According to India's National Policy on Biofuels, which of the followi

According to India’s National Policy on Biofuels, which of the following can be used as raw materials for the production of biofuels ?
1. Cassava
2. Damaged wheat grains
3. Groundnut seeds
4. Horse gram
5. Rotten potatoes
6. Sugar beet
Select the correct answer using the code given below :

1, 2, 5 and 6 only

1, 3, 4 and 6 only

2, 3, 4 and 5 only

1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6

This question was previously asked in

UPSC IAS – 2020

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According to India’s National Policy on Biofuels, raw materials like Cassava, Damaged wheat grains, Rotten potatoes, and Sugar beet can be used for the production of biofuels.

India’s National Policy on Biofuels (e.g., the 2018 policy) promotes the use of diverse feedstocks for biofuel production, particularly focusing on non-food based feedstocks (2nd generation) and utilizing damaged/surplus food grains and crops (1st generation under specific conditions). The policy explicitly lists “Sugarcane, Sugar Beet, Sweet Sorghum, Starch containing materials like Corn, Cassava, Damaged food grains like wheat, broken rice, Rotten Potatoes, etc.” as potential feedstocks for ethanol production. Damaged edible oilseeds and non-edible oilseeds are listed for biodiesel production.
From the given list:
1. Cassava: Starch-containing material, listed as a potential feedstock for ethanol.
2. Damaged wheat grains: Explicitly listed as an allowed feedstock for ethanol when unfit for human consumption.
3. Groundnut seeds: Edible oilseed. While damaged edible oilseeds can be used for biodiesel, groundnut is primarily a food crop, and the policy prioritizes non-edible sources or damaged edible sources. It’s less certain as a primary listed source compared to others for bulk biofuel production unless specifically damaged.
4. Horse gram: Pulse (edible). Not typically listed as a primary biofuel feedstock under the policy unless damaged or surplus, similar to other edible grains/pulses.
5. Rotten potatoes: Damaged food crop, explicitly listed as a potential feedstock for ethanol.
6. Sugar beet: Sugar crop, explicitly listed as a potential feedstock for ethanol.

The policy aims to encourage the production of biofuels from a wide range of feedstocks to improve energy security, reduce import bills, manage surplus agricultural produce, and reduce environmental pollution. The focus is increasingly on 2G biofuels from lignocellulosic biomass, but 1G from specified sources like damaged food grains and sugar/starch crops like sugar beet and cassava is also allowed.

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