Page 40 - Shelter - April 2025

POLICY REVIEW

MOVING TOWARDS A CIRCULAR ECONOMY IN

INDIA AND THE REGION

DR. KULWANT SINGH India is amongst the fast growing wealth initiatives through
countries in the Asia-Pacific biogas and organic waste
region and has experienced rapid processing.
urbanisation and improved
living standards over the past • E-Waste Management
few decades. India is actively Rules (2022):These rules
transitioning to a circular strengthen circular
economy, focusing on closed- economy practices in
loop systems, resource efficiency, electronic waste disposal.
and sustainable practices, with • Extended Producer
initiatives like the Circular Responsibility (EPR) for
Economy Cell in NITI Aayog Plastic:This encourages
and policies promoting waste industries to take
management and recycling. accountability for plastic
waste.
Key Initiatives and
Policies: • India’s G-20 Presidency
Focus: During its
• Circular Economy G-20 presidency, India
Cell (CE Cell) in NITI prioritised resource
Aayog: This dedicated efficiency and circular
unit within NITI Aayog economy, focusing on areas
works on developing a
comprehensive mission like circularity in the steel
document, interactive sector, Extended Producer
dashboard, and furthering Responsibility (EPR),
engagement with states circular bioeconomy, and
on circular economy establishing an industry-
initiatives. led resource efficiency and
circular economy industry
• Swachh Bharat Mission coalition.
(SBM-U): This mission • 7Rs of Circular Economy:
strengthens urban waste The government advocates
management with a focus for the 7Rs of circular
on 3R principles (Reduce,
Former Regional Advisor, UN- economy: Reduce, Reuse,
Habitat and Former ED(T) HSMI/ Reuse, Recycle). Recycle, Redesign,
HUDCO. • GOBARdhan Scheme: This Remanufacture, Refurbish,
kulwantsingh2002@gmail.com scheme promotes waste-to- and Repair.

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