9th September 2024

Topic: India tops plastic pollution rankings

Relevance: GS Paper: 3 – Pollution

Source: Down to Earth

Context

A recent study that was published in the journal Nature claims that India is the world’s largest plastic polluter, releasing 9.3 million tonnes (Mt) of plastic per year.

Principal findings of the research

• Materials that have migrated from the managed or poorly managed system (controlled or contained state) to the unmanaged system (uncontrolled or uncontained state — the environment) are referred to as plastic emissions in the study.
• India is responsible for about one-fifth of the world’s plastic emissions.
• The rate of waste generation in India is roughly 0.12 kg per person per day.
• In 2020, the annual global emissions of plastic waste were 52.1 million tons.
• In the Global South, uncollected waste was the main source of emissions, whereas littering constituted the largest source in the Global North.
• Nigeria and Indonesia are the two countries that pollute plastic the most, with 3.5 million and 3.4 million tonnes of emissions, respectively.
• Furthermore, the study showed that although the generation of plastic waste is higher in high-income countries, most of them have 100% coverage for collection and controlled disposal.
  
  

Issues with Plastic pollution

• Because plastics break down slowly in natural ecosystems, it is difficult to completely eradicate them.
• Microplastics, the smaller fragments of broken-down plastic that travel the entire planet from the heights of the Himalayas to the depths of the Pacific Ocean, are produced.
• The chemical used to harden plastic, known as BPA or bisphenol A, contaminates food and beverages and alters liver function, fetal development in pregnant women, the reproductive system, and brain function.
• Plastic waste degrades the aesthetic appeal of popular tourist locations, which lowers revenue from tourism and raises significant maintenance and cleaning expenses.
  
  

Causes of India’s high levels of plastic pollution

• Inadequate infrastructure for waste management: According to data from 2019–20, 34.7 lakh TPA, or 50% of the nation’s total plastic waste, went unexamined, causing pollution of the land, water, and air.
• Data void: The Public Account Committee noted that inconsistent data shared by urban local bodies (ULBs) with state pollution control boards (SPCBs) and a lack of data on plastic waste generation for the years 2016–18 were among the findings of the CAG’s 2022 audit.
• Inefficiencies in recycling: Low-quality recycled plastic is produced by the current, mostly unregulated and informal recycling system.

International Initiatives to Combat Plastic Waste

• The London Convention of 1972 dealt with the prevention of marine pollution caused by the disposal of waste and other materials.

• Campaign for Clean Seas: The Campaign was initiated by the United Nations Environment Programme in 2017. It grew to be the biggest worldwide effort to increase public awareness of marine litter and plastic pollution.
• Basel Convention: In 2019, an amendment was made to the Basel Convention to include plastic waste as a material subject to regulation.
  – Annex II, VIII, and IX of the Convention contain the three main entries on plastic wastes. 186 States are now required to abide by the Plastic Waste Amendments of the convention.

India Based Initiatives to Combat Plastic Waste:

• Extension Producer Responsibility (EPR): Since the Indian government introduced EPR, plastic manufacturers are in charge of handling and getting rid of the waste generated by their products.

• Regulations for Plastic Waste Management (Amendment), 2022: Producing, importing, stocking, distributing, selling, and using plastic carry bags with a thickness of less than 120 microns is forbidden.
• The Swachh Bharat Abhiyan is a nationwide campaign to promote cleanliness that involves gathering and discarding plastic waste.
• Plastic Parks are specialized industrial zones established by the Indian government for the purpose of recycling and processing plastic waste.
• Beach clean-up drives: To gather and remove plastic debris from beaches, the Indian government and a number of non-governmental organizations have arranged beach clean-up drives.

Way Forward

• The institutional framework for the collection, sorting, and recycling of plastic waste needs to be strengthened in addition to behavioral changes in order to address the problem of plastic pollution.
• By the end of 2024, the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC) is expected to deliver a legally binding global plastics treaty in accordance with UN Environment Assembly Resolution 5/14.

Also Read Topics & Concepts:

https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/travel/travel-news/india-emerges-as-the-worlds-largest-plastic-polluter-study-reveals-9-3-million-tonnes-a-year/articleshow/113152024.cms

Mains Model Questions

Q. The most common issue affecting the marine environment is plastic pollution. Discuss.

Introduction:

Every year, more than 300 million tons of plastic are produced, of which half is used to make single-use products like straws, cups, and shopping bags.
Just 9% of waste made of plastic is recycled. Roughly 12% is burned, and the remaining 79% has piled up in landfills.
The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) estimates that each year, at least 8 million tons of plastic waste enter the ocean.

