THE INDIAN POLITY AND GOVERNANCE

1. THE PRACTICE OF TALAQ-E-HASAN NOT SO IMPROPER: SUPREME COURT

THE CONTEXT: Recently, the Supreme Court said it was of the prima facie view that the practice of talaq-e-hasan followed by Muslim men for divorce by saying ‘talaq’ to the wife once a month for three months, is “not so improper”.
THE EXPLANATION:
What is Talaq-e-Hasan?
Talaq-e-Hasan is a type of extra-judicial divorce mentioned under Islam that only men can practice. In this, a man can divorce his wife by saying the word “Talaq” in three instalments over three months.
• It is revocable form of divorce. Extra-judicial divorce forms are approved by prophet Mohammad and are valid under all schools of Muslim law.
• The husband has to make sure that the wife is not menstruating when he’ll be pronouncing ‘Talaq’.
• There need to be a gap of one month between all three pronouncements.
• These three months are also known as a period of abstinence.
• The duration for this ‘Iddat period is 90 days or three menstrual cycles or three lunar months.
• In case, the couple starts cohabitation during the abstinence period, the divorce will be revoked.
• The idea behind this period of abstinence is that the evil of divorce doesn’t become final at once.
Though Triple Talaq Is Banned In 2019, Why Is It Challenged?
• In a landmark Shayara Bano v Union of India judgment in 2017, the Supreme Court declared Talaq-e-Biddat unconstitutional. It was a form of extra-judicial divorce when a man pronounces ‘talaq’ thrice in just one sitting and marriage between the two parties gets dissolved.
• Triple talaq was declared unconstitutional by a five-judge bench on grounds of being arbitrary and against the Quran. These are two different forms of divorce and therefore need to be challenged separately.
Will Banning Talaq-e-Hasan Deprive Men of Their Rights?
• Article 25 of the Indian Constitution allows every citizen the freedom to profess, practice and propagate religion. All personal laws, including the Muslim Personal Laws (Shariat) Application Act of 1937, draw their powers from Article 25. Islamic personal laws have recognised extra-judicial divorce procedures and therefore, Shariat Act allows extra-judicial divorce proceedings legally.
• As Muslim women also have the right to practice extra-judicial divorce, a challenge to the constitutional validity of a man’s right to pronounce extra-judicial divorce on his wife is violative of Article 14 and Article 15 becomes questionable.

VALUE ADDITION:

Talaq- e- Ahsan form: Under this form, once the husband pronounces talaq, there has to be a three-month iddat period to factor in three menstrual cycles of the woman. This time is meant for reconciliation and arbitration. During this period, if any kind cohabitation occurs, the talaq is considered to have been revoked.

THE INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS

2. IRAN’S RESPONSE IN NUCLEAR DEAL TALKS

THE CONTEXT: Iran recently submitted a “written response” to final roadmap of restoring its torn nuclear deal with world powers. The country would not go with the proposal mediated by European Union.
THE EXPLANATION:
• Iran and United States have differences on three issues. Though, United States noted verbal flexibility in two issues. But Iran demands to include it in written.
• The third issue is “to guarantee the continuation of Nuclear Deal”. This issue depends on realism of the United States.
• On the other side, EU is the negotiator in the indirect talks, because Iran did not agree to negotiate with America directly. This is because, former US President Donald Trump had withdrawn the U.S. from Nuclear Deal in 2018.
Uranium enrichment in Iran:
• As per latest report, Iran has accumulated around 3,800 kilograms of enriched uranium. Under the nuclear deal, Iran can enrich uranium to 3.67% purity and accumulate 300 kilograms of uranium, under the scrutiny of international inspectors and surveillance cameras. But now Iran enriches Uranium with up to 60% purity. It has also turned off the surveillance cameras and seized other footage.
Iran Nuclear Deal:
• This deal is also known as Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action. It is an agreement on Iranian nuclear program. It was signed on July 14, 2015 in Vienna between Iran and the P5+1 countries. Under the deal, Iran had agreed to remove the accumulation of medium-enriched uranium, and reduce the accumulation of low-enriched uranium by 98%. Iran also agreed to enrich uranium up to 3.67%, for next 15 years.

