Question

The technology of biogas production from cow dung was developed in India largely due to the efforts of:
A. Gas Authority of India
B. Oil and Natural Gas Commission
C. Indian Agricultural Research Institute and Khadi & Village Industries Commission
D. Indian Oil Corporation

Answer 1

Hint: The cow dung is considered a major element of the School of Natural Resource Management of the Indian Agricultural Research Institute. The Indian Agricultural Research Institute started using cow dung first under the effective utilization of agricultural waste scheme. The rural or village industries played a major role in increasing the use of Biogas as efficient fuel.

Complete answer: Cow dung is a major component of Agricultural practices in India. Biogas is also called ‘gobar gas’ in India. It is methane-rich gas used as fuel.
-Option A is the Gas Authority of India. It is the biggest natural gas distributor in India, which is a non-renewable source of energy. It is not involved in the production of renewable gases such as biogas.
-Option B is the Oil and Natural Gas Commission. It is involved in organizing, planning, implementing, and promoting schemes or programs for petroleum resources development. It is a unit of petroleum product sales. No biogas is produced by this organization.
-Option C is the Indian Agricultural Research Institute and Khadi & Village Industries Commission. They both considered cow dung as potential agricultural waste which can be used as fuel and gas. Their integrated efforts resulted in large biogas plants in India.
-Option D is the Indian Oil Corporation. It is an integrated oil company in India that provides almost all types of oil, gas, petrochemicals, and alternative sources of energy. But it has no or very little role to play in the development of biogas plant technology.
Thus, the right answer is Option C

Note: Biogas is produced by an anaerobic breakdown with the help of methanogen bacterial species. It consists of \[50-70\%\] methane, \[30-40\%\] carbon dioxide, \[1-5\%\] hydrogen, and traces of oxygen, nitrogen, and hydrogen sulfide. Methanobacterium and bacillus bacterial species are responsible for biogas production. It is also used by villagers to fertilize their crops, to build building materials, and to cook using it as fuel.