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NCCR monitoring finds synthetic filaments the predominant microplastic type off Thoothukudi and the Gulf of Mannar; riverine discharge and Abandoned, Lost or Discarded Fishing Gear (ALDFG) are the major pollution sources
NCCR's Clean Coast Index rates the stretch 'moderately clean', with no major microplastic pollution hotspot identified (28-60 particles/50g of sediment)
Since the 2022 Single-Use Plastic ban and EPR rules, about 232 lakh tonnes of plastic packaging waste have been processed; a draft National Marine Litter Policy has been shared with MoEFCC
Scientific monitoring and assessment of marine litter/microplastics; advises ministries on coastal policy
A metric NCCR uses to classify a coastal stretch's cleanliness based on the abundance of microplastics and macroplastics recorded during beach and sediment surveys, helping identify hotspots for targeted clean-up and policy intervention.
Simple Analogy: Works like an Air Quality Index, but measures how much plastic litter a stretch of coastline carries rather than air pollutants.
Introduced Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) guidelines with mandatory targets for collection, recycling and reuse of plastic packaging
Prohibits identified single-use plastic items of low utility and high littering potential nationwide
MoES's flagship 75-beach coastal clean-up drive (launched 2022) tackles the same marine litter problem this NCCR monitoring data quantifies
Would give India its first dedicated national policy framework for marine litter, building on the EPR and single-use plastics rules already in force
GS Paper 3 > Environment > Pollution & Conservation
Recurring Parliament-reply topic; environment/marine pollution is a steady GS3 theme
Abandoned, Lost or Discarded Fishing Gear — identified as a major source of marine microplastic pollution
Extended Producer Responsibility — obligates plastic producers to meet collection/recycling targets for packaging waste