# E-Waste Challenges in India: Environmental and Human Health Impacts
## 3 Scenario of E-Waste in India  
E-waste has become an increasing issue in India, increasing at an alarming rate of approximately 2.90 Mt per year [16; 17]. It poses threats to the quality of the environment and the well-being of humans [18]. The significantly large population size and its unorganized way of disposing of electronic waste pose a significant challenge for government agencies in the effective management of electronic waste [19].  
India is the world's third-leading producer of electronic waste, followed by China and the US [20; 21]. Yearly, the country distributes more than 14 million refrigerators, 17 million televisions, 148 million cell phones, 19 million pieces of sound equipment, and approximately 6.5 million washing machines. Electronic waste production increased by 0.63 Mt in the financial year 2017-2018 to 1.6 Mt in the financial year 2021-2022. The anticipated pattern will persist, with an estimation of close to 14 Mt of electronic waste produced annually by 2030 [20; 21].  
In India, there are two main formal and informal controls for the management of electronic waste. Several practices, including collection, storage, transport, sorting, shedding, dismantling, etc., occur in an unorganized and unstructured environment [22]. Raspickers collect and sell this electronic waste to earn a living. In India, most of the processes related to electronic waste are carried out by manual efforts of unskilled workers with inadequate equipment, instruments, machines, and technologies [23]. The techniques used for recycling and disposal are dangerous.  
According to a report by the Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India (ASSOCHAM), almost 80% of the workforce engaged in the collection of electronic waste experiences various respiratory conditions such as difficulty in inhalation, coughing, discomfort in the nasal passage, and suffocation, resulting from a lack of sufficient safety precautions without headgear, and naked hands; the workers and children do not use masks daily, and they are more exposed to toxic metals [24].  
The Indian policymakers have shown awareness of the obstacles related to handling and management of electronic waste by amending the 2018 e-waste management rule [25]; the objective is to intensify the aggregation and reprocessing process, particularly for new producers, and promote environmentally friendly electronic management. The electronic waste policy was revised and enacted in April 2023, and has expanded its coverage [26]. This includes additional components, such as photovoltaic panels, that respond to the increasing demand for renewable energy sources and address the need for proper disposal. The guidelines seek to reduce hazardous pollutants in electronic equipment and implement extended producer responsibility (EPR) [20; 26]. They are designed to promote sustainable electronic waste practices, reduce harmful behavior, and ensure manufacturers' compliance with the termination stages of their products [20]. It is crucial to recognize that policy needs evolution along with societal changes and the advancement of technologies, which require continuous enhancement and adjustments. Figure 3 illustrates the accelerated trend of e-waste in India.