Body:

Concerns with Marine Plastic Waste:

• Effects on the marine ecosystem
  – The ingestion, suffocation, and entanglement of hundreds of marine species are the most obvious and unsettling effects of marine plastics.
  – When marine animals, including fish, seabirds, whales, and turtles, mistake plastic waste for food, the majority of them starve to death because their stomachs are overflowing with it.
• Effects on nutrition and well-being
  – Numerous chemicals used in the manufacture of plastic materials are known to be carcinogenic and to disrupt the endocrine system, which can lead to immune, neurological, developmental, and reproductive problems in both people and animals.
• Climate change effects
  – The use of plastic also fuels global warming. Carbon dioxide is released into the atmosphere when plastic waste is burned, which raises carbon emissions.
• Plastic waste clogs sewers, endangers marine life, and puts people’s health at risk when it settles in landfills or the surrounding ecosystem.
• These economic costs are accompanied by enormous social costs. Coastal residents are adversely affected by the deleterious effects of plastic pollution and the waste that the tides carry in.

Way Ahead

• When designing a product, the first step is to determine which plastic components can be swapped out for non-plastic, recyclable, or biodegradable alternatives.
• Cost: Since plastics are cheap, using recycled plastics is not as financially advantageous. Priority should be given to balancing cost structures with environmental health.
• Encouraging a workplace free of plastic: Reusable items or more environmentally friendly single-use substitutes can be used in place of all single-use products.
• Producer responsibility: In the retail (packaging) industry, producers bear the responsibility of gathering and recycling products they introduce to the market. This is known as extended responsibility.

Conclusion: To tackle the problem of marine plastics, innovation and research ought to be encouraged. Understanding the entire scope of plastic pollution and its effects would give manufacturers, consumers, and policymakers the scientific proof they need to lead the charge on appropriate technological, behavioral, and policy solutions.

Topic: Jal Sanchay Jan Bhagidari Initiative

Relevance: GS Paper: 3 – Water Conservation

Source: The Print

Context

• In order to improve rainwater harvesting and guarantee long-term water sustainability, the Prime Minister has introduced the “Jal Sanchay Jan Bhagidari” initiative.
  
  

About

• In order to improve rainwater harvesting and guarantee long-term water sustainability, this program is building about 24,800 rainwater harvesting structures throughout the state.
• The goal of the “Jal Sanchay Jan Bhagidari” initiative is water conservation with a focus on community ownership and collaboration.
• It is propelled by an all-encompassing approach to society and government.
  
  

Rainwater Collection

• The process of gathering and storing rainwater that runs off of buildings, roads, parks, and open spaces is known as rainwater harvesting.
• It is possible to store or replenish the groundwater with this runoff of water.
• The parts of a rainwater harvesting system are as follows:
• catchment, which is the source of water that is collected, stored, or recharged;
• conveyance system, which transports the collected water from the catchment to the storage/recharge zone;
• first flush, which clears out the first rainstorm;
• filter, which filters out pollutants;
• storage tanks, and/or different recharge structures.
  
  

Importance

• Water conservation: Gathering rainfall lessens the demand on nearby water sources, which contributes to the preservation of freshwater resources.
• Decreased Stormwater Runoff: Collecting rainfall contributes to a reduction in runoff volume, which lessens the chance of flooding and soil erosion.
• Groundwater Recharge: Certain systems are made to let collected rainfall seep back into the earth, which helps to keep the water table stable and replenish groundwater supplies.
• Decreased Strain on Infrastructure: Rainwater harvesting can assist in lessening the strain on the current water infrastructure by lowering the demand on municipal water systems, possibly postponing the need for expensive renovations and extensions.
• Emergency Supply: Keeping a rainwater reserve on hand can be essential to maintaining the flow of water for basic necessities during droughts or other natural disasters.
  
  

Governmental Efforts to Address India’s Water Scarcity

• The National Water Mission (NWM) seeks to protect water resources, reduce waste, and guarantee that water is distributed fairly among different industries.
• The Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) was started in 2019 with the goal of giving every rural household access to piped water by 2024.

• The Atal Bhujal Yojana (ABHY) was introduced in 2019 with the goal of enhancing groundwater management and encouraging sustainable groundwater use in areas of India that have been identified as water-stressed.

• Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY) was introduced in 2015–16 with the goals of expanding cultivable area under guaranteed irrigation, improving on-farm water use efficiency, introducing sustainable water conservation practices, and improving physical access to water on farms.

• Launched in 2015 in 500 selected cities, the Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT) aims to develop the Mission cities’ basic urban infrastructure in the areas of water supply, parks & green spaces, storm water drainage, sewerage & septage management, and non-motorized urban transportation.

• The Namami Gange Programme was introduced in 2014 with the goal of revitalizing the Ganga and its tributaries through the reduction of pollution, the advancement of sustainable wastewater management, and the restoration of the river basin’s ecological integrity.
  
  

Water Conservation Suggestions

• Refilling water sources can be facilitated by putting into practice effective water management techniques like watershed management and rainwater collection.
• Pollution and waste can be decreased by making investments in irrigation systems and water treatment systems.
• It is essential to educate the public about water conservation and promote wise water use.
• Long-term solutions also require policies that support sustainable water management and allocation.

Also Read Topics & Concepts:

https://www.pmindia.gov.in/en/news_updates/pm-launches-jal-sanchay-jan-bhagidari-initiative-via-vc/

Mains Model Questions

Q. Critically analyse the goals and difficulties in implementing the Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT) program.

Introduction:

The Government of India launched the Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT) scheme in 2015 with the goal of improving the quality of life for urban residents by providing basic civic amenities.

Body:

Objectives of AMRUT

• Improved Basic Amenities goals include providing a reliable water supply, sewage connections, and appropriate waste management, among other basic services. These immediately improve urban areas’ quality of life.
• Enhanced Urban Spaces: The goal is to make cities more aesthetically beautiful, promote healthier lifestyles, and create green areas and parks.
• Encouragement of public transportation and non-motorized modes of transportation, such as walking and cycling, can lead to a decrease in pollution and traffic, thereby fostering a more sustainable urban environment.

Challenges

• Fund Allocation and Utilization: Although AMRUT is financed by the central government, there are still issues with timely allocation and effective local body utilization. Project execution can be slowed down by bureaucratic obstacles.
• Selection Criteria for Cities: Ignoring smaller urban centers with equally urgent needs would result from concentrating only on cities with a population of more than one lakh.
• Prioritize Short-Term Gains: Initiatives that can be completed more quickly may take precedence over long-term, sustainable solutions. This can result in inadequate infrastructure or no maintenance schedules.
• Building Capacity: Local governments may not have the personnel or technical know-how to adequately oversee complicated infrastructure projects. Strong capacity-building initiatives are required from AMRUT.

Conclusion:

The plan calls for solutions rooted in nature as well as an all-encompassing approach that prioritizes people and gives local organizations authority.

Topic: Arctic Sea ice can change monsoon patterns

Relevance: GS Paper: 1 – Geography

Source: The Hindu

Context

Researchers from the National Centre for Polar and Ocean Research (NCPOR) in India have discovered that the Indian monsoon is impacted by seasonal variations in the Arctic Sea ice.

What Does the Summer Monsoon Rainfall in India Mean?

• One of the most well-known monsoon systems in the world is the Indian summer monsoon rainfall (ISMR), which occurs over the Indian subcontinent from July to September.
• During the summer, the landmass of Central Asia and India receives more and faster heat from the sun than the surrounding ocean.
• The intertropical convergence zone (ITCZ), a low-pressure area near the Tropic of Cancer, is the result of this.

• After passing through the equator, trade winds blowing from the southeast are then redirected towards the Indian landmass by the Coriolis force and the low pressure.
• The southwest monsoon divides in two over the landmass. Rainfall is brought to India’s west coast by the Arabian Sea arm, and to its eastern and northeastern regions by the other arm that travels to the Bay of Bengal.
• The arms finally converge over Punjab and Himachal Pradesh, with the Bay of Bengal arm following the Himalaya and the Arabian Sea arm moving inward.

The Rainfall of the Indian Summer Monsoon is Complicated

• The surface temperatures of the Indian, Atlantic, and Pacific oceans have been found to have an impact on the ISMR over the past twenty years, according to climate models.
• The monsoon appeared to be greatly influenced by the circum-global teleconnection (CGT), a large-scale atmospheric wave flowing at mid-latitudes.
• However, lower sea ice levels in the higher latitudes—especially in the Barents-Kara Sea region, which includes the Hudson Bay, the Gulf of St. Lawrence, and the Sea of Okhotsk—delay and increase the unpredictability of the monsoon.