THE ENVIRONMENT, ECOLOGY AND CLIMATE CHANGE

3. UNDERSTANDING ETHANOL BLENDING

THE CONTEXT: Recently the Prime Minister announced that India has achieved its target of blending 10% sugarcane-extracted ethanol in petrol, ahead of schedule.
THE EXPLANATION:
Addressing the nation from the Red Fort on the 76th Independence Day, he rooted for energy independence stating that, “we need to be Aatmanirbhar (self-sufficient) in our energy sector”. India is one of the world’s biggest oil importing nations.

What is ethanol blending?
• Blending ethanol with petrol to burn less fossil fuel while running vehicles is called ethanol blending. Ethanol is an agricultural by-product which is mainly obtained from the processing of sugar from sugarcane, but also from other sources such as rice husk or maize.
• Currently, 10% of the petrol that powers your vehicle is ethanol. Though we have had an E10 — or 10% ethanol as policy for a while, it is only this year that we have achieved that proportion. India’s aim is to increase this ratio to 20% originally by 2030 but in 2021, when NITI Aayog put out the ethanol roadmap, that deadline was advanced to 2025.
• Ethanol blending will help bring down our share of oil imports (almost 85%) on which we spend a considerable amount of precious foreign exchange. Secondly, more ethanol output would help increase farmers’ incomes.
• The NITI Aayog report of June 2021 says, “India’s net import of petroleum was 185 million tonnes at a cost of $55 billion in 2020-21,” and that a successful ethanol blending programme can save the country $4 billion per annum.
What are the generation ethanol’s?

How have other countries fared?
• Though the U.S., China, Canada and Brazil all have ethanol blending programmes, as a developing country, Brazil stands out. It had legislated that the ethanol content in petrol should be in the 18-27.5% range, and it finally touched the 27% target in 2021.
How does it impact the auto industry?
• At the time of the NITI Aayog report in June last year (2021), the industry had committed to the government to make all vehicles E20 material compliant by 2023. This meant that the petrol points, plastics, rubber, steel and other components in vehicles would need to be compliant to hold/store fuel that is 20% ethanol. Without such a change, rusting is an obvious impediment.
Are there other alternatives?
• Sources in the auto industry state that they prefer the use of biofuels as the next step, compared to other options such as electric vehicles (EV), hydrogen power and compressed natural gas. This is mainly because biofuels demand the least incremental investment for manufacturers.
• Even though the industry is recovering from the economic losses bought on by the pandemic, it is bound to make some change to comply with India’s promise for net-zero emissions by 2070.

4. RAMSAR SITES: 11 MORE INDIAN WETLANDS HAVE GOT RAMSAR RECOGNITION

THE CONTEXT: India has added 11 more wetlands to the list of Ramsar sites to make a total of 75 such sites covering an area of 13,26,677 hectares in the country.
THE EXPLANATION:
The 11 Indian wetlands which have been designated as new Ramsar sites:
1. Tampara Lake in Odisha.
2. Hirakud Reservoir in Odisha.
3. Ansupa Lake in Odisha.
4. Yashwant Sagar in Madhya Pradesh.
5. Chitrangudi Bird Sanctuary in Tamil Nadu.
6. Suchindram Theroor Wetland Complex in Tamil Nadu.
7. Vaduvur Bird Sanctuary in Tamil Nadu.
8. Kanjirankulam Bird Sanctuary in Tamil Nadu.
9. Thane Creek in Maharashtra.
10. Hygam Wetland Conservation Reserve in Jammu and Kashmir.
11. Shallbugh Wetland Conservation Reserve in Jammu and Kashmir.

What is the Ramsar site?
A Ramsar site is a wetland site designated to be of international importance under the Ramsar Convention, also known as “The Convention on Wetlands”, an intergovernmental environmental treaty established in 1971 by UNESCO, which came into force in 1975. It provides for national action and international cooperation regarding the conservation of wetlands, and wise sustainable use of their resources
VALUE ADDITION:
Montreux Record:
• Montreux Record under the Convention is a register of wetland sites on the List of Wetlands of International Importance where changes in ecological character have occurred, are occurring, or are likely to occur as a result of technological developments, pollution or other human interference.
• It is maintained as part of the Ramsar List.

