Lok Sabha Question No. 1375 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2022-07-25
Subject: Circular Economy
Ministry: FINANCE
Asked by: Francisco Cosme Sardinha

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF FINANCE DEPARTMENT OF ECONOMIC AFFAIRS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1375

TO BE ANSWERED ON 25 JULY 2022

## CIRCULAR ECONOMY

1375. SHRI COSME FRANCISCO CAITANO SARDINHA:

Will the Minister of FINANCE be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government has framed any robust policy in order to boost circular economy;
- (b) if so, the sectors being prioritized for manufacturing as well as for encouraging circular economy; and
- (c) if not, the alternate steps taken so far by the Government to boost circular economy?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE FOR FINANCE (SHRI PANKAJ CHAUDHARY)

(a)  to  (c)  An  announcement outlining scope of measures to support transition to Circular Economy in Budget (2022-23) speech of Finance Minister, as under, has been made:

' The Circular Economy transition is expected to help in productivity enhancement as well as creating large  opportunities  for  new  businesses  and  jobs.  The  action  plans  for  ten  sectors  such  as  electronic waste, end-of-life vehicles, used oil waste, and toxic & hazardous industrial waste are ready. The focus now will be on addressing important cross cutting issues of infrastructure, reverse logistics, technology upgradation and integration with informal sector. This will be supported by active public policies covering regulations, extended producers' responsibilities framework and innovation facilitation .'

Government has initiated several measures for promoting Circular Economy. NITI Aayog in consultation with  Ministry  of  Environment,  Forest  and  Climate  Change  in  2021-22  has  taken  an  initiative  to deal/encourage  the  eleven  End  of  Life  (EOL)  products  /  recyclable  materials  /  wastes  in  Circular Economy framework. These categories are as follows: Lithium-ion (Li-ion)  batteries,  electronic  waste, toxic and hazardous industrial waste, scrap metal (ferrous and non-ferrous), tyre and rubber, end of life vehicles (ELVs), gypsum, used oil, Municipal solid waste and liquid waste, agricultural waste and solar panels have been finalized.

Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change has already notified various rules, such as e-Waste Management Rules, Construction and Demolition Waste Management Rules, Metals Recycling Policy, etc.  in  their  respective  focus  areas  and  recently  notified  'Guidelines  on  the  Extended  Producer Responsibility  (EPR)  for  Plastic  Packaging'  under  Plastic  Waste  Management  Rules,  2016  on  16 th February, 2022.

Further, at the 2021 UN Climate Change Conference (UNFCCC COP26), Honourable Prime Minister of India  Shri  Narendra  Modi  announced  Mission  Lifestyle  for  Environment  (LiFE),  to  bring  individual behaviours at the forefront of the global climate action narrative. LiFE envisions replacing the prevalent 'use-and-dispose'  economy-governed  by  mindless  and  destructive  consumption-with  a  circular economy, which would be defined by mindful and deliberate utilization. The Mission intends to nudge individuals to undertake simple acts in their daily lives that can contribute significantly to climate change when embraced across the world.

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