Additional atmospheric systems impacting the pattern

• The scientists discovered that a cyclonic circulation occurs at slightly lower latitudes, such as in the North Atlantic, when sea ice levels in the Central Arctic rise due to heat transfer from the ocean to the atmosphere.
• As a result of the earth’s rotation, variations in temperature, and weather systems that travel from west to east, fast-moving air streams known as Rossby waves are produced.
• Low pressure occurs over the Mediterranean region and high pressure over northwest India as a result.
• However, heat rises from the Barents-Kara Sea as sea ice levels decline in the area, resulting in an anticyclonic circulation (clear, calm skies) over northwest Europe.
  
  

Climate change’s role

• Climate change increases the ISMR’s variability and unpredictability by hastening the melting of Arctic Sea ice.
• Reduced Arctic Sea ice can cause excessive rainfall and flooding in some areas and more frequent and severe droughts in others.
• The study also highlights the critical need for more research on climate dynamics and the development of more precise monsoon forecasts by scientists.

Also Read Topics & Concepts:https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/goa/melting-sea-ice-in-arctic-linked-to-indian-monsoon-study-may-help-better-forecasts/articleshow/111370339.cms

Mains Model Questions Q. One of the most complicated geophysical phenomena is still the Indian Monsoon. Explain the mechanism behind the start of the Indian monsoon in light of the statement.

Introduction:

The best way to characterize the Indian Monsoon is as a seasonal reversal of winds. Winds in the Indian monsoon travel from land to sea in the summer and from sea to land in the winter.
The beginning of the South-West monsoon and the retreating monsoon season are the two stages in which the Indian monsoon mechanism can be comprehended.

Body:

The South-West Monsoon’s arrival:

• Differential Heating: The Indian landmass experiences low pressure, while the Indian ocean area experiences high pressure due to the land and water’s respective heating and cooling processes.
• ITCZ Shift: As a result, the Inter-Tropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ) will move across the Ganga plain during the summer. This ITCZ is commonly referred to as the Monsoon Trough.
• Bending of Winds: Under the influence of Coriolis force, the southeast trade winds of the southern hemisphere cross the equator and begin to blow in a southwest to northeast direction.
• Withdrawal of the Westerly Jet Stream: The phenomenon of the westerly jet stream’s departure from its location over the north Indian plain, south of the Himalayas, is connected to the ITCZ’s movement in location.
• Easterly Jet Stream Onset: Only after the western jet stream does the easterly jet stream, also known as the Somali Jet, begin to form along latitude 15°N.
• Separating the Monsoon into Branches: There are two distinct monsoons that arrive at the Indian landmass:
  – The monsoon winds that originate over the Arabian Sea are known as the Arabian Sea branch.
  – The Arakan Hills on Myanmar’s coast divert a significant amount of the Bay of Bengal branch in the direction of the Indian subcontinent.

Conclusion: As a result, the monsoon enters Bangladesh and West Bengal from the south and southeast rather than the southwest. It has significant social, political, and economic ramifications in India.

Topic: Ministry dissolves Standing Committee on Statistics

Relevance: GS Paper: 2 – Governance 

Source: Money control

Context

• The 14-member Standing Committee on Statistics (SCoS) has been dissolved by the Union Ministry of Statistics and Program Implementation.
• The committee’s work overlapped with the recently established Steering Committee for National Sample Surveys, according to the official justification.

About

• When the SCoS was established in 2023, its duties included advising the Union government on survey methodology, including sample frame, sampling design, and survey instruments, as well as finalizing a survey tabulation plan.
• Since the 1870s, India has conducted a decennial census every ten years; the most recent one took place in 2011.
• The next, which was supposed to take place in 2021 but was first postponed because of the COVID-19 pandemic, has not yet been announced.
• Many economists are worried that the data sets utilized in the majority of statistical surveys are still being drawn from the 2011 census, impacting their accuracy and quality.

What is Census?

• A census is a regular, methodical gathering of social, economic, and demographic information from people living in a particular area.
• Governments usually carry it out to obtain comprehensive data about the traits and living circumstances of the populace.
• Governments, corporations, academics, and policymakers use the Census’ vital data for a variety of reasons, including funding allocation, public service planning, and decision-making.
  
  

India’s Census

• Since 1871, India has regularly conducted censuses. In 1881, the first comprehensive Census was carried out.
• Constitutional Mandate: The Census of India is carried out in accordance with the 1948 Census Act, which gives the Indian government the authority to carry out recurring population surveys.
• Regularity: The Indian Census is carried out every ten years, or decennially.
  – The 2011 Census was the most recent one to be carried out.
  