THE SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

5. BHARAT BIOTECH’S INTRANASAL VACCINE

THE CONTEXT: Bharat Biotech recently sought approval for its intranasal Covid vaccine candidate, BBV154, as two-dose vaccine as well as booster dose. It submitted data from Phase 3 clinical trials of BBV154 to seek approval.
THE EXPLANATION:
• The heterologous booster infers that, third or subsequent dose of the vaccine is not similar to its primary dose.
• Usually, primary doses include two shots.
• According to Bharat Biotech, BBV154 is stable at 2-8 degrees Celsius. It is safe, well-tolerated and immunogenic under controlled clinical trials.
About BBV154:
• BBV154 is an intranasal vaccine, that have capability to produce local antibodies in upper respiratory tract. These are capable of reducing infection and transmission.
• To evaluate BBV154 as primary dose and booster dose, two separate & simultaneous clinical trials were conducted.
• Primary dose Phase III trials were conducted on more than 3000 individuals, to test its safety, and immunogenicity. Trials were conducted across 14 sites in India.
• On the other hand, studies on heterologous booster dose were conducted on over 800 individuals.
• This vaccine has been formulated to allow its delivery through nasal.
• Nasal delivery system is cost-effective for low and middle-income countries.
• BBV154 nasal vaccine has been developed by Bharat Biotech, in association with the Washington University.
Bharat Biotech International Limited (BBIL):
BBIL is headquartered in Hyderabad. The company is engaged in discovering drug, developing drug, manufacturing vaccines, pharmaceuticals and health care products. It was established in 1996.

THE PRELIMS PERSPECTIVE

6. WHY LOW WATER LEVELS ON THE RHINE RIVER HURT GERMANY’S ECONOMY

THE CONTEXT: Recently the water levels on the Rhine river are very low because of unusually hot and dry weather, preventing many vessels from navigating the critical European shipping route fully loaded.
THE EXPLANATION:
Why is Rhine river shipping important?
• Flowing from the Swiss Alps to the North Sea via German industrial heartlands, the Rhine is a major route for products ranging from grains to chemicals and coal.
• It is an important link between industrial producers and global export terminals in North Sea ports such as Rotterdam and Amsterdam, while canals and other rivers link the Rhine to the Danube, making it possible to ship to the Black Sea as well.
What is the critical water level?
• There is no specific water level at which shipping stops, and authorities do not close the river. It is up to vessel owners to decide whether they can operate safely.
• The reference waterline level at the chokepoint of Kaub near Koblenz was at 32 centimetres down from 42 centimetres and from 51 centimetres a week ago. Vessels need about 1.5 metres of Kaub reference waterline to sail fully loaded.
What is the impact on Germany’s economy?
• Shipping bottlenecks are another drag on the German economy, which is already grappling with high inflation, supply chain disruptions and soaring gas prices after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February. Economists estimate the disruption to Rhine shipping could knock as much as half a percentage point off overall economic growth this year in Europe’s largest economy.
• The low Rhine water levels are expected to increase costs for chemicals companies such as BASF and could lead to production cuts.
• Coal power plants – now back in fashion as an alternative to Russian gas supplies – also face supply shortages with boats unable to take on enough coal. Utility Uniper has warned of output cuts at two of its plants that make up 4% of Germany’s coal-generated electricity capacity.
PRELIMS FACTS
• The Rhine is one of the longest and most important river in Europe. It runs for over 1,232 km (766 mi) from its source in the in the Swiss Alps (in Switzerland), issuing from the Rheinwaldhorn Glacier 3,353m above sea level.
• The Rhine flows through six countries -Switzerland, Principality of Liechtenstein, Austria, Germany, France and the Netherlands before flowing into the North Sea at Rotterdam.

1. A true master focuses on your state of being READ MORE
2. It Doesn’t Follow READ MORE

1. Stepping back from an ecological abyss: There is a need to balance India’s developmental needs with the sustenance of its ecological foundations READ MORE   
2. Ecological marvel READ MORE

1. A workforce less diverse: Muslim presence is declining in public sector and even in the self-employed. They are overrepresented among the unemployed. READ MORE
2. Dwindling dividend: Demographic advantage will not last forever READ MORE
3. Monkeypox is a chance to fix inequities in the global health system READ MORE  

1. Remission without reform: Premature release of prisoners must be done with discretion and wisdom READ MORE
2. Supreme Court’s contradictory verdicts reinforce the need for a Bail Act READ MORE
3. Our Constitution, Our People READ MORE

