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APSC Answer Writing (Daily) based on Assam Tribune – 15/09/2025

For APSC CCE and other Assam Competitive examinations aspirants, practicing Daily Answer Writing is vital. This blog covers the most important Main question and its model Answer from the Assam Tribune today (15-09-2025).

📝 Model Answer

Q. “The establishment of the world’s first 2nd Generation Bioethanol Plant and a Polypropylene Unit at Numaligarh Refinery marks a turning point for Assam’s industrial and green energy landscape. Discuss its significance, challenges, and way forward.”
(GS Paper III – Economy, Environment & Energy | GS Paper V – Assam Industry & Infrastructure)

🔹 Introduction

The inauguration of the world’s first 2nd Generation (2G) Bioethanol Plant and the foundation of a Polypropylene Unit at Numaligarh Refinery Limited (NRL), Assam in 2025 represents a landmark in India’s biofuel and petrochemical journey. While the 2G plant converts agro-residues and bamboo into green fuel, the polypropylene unit will enhance India’s self-reliance in industrial polymers. This initiative not only contributes to India’s 20% ethanol blending target by 2025–26, but also positions Assam as a hub of green industrial transformation.

🔹 Significance

1. For India

Energy Security: Reduces dependence on crude imports.
Climate Commitments: Supports India’s Net Zero 2070 pledge and Paris Agreement targets.
Waste-to-Wealth: Tackles stubble burning and bamboo waste through value addition.
Industrial Diversification: Strengthens petrochemical and polymer industry.

2. For Assam & Northeast

Rural Livelihoods: Provides market for bamboo cultivators and crop residue suppliers.
Employment Generation: Creates direct and indirect jobs in collection, logistics, and processing.
Regional Hub: Establishes Assam as a biofuel & polymer hub linked to SE Asia via Act East Policy.
Downstream Industries: Boost to plastic parks, MSMEs, and packaging/textile sectors.

🔹 Challenges

Feedstock Supply: Collection and transport of bamboo/paddy straw at scale.
High Cost of 2G Bioethanol: More expensive than fossil fuels and 1G ethanol.
Technology Risks: Global 2G biofuel projects have faced operational inefficiencies.
Environmental Trade-offs: Large-scale bamboo harvesting may disturb ecosystems.
Market Absorption: Distribution and blending infrastructure needs rapid scaling.

🔹 Government Initiatives

National Biofuel Policy (2018, amended 2022) – Incentives for 2G & advanced biofuels.
Ethanol Blending Roadmap 2021 – Target of 20% blending by 2025–26.
SATAT Scheme (2018) – Promotes CBG & biofuels for transport.
National Bamboo Mission – Assam is India’s largest bamboo-growing state.
PLI Scheme for Petrochemicals – Incentivises domestic production of polymers like polypropylene.

🔹 Way Forward

Strengthen Supply Chains: Bamboo cooperatives, crop residue aggregation centres.
R&D Support: Partner with IIT Guwahati, CSIR labs for efficient 2G biofuel technology.
Financial Viability: Provide viability gap funding for high-cost 2G projects.
Environmental Safeguards: Ensure sustainable bamboo harvesting and replantation.
Downstream Integration: Develop polymer-based MSME clusters around NRL.
Global Partnerships: Collaborate with Japan, EU for tech exchange and green investment.

🔹 Conclusion

The Numaligarh Bioethanol and Polypropylene projects represent a synergy of sustainability and industrialization. They have the potential to make Assam a green energy pioneer and industrial hub of the Northeast, provided challenges of feedstock logistics, cost competitiveness, and ecological balance are addressed. With effective execution, this initiative can be a model of India’s energy transition and Assam’s industrial resurgence. depends on balancing conservation with human security. A community-inclusive, climate-adaptive, and strictly regulated ESZ framework can ensure Kaziranga remains not only a symbol of Assam’s heritage but also a global model of coexistence between people and wildlife.

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