Govt. Extends PM E-DRIVE Plan by 2 Years Till March 2028

 Why in News?

The Union Government has extended the ₹10,900 crore PM E-DRIVE Scheme by two years for certain electric vehicle (EV) categories such as electric buses, e-ambulances, and e-trucks.

• New validity: Till March 2028 (earlier March 2026) for specified categories.
• For registered e-2 wheelers, the terminal date remains March 31, 2026.

• Full form: PM Electric Drive Revolution in Innovative Vehicle Enhancement.
• Objective: Promote adoption of electric mobility across public and commercial transport sectors, reduce dependence on fossil fuels, and cut vehicular emissions.
• Launch year: 2024.
• Budget: ₹10,900 crore.
• Focus areas:
• Support for EV procurement by State Transport Undertakings (STUs) and other government agencies.
• Subsidies/incentives for heavy-duty and special-purpose EVs.
• Promotion of clean transport infrastructure.

• Eligible Vehicles: Electric buses, e-ambulances, e-trucks, and select categories of e-2 wheelers.
• Funding Mechanism: Direct subsidy to manufacturers or buyers to reduce upfront cost.
• Implementation Agencies: Ministry of Heavy Industries (MHI) with coordination from state governments.

• Environmental: Helps India meet Net Zero 2070 commitment and NDC targets under the Paris Agreement.
• Economic: Reduces import dependency on oil; boosts domestic EV manufacturing (aligns with Make in India and PLI schemes).
• Public Health: Lower vehicular emissions → Improved air quality.
• Transport Modernisation: Accelerates shift towards cleaner public transport.

• High upfront cost despite subsidies.
• Charging infrastructure gaps, especially for heavy EVs.
• Battery supply chain dependence on imports (especially lithium, cobalt).
• Integration with existing transport networks.

With reference to the PM E-DRIVE Scheme, consider the following statements:

 1. It supports procurement of electric buses, e-ambulances, and e-trucks. 

 2. It is implemented by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways.

 3. The scheme's validity has been extended for all categories till March 2028. Which of the above statements is/are correct? (a) 1 only
(b) 1 and 2 only
(c) 2 and 3 only
(d) 1 and 3 only Answer: (a)
Explanation: Statement 2 is incorrect – implemented by Ministry of Heavy Industries.
Statement 3 is incorrect – e-2 wheelers remain till March 2026.