(Newspapers, PIB and other important sources)

Prelim and Main

1. WPI inflation eases to 5-mth low of 13.9% READ MORE
2. Child mortality has dipped to 35 per 1,000 live births: Minister READ MORE
3. Understanding ethanol blending READ MORE
4. Explained: All about F-INSAS, Nipun mines, LCA — the new defence systems handed over to Army READ MORE
5. The pesky problem of offshoring pollution READ MORE
6. SBI opens its first dedicated branch for startups in Bengaluru READ MORE
7. Government unveils Manthan, a platform to drive R&D collaboration with the industry READ MORE
8. What is in the Climate & Health Bill signed into law by Joe Biden? READ MORE
9. Why has FIFA banned India, and what happens to Indian football now? READ MORE

Main Exam

GS Paper- 1

1. A workforce less diverse: Muslim presence is declining in public sector and even in the self-employed. They are overrepresented among the unemployed. READ MORE
2. Dwindling dividend: Demographic advantage will not last forever READ MORE

 GS Paper- 2

POLITY AND GOVERNANCE

1. Remission without reform: Premature release of prisoners must be done with discretion and wisdom READ MORE
2. Supreme Court’s contradictory verdicts reinforce the need for a Bail Act READ MORE
3. Our Constitution, Our People READ MORE

SOCIAL ISSUES

1. Monkeypox is a chance to fix inequities in the global health system READ MORE  

INTERNATIONAL ISSUES

1. History of strategic thinking on the Indo-Pacific READ MORE
2. Common Security: New Cold War and the Global South READ MORE

GS Paper- 3

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

1. Power, a reality check: Failing to fully integrate discom operations in the analysis of state government finances obscures the true picture of loss. READ MORE
2. Hedging wheat imports can pay off READ MORE
3. Adopt a pragmatic policy on inflation READ MORE

ENVIRONMENT AND ECOLOGY

1. Stepping back from an ecological abyss: There is a need to balance India’s developmental needs with the sustenance of its ecological foundations READ MORE   
2. Ecological marvel READ MORE

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

1. The coming 75 years: A higher standard of living is possible if India shifts its focus to science and technology READ MORE
2. High points in science, technology and innovation READ MORE

GS Paper- 4

ETHICS EXAMPLES AND CASE STUDY

1. A true master focuses on your state of being READ MORE
2. It Doesn’t Follow READ MORE

Questions for the MAIN exam

1. ‘Unless global health inequities are addressed, national health security will continue to be illusory, regardless of any amount of economic and political clout’. Analyse the statement.
2. ‘Greatness is not a genetic trait, but a dream that is achieved with courage and strength’. Comment.

QUOTATIONS AND CAPTIONS

• Each step in the right direction allows you to see further in that direction.
• A higher standard of living is possible if India shifts its focus to science and technology.
• Entrepreneurship will only succeed in India if it is backed by a funnel of ideas and a liberal process of taking those ideas out of our university labs.
• The Council of Scientific and Industrial Research has undertaken its mission effectively since Independence.
• The local democracy heralded 30 years ago with great hopes to build India on a plank of economic development, and social justice from the grassroots level faces utter neglect.
• Failing to fully integrate discoms operations in analysing state government finances obscures the true picture of loss.
• Muslim presence is declining in the public sector and even in the self-employed. They are overrepresented among the unemployed.
• With domestic wheat stocks falling and prices rising, it’s time to secure supplies through derivative contracts on foreign bourses.
• Unless global health inequities are addressed, national health security will continue to be illusory, regardless of economic and political clout.
• Legal provisions were put in place to ensure the continuity of this ecosystem by dedicating an entire Act to its governance.
• Civil society and social movements must continue putting pressure to collectively show that the existential threats for all peoples are global warming, destruction of ecosystems, and the increasing social inequity between and within nations.

ESSAY TOPIC

• Each step in the right direction allows you to see further in that direction.
• India@75: Looking back to move forward.
• Greatness is not a genetic trait but a dream that is achieved with courage and strength.

50 WORD TALK

• It will be a make-or-break effort in the next decade and a half for India to catch up with China while India still has the potential for a demographic dividend. So, out-of-the-box thinking is vital or else the present, all-round asymmetry with China will become permanent. This will drive India into the arms of the US, a declining global power, and New Delhi’s strategic autonomy will be lost.