  

Importance of the Census for Policy Development:

• It offers essential information for organizing and developing programs pertaining to social welfare, infrastructure, healthcare, and education.
• Resource Allocation: By offering information on population distribution, demographics, and socioeconomic circumstances, it promotes the fair distribution of resources.
• Demographic Trends: It helps to comprehend population growth rates, migration flows, urbanization patterns, and demographic trends.
• Monitoring Development Goals: Data from the Census is used to track advancements made toward both national and global development objectives, including the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
  
  

Why is the Indian Census taking longer than expected?

• COVID-19 Pandemic: The pandemic caused major disruptions to the planning and scheduling of a number of events, including extensive surveys such as the Census.
• Preparation and Planning: Organizing a census in a nation the size and population of India necessitates careful planning, resource mobilization, and departmental coordination.
• Political and Administrative Priorities: The Census process is delayed when governments give priority to other initiatives or elections.
• Technological and Methodological Upgradation: Time and resources are needed for periodic updates and improvements in the technologies and methodologies used for data collection, processing, and analysis.
• Complexity of Data Collection: Performing a thorough Census in India is made more difficult by the country’s diverse geography, languages, cultures, and socioeconomic situations.
  
  

Conclusion 

• The different mortality estimates derived from analyses of “excess deaths” during the COVID-19 pandemic should be supported by census data.
• Adequate capture of decadal changes in India’s population resulting from migration across States and urbanization is imperative.
• The government still uses Census 2011, which is out of date, for population estimates for welfare programs like the National Food Security Act’s targeted Public Distribution System.
• The government must act quickly to start the Census in light of these and other requirements for the efficient planning and execution of administrative, welfare, and statistical management for governance.

Also Read Topics & Concepts:https://m.thewire.in/article/government/centre-dissolves-committee-on-statistics-after-members-question-delay-in-conducting-census-report

Mains Model Questions

Q. Discuss about the causes behind India’s 2021 Census postponement and how it might affect the distribution of Lok Sabha seats among Indian states.

Introduction:

India’s 2021 Census is still unfinished as of 2024. The COVID-19 pandemic caused the census to be postponed indefinitely, the Ministry of Home Affairs has reiterated, having an impact on several aspects of governance, including the distribution of Lok Sabha seats among Indian states.

Body:

Causes of the Census Delay in 2021

• COVID-19 Pandemic: In the midst of lockdowns and unavoidable health and hygiene concerns, the COVID-19 pandemic outbreak interrupted scheduled census activities.
  – For example: The Ministry of Home affairs has confirmed that the census, which was originally scheduled for March 2021, has been postponed indefinitely due to health and safety concerns amid the ongoing pandemic.
• Administrative and technological challenges: Training, data collection, and logistical planning were all impacted by administrative complexities and technological readiness issues, which precipitated the delay in India’s 2021 census.
  – For instance, new infrastructure and training were required for the 2021 Census, the first digital census, in order to collect data via mobile apps.
• Resource Allocation and Budgeting: Due to pressing pandemic-related expenses, budgetary allotments and resources required for the census were delayed or reallocated.
  – For example: To effectively address the public health crisis, funds originally allocated for census preparations had to be reallocated to purchase medical supplies, set up facilities for quarantine, and support the healthcare infrastructure.
• Political and Administrative Obstacles: Along with logistical difficulties, political controversies and administrative hold-ups in completing census procedures impeded progress.
• For instance: Ongoing debates about whether or not caste-based data should be included in the census made preparations even more difficult and prolonged the start date.

Possible Effect on Seats in the Lok Sabha

• Postponement of the census causes a delay in the delimitation process, which is necessary to redraw Lok Sabha constituencies using the most recent population data.
• Unbalanced Representation: While states with slower population growth may continue to be disproportionately represented, those with faster growth may continue to be underrepresented.
• Policy and Planning Challenges: For development programs to be implemented and policies to be formulated effectively, accurate population data is necessary.
• Increasing Socio-Political Tensions: There is a chance that regional differences and conflicts over political power and resource distribution will worsen, especially between the states in the north and south.

Conclusion:

The political and administrative structure of India is greatly impacted by the postponement of the 2021 Census, particularly with regard to the distribution of Lok Sabha seats. For equitable representation in Parliament and efficient government, it is therefore imperative to expedite the census process following the pandemic. Technology should be used in the future, and backup plans should be in place in case of unplanned disruptions.