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Union Coal Minister G. Kishan Reddy announced India possesses an adequate coal stock for 90 days.
The government is developing an action plan to extract critical minerals from electronic scrap like refrigerators and air-conditioners.
This initiative involves collecting e-waste from towns across the country to recover valuable minerals.
The move aims to enhance resource security and promote a circular economy approach.
Critical minerals are elements essential for modern technologies, economic growth, and national security, whose supply chains are vulnerable to disruption. Examples include Lithium, Cobalt, and Rare Earth Elements, vital for electric vehicles, renewable energy, and defence. A circular economy is an economic model that aims to eliminate waste and pollution, keep products and materials in use, and regenerate natural systems, moving away from the traditional 'take-make-dispose' linear model. E-waste, or electronic waste, refers to discarded electrical or electronic devices. It contains both valuable and hazardous materials, necessitating proper collection and recycling to recover resources and prevent environmental harm.
Simple Analogy: Imagine a closed-loop system where old gadgets aren't just thrown away but are carefully dismantled to recover their valuable components, which are then used to make new products. This is like a circular economy, ensuring resources are reused rather than discarded, much like how a chef might reuse vegetable scraps for broth instead of throwing them out.
To regulate the management of e-waste, emphasizing Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) for manufacturers.
Key: Mandates producers to collect and channelize e-waste for environmentally sound management.
To ensure sustainable mining, reduce import dependence, and promote exploration of critical minerals.
Key: Focuses on attracting private investment and using advanced technologies for mineral exploration and extraction.
To promote sustainable lifestyles and practices, including responsible consumption and waste management.
Key: Encourages individuals and communities to adopt eco-friendly habits.
Domestic extraction of critical minerals reduces import dependence, aligning with self-reliance goals.
Ensures availability of raw materials for domestic manufacturing, boosting local production.
Promotes sustainable resource use, reduces environmental impact of mining, and supports green technologies.
Critical minerals are vital components for renewable energy technologies like batteries, solar panels, and wind turbines.
GS-III: Economy (Resource Mobilization, Infrastructure), Environment (Conservation, Pollution), Science & Technology (Developments and their applications).
General Awareness: Current Affairs, Indian Economy, Environment.
General Awareness: Current Affairs, Economic News.
General Awareness: Current Affairs, Environmental Issues.
General Awareness: Current Affairs, National Security implications of resource availability.
Local self-government can be best explained as an exercise in
Answer: Democratic decentralisation
Consider the following statements: 1. The Constitution of India classifies the ministers into four ranks viz. Cabinet Minister, Minister of State with Independent Charge, Minister of State and Deputy Minister. 2. The total number of ministers in the Union Government, including the Prime Minister, shall not exceed 15 percent of the total number of members in the Lok Sabha. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Answer: 2 only
Constitutional government means
Answer: a government limited by the terms of the Constitution
High, as resource security, e-waste management, and sustainable development are recurring themes in competitive exams.
Minerals essential for economic and national security, with vulnerable supply chains.
An economic model focused on eliminating waste and keeping resources in use.
Legal framework governing the handling and recycling of electronic waste in India.
A policy approach where producers are responsible for the entire life cycle of the products they introduce to the market, especially for their take-back, recycling, and final disposal.