Things to Remember:

• For prelims-related news, try to understand the context of the news and relate with its concepts so that it will be easier for you to answer (or eliminate) from given options.
• Whenever any international place will be in the news, you should do map work (marking those areas on maps and exploring other geographical locations nearby, including mountains, rivers, etc. same applies to the national places.)
• For economy-related news (banking, agriculture, etc.), you should focus on terms and how these are related to various economic aspects; for example, if inflation has been mentioned, try to relate with prevailing price rises, shortage of essential supplies, banking rates, etc.
• For main exam-related topics, you should focus on the various dimensions of the given topic; the most important topics which occur frequently and are important from the main point of view will be covered in ED.
• Try to use the given content in your answer. Regular use of this content will bring more enrichment to your writing.

[WpProQuiz 311]

THE CONTEXT: Recently, the Centre has defined a list of single-use plastic items that will are banned from 1st July 2022.The manufacture, import, stocking, distribution, sale and use of notified single-use plastic, including polystyrene and expanded polystyrene, commodities are also prohibited with effect from the 1st July 2022. This article analyses the ban on single-use plastic for greater benefits and related concerns.

SINGLE-USE PLASTIC

ABOUT

It refers to plastic items that are used once and discarded.

HIGHEST SHARES OF PLASTIC MANUFACTURED AND USED

Single-use plastic has among the highest shares of plastic manufactured and used — from the packaging of items to bottles (shampoo, detergents, cosmetics), polythene bags, face masks, coffee cups, cling film, trash bags, food packaging etc.

MINDEROO FOUNDATION 2021 REPORT

• Accounts for a Third of all Plastic Produced Globally:

According to a 2021 report of the Minderoo Foundation, an Australian philanthropic organization, single-use plastics account for a third of all plastic produced globally, with 98% manufactured from fossil fuels.

• The Majority of Plastic Discarded:

Single-use plastic also accounts for the majority of plastic discarded – 130 million metric tonnes globally in 2019 — all of which is burned, buried in landfills or discarded directly into the environment.

• Contribution to Greenhouse Gas Emissions:

On the current trajectory of production, it has been projected that single-use plastic could account for 5-10% of greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.

• Data for India:

o   The report found that India features in the top 100 countries of single-use plastic waste generation – at rank 94 (the top three being Singapore, Australia and Oman).

o   With domestic production of 11.8 million metric tonnes annually, and import of 2.9 MMT, India’s net generation of single-use plastic waste is 5.6 MMT, and per capita, generation is 4 kg.

PLASTIC ITEMS TO BE BANNED:

• The items on which the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) have announced a ban are earbuds; balloon sticks; candy and ice-cream sticks; cutlery items including plates, cups, glasses, forks, spoons, knives, trays; sweet boxes; invitation cards; cigarette packs; PVC banners measuring under 100 microns; and polystyrene for decoration.
• The choice for the first set of single-use plastic items for the ban was based on the difficulty of collection, and therefore recycling. When plastic remains in the environment for long periods of time and does not decay, it turns into microplastics – first entering our food sources and then the human body, and this is extremely harmful.
• The largest share of single-use plastic is that of packaging – with as much as 95% of single-use belonging to this category – from toothpaste to shaving cream to frozen foods. The items chosen are of low value and of low turnover and are unlikely to have a big economic impact, but can be a great contributing factor in reducing environmental pollution.
• The Ministry had already banned polythene bags under 75 microns in September 2021, expanding the limit from the earlier 50 microns. The ban will be extended to polythene bags under 120 microns from December 2022. The ban is being introduced in phases to give manufacturers time to shift to thicker polythene bags that are easier to recycle.
• As per the Plastic Waste Management Rules, 2016, there is also a complete ban on sachets using plastic material for storing, packing or selling gutkha, tobacco and pan masala.

ENFORCEMENT OF THE BAN IN INDIA

MONITORED BY

• The ban will be monitored by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) from the Centre and by the State Pollution Control Boards (SPCBs) that will report to the Centre regularly.

