Module 12 • Energy, Ecology & Governance2026-07-1012 min read
Clean Energy, Environment & Social Governance: Green Hydrogen, Ramsar Surha Tal & BC Sakhis
Target Exam: UPPCS / UPPSC Combined State Services•Official Sources: Uttar Pradesh State Gazettes, Budget & Official ReleasesUttar Pradesh State Gazettes, Budget & Official Releases
1. Renewable Energy, Green Hydrogen & Solar Cities
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Energy Sector Budget 2026–27: Massive total allocation of ₹65,926 crore for conventional and renewable energy.
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UP Green Hydrogen Policy 2024:
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Target: Establish 1 million metric tonnes per annum (1 MMTPA) green hydrogen/green ammonia capacity by 2028.
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Incentives: 100% stamp duty exemption, banking of renewable electricity, land bank priority, and water allocation support.
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Solar Cities & PM Surya Ghar:
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17 municipal corporations being systematically developed as Solar Cities.
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Ayodhya Model Solar City: 40 MW ground-mounted solar plant, solar boats on Saryu, solar street lights, and solar trees.
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Bundelkhand GoI-approved solar parks aggregating 3,565 MW.
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Rural solar street lights installed: approximately 5.20 lakh.
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UP Bio-plastics Industry Policy 2024: 50% capital subsidy over 7 years, 100% net SGST refund for 10 years, and 100% electricity duty exemption to substitute single-use plastics.
2. Environment, Forest Cover & The Historic 13th Ramsar Site
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Afforestation Achievements: Over 242.13 crore saplings planted since 2017; annual target of 35 crore saplings in 2026.
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Surha Tal Bird Sanctuary (Ballia District):
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Declared Uttar Pradesh's 13th Ramsar site and India's 100th Ramsar wetland site in June 2026.
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An oxbow lake (Ganga floodplain) spread over 3,432 hectares supporting over 10,000 migratory waterfowl and critical fish breeding.
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Total Ramsar sites in UP: 13 (Upper Ganga, Nawabganj, Parvati Arga, Saman, Samaspur, Sandi, Sarsai Nawar, Haiderpur, Bakhira, Shekha Jheel, Surha Tal, etc.).
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UP Clean Air Management Project (UPMCAP):
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World Bank-assisted program (2025–26 to 2030–31) with Budget provision of ₹194 crore targeting airshed management across non-attainment cities.
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Kukrail Night Safari: ₹207 crore allocated to build India's first night safari in Lucknow. Ranipur Tiger Reserve Bandh Foundation received ₹50 crore.
3. Social Inclusion, Women Empowerment & Grassroots Justice
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Women Empowerment & BC Sakhis:
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39,880 active Business Correspondent (BC) Sakhis operating in Gram Panchayats, processing over ₹20,000 crore in doorstep rural banking transactions.
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Women SHGs under UPSRLM expanded from 17.32 lakh in 2016–17 to 38.59 lakh in 2025–26 (Budget: ₹3,500 crore).
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Working women hostels: ₹100 crore allocated.
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Youth & Employment (Mukhyamantri Yuva Udyami Vikas Abhiyan - MYUVA):
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Outlay of ₹1,000 crore in 2026–27 to fund 1 lakh new micro-enterprises every year through interest-free seed loans up to ₹5 lakh.
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Social Justice Pension Outlays:
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Old-age/farmer pension: 67.50 lakh beneficiaries (₹1,000/mo, ₹8,950 crore outlay).
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Mukhyamantri Samuhik Vivah: Financial grant increased from ₹51,000 to ₹1.01 lakh (₹750 crore outlay).
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Judicial & Law Infrastructure:
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111 Gram Nyayalayas operational for speedy grassroots dispute resolution.
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Major Dhyan Chand State Sports University being set up at Sardhana, Meerut.
Key Examination Takeaways:
- UP Green Hydrogen Policy targets 1 MMTPA capacity by 2028; 17 municipal corporations are developed as Solar Cities.
- Surha Tal (Ballia) was designated UP's 13th Ramsar site and India's landmark 100th Ramsar wetland site in June 2026.
- World Bank-assisted UP Clean Air Management Project (UPMCAP) received ₹194 crore in 2026–27 for regional airshed pollution control.
- Grassroots governance highlights 39,880 active BC Sakhis, ₹1,000 crore for CM-YUVA, and 111 functional Gram Nyayalayas.