PIB Summary- 27th April, 2022 | PIB (Press Information Bureau) Summary - UPSC PDF Download

Production Linked Incentive (PLI) Scheme for White Goods

Why in News?
Nineteen companies have filed applications for Production Linked Incentive (PLI) Scheme for White Goods (ACs and LED Lights) in the 2nd Round of Applications with committed investments of Rs 1,548 crore.

Key points:

• The prime objective of the PLI scheme is to make manufacturing in India globally competitive by removing sectoral disabilities, creating economies of scale and ensuring efficiencies.
• It is designed to create complete component ecosystem in India and make India an integral part of the global supply chains.
• The scheme is expected to attract global investments, generate large scale employment opportunities and enhance exports substantially.
• The PLI Scheme for White Goods shall extend an incentive of 4% to 6% on incremental sales of goods manufactured in India for a period of five years to companies engaged in manufacturing of Air Conditioners and LED Lights.
• Different segments have been earmarked for different types of components separately to specifically target global investments into desired areas.
• Selection of companies for the Scheme shall be done so as to incentivize manufacturing of components or sub-assemblies which are not manufactured in India presently with sufficient capacity. Mere assembly of finished goods shall not be incentivized.
• Incentives shall be open to companies making brown field or green field Investments.
• An entity availing benefits under any other PLI Scheme of Govt. India will not be eligible under this scheme for the same products but the entity may take benefits under other applicable schemes of Govt. of India or schemes of State governments.
• The Scheme will be implemented as a pan India scheme and is not specific to any location, area or segment of population.
• The Scheme is expected to be instrumental in achieving growth rates that are much higher than existing ones for AC and LED industries, develop complete component eco-systems in India and create global champions manufacturing in India.
• They will have to meet the compulsory BIS and BEE Quality standards for sales into domestic market and applicable standards for global markets.
•  It will also lead to investments in innovation and research and development and upgradation of technology.

FAME-II

Why in News?
Price Bids of the Grand Challenge tender process under the remodeled FAME II scheme for electric buses were opened by Ministry of Heavy Industries

About FAME-II

• FAME India is a part of the National Electric Mobility Mission (NEMM) Plan. Main thrust of FAME is to encourage electric vehicles by providing subsidies.
• NEMM intends to allow hybrid and electric vehicles to become the first choice for the purchasers so that these vehicles can replace the conventional vehicles and thus reduce liquid fuel consumption in the country from the automobile sector.
• The scheme covers Hybrid & Electric technologies like Mild Hybrid, Strong Hybrid, Plug in Hybrid & Battery Electric Vehicles.
• Monitoring Authority: Department of Heavy Industries, the Ministry of Heavy Industries and Public Enterprises.
• Under this scheme, demand incentives will be availed by buyers (end users/consumers) upfront at the point of purchase and the same shall be reimbursed by the manufacturers from Department of Heavy Industries, on a monthly basis.
• Fame India Scheme has four focus areas:
  (i) Technology development
  (ii) Demand Creation
  (iii) Pilot Projects
  (iv) Charging Infrastructure

Revamped FAME-II scheme

• The Centre has made a partial modification of the FAME-II, including increasing the demand incentive for electric two-wheelers to Rs. 15,000 per KWh from an earlier uniform subsidy of Rs 10,000 per KWh for all EVs, including plug-in hybrids and strong hybrids except buses.
• The government has also capped incentives for electric two-wheelers at 40% of the cost of vehicles, up from 20% earlier.
• It will bring down the prices of electric two-wheelers nearer to the IC (internal combustion engine) vehicles and remove one of the biggest blocks of the high sticker price of electric two-wheelers.
• Together with the other important factors like extremely low running cost, low maintenance and zero emission, such price levels will surely spur a substantial demand for electric two-wheelers.