DIRECTIONS ISSUED

• Directions have been issued at national, state and local levels — for example, to all petrochemical industries — to not supply raw materials to industries engaged in the banned items.
• Directions have also been issued to SPCBs and Pollution Control Committees to modify or revoke consent to operate issued under the Air/Water Act to industries engaged in single-use plastic items.
• Local authorities have been directed to issue fresh commercial licenses with the condition that SUP items will not be sold on their premises, and existing commercial licences will be cancelled if they are found to be selling these items.

BIODEGRADABLE PLASTICS

• Promoting Compostable and Biodegradable Plastics – The CPCB issued one-time certificates to 200 manufacturers of compostable plastic and the BIS passed standards for biodegradable plastic.

PENALTY

• Those found violating the ban can be penalised under the Environment Protection Act 1986 – which allows for imprisonment up to 5 years, a penalty up to Rs 1 lakh, or both.
• Violators can also be asked to pay Environmental Damage Compensation by the SPCB.
• There are municipal laws on plastic waste, with their own penal codes.

WHY BAN SINGLE-USE PLASTIC – THE HARMFUL EFFECTS OF PLASTIC POLLUTION

LONGEVITY

• The chemical bonds that make-up plastics are strong and made to last. The decomposition rate of plastic typically ranges from 500 to 600 years, depending on the type. This makes them one of the major environmental pollutants.

GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS

• On the current trajectory of production, it has been projected that single-use plastic could account for 5-10% of greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.

LANDFILL CREATION

• The country is witnessing a rise in landfill creation, especially across major cities like Delhi, Mumbai etc. The Ghazipur landfill in Delhi is soon expected to surpass the height of Qutub Minar. Single-use plastic has played a crucial role in enhancing the extent and height of such landfills. Plastics also keep on releasing harmful toxins in the adjacent areas polluting local soils and groundwater.

IMPACT ON HEALTH

• When plastic remains in the environment for long periods of time and does not decay, it turns into microplastics. This enters food sources and then the human body, causing severe health problems.

IMPACT ON THE MARINE ECOSYSTEM

• According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature, the world produces over 300 million tonnes of plastic every year, of which 14 million tonnes end up in the ocean. Marine species ingest or are entangled in plastic debris, which causes severe injuries and death. Microplastics are also a major contributor to marine pollution.

CHALLENGES IN PLASTIC WASTE MANAGEMENT

INPUT COST

• While manufacturers can use the same machine for 50- and 75-micron bags, the machinery will need to be upgraded for 120 microns. This will enhance the cost of production and put a greater burden on consumers. Similarly, many sellers fear that the alternatives will cost more than single-use plastic. The availability of substitutes might not be enough to meet the demand.

INTERNATIONAL LAWS

• There is currently no dedicated international instrument in place designed specifically to prevent plastic pollution throughout the entire plastics lifecycle.

EFFECTIVE IMPLEMENTATION

• The success would rely largely on how effectively these norms are governed by the Central and State Pollution Control Boards. Their past records in plastic waste management are quite uninspiring. This is testified by frequent violations of plastic rules in major cities like Delhi, Bengaluru etc.
• The prevalence of corruption impedes the effective implementation of the ban and fails to create a substantial deterrence on violators. India’s rank has slipped six places to 86th among 180 countries in Corruption Perception Index (CPI) 2020.

INFORMAL WASTE COLLECTION

• Informalized Structure of Rag Pickers inhibits a strong linkage between waste collectors and processing plants.

THE ANALYSIS:

• India’s ban on select single-use plastic items comes into effect from 1^st July 2022. Although this is the country’s first attempt to regulate plastics available in the market, it will send out the wrong message if we say “India is banning single-use plastic”because even after July 1, the Indian market has continued to sell a gamut of single-use plastic items like soft drinks and mineral water bottles, all products sold in multi-layered packaging, among others. These plastic items perfectly fit the bill for single-use plastic going by the definition India has adopted. India defined single-use plastic in an August 2021 notification as “plastic item intended to be used once for the same purpose before being disposed of or recycled”.
• The government has tried to identify a handful of problematic plastics, which are low-utility and have high littering potential, from the bucket of single-use plastic commodity list and give the industry a reasonable time to phase them out. But many items have been left out. Plastic carry bags, for instance, will not be banned, they will still be available but the thickness has been regulated to be more than 75 microns till December 31, 2022, and more than 120 microns from December 31, 2022 onward. Similarly, banners made from polyvinyl chloride (PVC), will still be available, but the thickness should not be less than 100 microns, the government mandated.
• The first announcement for phasing out single-use plastic was made on August 15, 2019 by the Prime Minister of India. Roughly two years later, in March 2021, the draft notification was released. The deadline for phase-out, proposed in the draft notification, was January 1, 2022. In the final notification released in August 2021, the deadline was extended to July 1, 2022 based on the request from the plastic industry and AIPMA.Still, the plastic industry, along with companies such as ParleAgro, Amul, Dabur, Pepsico and All India Plastic Manufacturers Association (AIPMA), are seeking an extension of 6-12 months on the ban, citing issues like unavailability of alternatives, economic infeasibility and demand-supply gap, which will increase the cost of their product packaging. This clearly questions the intent of the industries to adopt the policy guidelines.

