker, locksmith, goldsmith, potter, sculptor, stone breaker, cobbler, mason, basket/mat/broom maker/coir weaver, traditional Doll & toy maker, barber, garland maker, washerman, tailor and fishing net maker will be covered under the scheme.
• Aspiration: The scheme will include five lakh families will be covered in the first year of the scheme and 30 lakh families will be covered over five years.
• Key points:
• The artisans and craftspeople will get PM Vishwakarma certificate and ID card, credit support up to Rs.1 lakh (first tranche) and Rs.2 lakh (second tranche) at a concessional interest rate of 5%.
• The scheme will further provide skill upgradation, toolkit incentive, incentive for digital transactions and marketing support.
• There will be two types of skilling programmes — basic and advanced.
• Under the scheme and a stipend of Rs.500 per day will also be provided to beneficiaries while undergoing skill training.
• They will also get a support of up to Rs.15,000 to buy modern tools.

PM e-bus Sewa scheme

Context: Recently, the Union Cabinet has approved a scheme to add 10,000 e-buses to city bus services across the country, and to shore up urban infrastructure under green mobility initiatives with a focus on cities having no organized bus services.

About:

• It will have an estimated cost of 57, 613 crore, of which the Centre will provide Rs.20, 000 crore.
• It will support bus operations for 10 years.
• In 169 cities, 10,000 e-buses will be deployed using a public-private partnership (PPP) model and in 181 other cities, infrastructure will be upgraded under the green urban mobility initiatives.
• The scheme will be implemented in two segments:
• For cities in the first segment, depot infrastructure will also be developed or upgraded to support the new e-buses, including the creation of behind-the-meter power infrastructure like substations.
• For those in the second segment, initiatives will focus on bus priority, infrastructure, multimodal interchange facilities, automated fare collection systems, and charging infrastructure.
• Implemented In: Cities with a population of three lakh and above will be covered under the scheme, including all the capital cities of Union Territories, and the northeastern and hill States.

• The adoption of electric mobility services will help reduce noise and air pollution in Indian cities and also curb carbon emissions.
• This scheme is also expected to bring in economies of scale for the procurement of electric buses through aggregation.
• Around 45,000 to 55,000 direct jobs are expected to be generated via the scheme.

Green Mobility and Importance:

• Green mobility refers to all those mobility options that emit lower emissions – in terms CO2 g/km than pure Internal Combustion Engine vehicles – through the use of alternate fuels, drive-train technologies or other measures;
  • Bio-fuel and Methanol based mobility
  • Compressed Natural gas (CNG) based mobility
  • Electric and Hybrid Mobility (xEV)
  • Hydrogen energy and fuel cell based mobility

Government Initiatives:

• National Electric Mobility Mission Plan 2020: In 2013, Government of India launched a National Electric Mobility Mission Plan 2020.
  • It aims to achieve national fuel security by promoting hybrid and electric vehicles in the country.
  • It targets 6-7 million sales of hybrid and electric vehicles year on year from 2020 onwards
• FAME I (Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of (hybrid &) Electric vehicles in India) : The objective of the scheme to support the hybrid or electric vehicles market development and its manufacturing eco-system in the country in order to achieve self-sustenance in stipulated period.
  • It also seeks to provide demand incentives to electric and hybrid vehicles from two-wheeler to buses.
• Automotive Mission Plan 2026: It aims at making the Indian Automotive Industry among the top three of the world in engineering, manufacture and exports of vehicles & components; growing in value to over 12% of India GDP and generating an additional 65 million jobs.
• Green Urban Transport Scheme: Under this scheme, government aims to launch eco–friendly transportation facilities in urban areas
• India’s Electric Vehicle (EV) Mission 2030: Government plans to have an all-electric fleet of vehicles by 2030.