THE WAY FORWARD:

• An international instrument to manage plastic pollution can be formulated by parties of the UN Environment Assembly. Earlier this year, 124 parties of UNEA including India, signed a resolution to draw up an agreement. The agreement will make it legally binding for the signatories to address the full life of plastics from production to disposal, to end plastic pollution.
• The alternatives manufactured in India come with a premium price which may be unaffordable in most cases. This is primarily due to the scale at which the alternative market currently operates. The alternative market needs to be offered support through government initiatives to make its reach wider. However, caution is needed when promoting alternatives, so as not to create a fresh set of problems while fighting plastic pollution.
• The Government should also encourage the creation of sustainable bioplastics. These plastics can be decomposed by the action of living organisms, usually microbes, into the water, carbon dioxide, and biomass. Recently, the BIS passed standards for biodegradable plastic.
• The Government should take proactive steps to ensure that the plastic ban becomes a success. The recent launch of a public grievance app to track complaints of single plastic use is a laudable step in this regard.
• An independent environment regulator as envisaged by the Supreme Court should be created to oversee the prudent implementation of the new rules.
• India’s plastic consumption at 11 kilogrammes is still only a tenth of the US and less than a third of China’s, according to PlastIndia 2015. But, the projected high growth rates of GDP and continuing rapid urbanisation suggest that India’s trajectory of plastic consumption and plastic waste is likely to increase. The masses shall be sensitized about plastic waste through awareness programmes and other campaigns and shall be encouraged to use alternatives to plastic.

THE CONCLUSION: Making India plastic-pollution free is not going to be easy and the responsibility is not limited to one stakeholder — the plastic industry or governments, for instance. All the stakeholders involved from the production of raw materials, plastic manufacturers, giant FMCG companies, national, state and local governments along with the consumers have their parts to play to make the ban a success. The national and state governments have a long road ahead of them to ensure enforcement of the notified ban. We just cannot envisage that from July, India will become a single-use plastic-free nation.Consumers like you and I also have a role to play, which ranges from refusing the use of plastic carry bags irrespective of the thickness, consuming consciously and, of course, segregating the solid waste we generate in our households. This will ensure plastic waste can be diverted away from dumpsites to treatment facilities, where it can be recycled and given a second life.

Mains Practice Questions:

1. The single-use plastic (SUP) ban is a significant step towards building a sustainable planet we can proudly hand over to the next generation. Comment.
2. Researchers, experts and environmentalists feel that bans work but only to an extent. Critically examine the statement in the context of the single-use plastic ban.

ADD TO YOUR KNOWLEDGE

PLASTIC BAN AROUND THE WORLD

• United Nations resolution: 124 countries which are party to the United Nations Environment Assembly including India signed a resolution to draw up an agreement which will in the future make it legally binding for the signatories to address the full life of plastics from production to disposal, to end plastic pollution.
• Bangladesh became the first country to ban thin plastic bags in 2002.
• New Zealand became the latest country to ban plastic bags in 2019.
• China issued a ban on plastic bags in 2020 with a phased implementation.
• Seattle became the first major US city to ban plastic straws in 2018.
• European Union (EU): The directive bans certain single-use plastics for which alternatives are available.
• Current scenario: 68 countries have plastic bag bans with varying degrees of enforcement.

Successful initiatives:

In 2008, Rwanda became a pioneer in banning the disposal of plastic among the developing nations and has transformed into one of the cleanest nations on the globe, in spite of its financial constraints.

Less successful initiatives:

Ethiopia’s ban on the import and production of carrying bags thicker than 330 microns, plateaued out in a short period. This is the matter with many developing countries including India, despite strengthening their stance against packaging plastics, they fail to effectively implement it due to the dearth of infrastructure, enforcement, and availability of affordable alternatives.

INDIA’S EFFORTS IN TACKLING PLASTIC WASTE

THE PLASTIC WASTE MANAGEMENT RULES, 2016

• It clearly stipulates that urban local bodies (ULBs) should ban less than 50 micron thick plastic bags and not allow the usage of recycled plastics for packing food, beverage or any other eatables.
• It introduced the concept of EPR(Extended Producer Responsibility) to manage plastics in India.EPR means the responsibility of a producer for environmentally sound management of the product until the end of its life.

PLASTIC WASTE MANAGEMENT (AMENDMENT) RULES, 2022

• The guidelines on EPR(Extended Producer Responsibility) coupled with the prohibition of identified single-use plastic items. It banned the manufacture, import, stocking, distribution, sale and use of carrying bags made of virgin or recycled plastic less than seventy-five microns.
• The items that will be banned are—Earbuds with plastic sticks, plastic sticks for balloons, plastic flags, candy sticks, ice-cream sticks, polystyrene (thermocol) for decoration, plastic plates, cups, glasses, cutlery such as forks, spoons and knives, straw, trays, wrapping films around sweet boxes, invitation cards, and cigarette packets, plastic or PVC banners less than 100-microns and stirrers.
• The ban will not apply to commodities made of compostable plastic.
• The Central Pollution Control Board, along with state pollution bodies, will monitor the ban, identify violations, and impose penalties already prescribed under the Environmental Protection Act.

SWACHH BHARAT MISSION – URBAN 2.0

Segregation and sorting:

• Under this, every Urban Local Body (ULB) is required to adopt 100% source segregation of waste, and have access to a Material Recovery Facility (MRF) for sorting the dry waste (including plastic waste) into further fractions for recycling and/ or processing into value-added products.
• This is aimed to reduce plastic and dry waste ending up in dumpsites or waterbodies.
• Further, the ULBs will need to identify SUP ‘hotspots’ and eliminate them.
• ULB shave to leverage the support of State Pollution Control Boards and form special enforcement squads, conducting surprise inspections and imposing heavy fines and penalties on defaulters, for enforcing SUP bans.

Alternatives:

• The ULBs will need to identify SUP alternatives (such as cloth/jute/plastic bags, degradable cutleries, etc.) readily available in the market and create awareness about such alternatives among citizens.

Reuse:

• States and ULBs have also been advised to enter into MoUs with nearby cement plants or other industrial units as well to ensure that a part of the plastic waste generated is used either as an alternative fuel in cement plants or for road construction purposes.

THE “INDIA PLASTIC CHALLENGE – HACKATHON 2021

• It is 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.

OTHERS:

India Plastics Pact:

• The India Plastics Pact is an ambitious, collaborative initiative that aims to bring together businesses, governments and NGOs to reduce, reuse, and recycle plastics in their value chain. The Pact aims to transform the current linear plastics system into a circular plastics economy that will:

o   Reduce the use of problematic plastics in India.

o   Retain valuable materials in the economy for use in other products.

o   Generate jobs, investments and opportunities in the plastics system in India.

Project REPLAN:

• This is the first of its kind project in India, where plastic waste is de-structured, degraded, diluted and used with paper pulp while making handmade paper and thus reducing plastic waste from nature. The invention is aligned with the Prime Minister’s call for fighting the menace of single-use plastic.

Un-Plastic Collective:

• The Un-plastic Collective (UPC) is co-founded by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and WWF-India.
• The Collective seeks to minimise the externalities of plastics on the ecological and social health of our planet. The word ‘un-plastic’ specifically refers to moving all types of plastics in a circular economy and removing unnecessary plastic in the long run, while using sustainable alternative materials.

GoLitter Partnerships Project

• The Project was launched by the International Maritime Organization(IMO) and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations(FAO). The Government of Norway provided initial funding for the project. The project aims to help the maritime transport and fishing sectors to adapt to a low-plastic future. To achieve this goal, this initiative will assist developing countries to apply best practices for the prevention, reduction, and control of marine plastic litter from those sectors.
• 30 Countries are participating in the project. India is also one of the participating countries.