GS3 › Pollution and Environmental Governance

Revision note: Water, Soil and Waste Pollution: Plastics, E-waste and Solid Waste

Sewage ~72,000 MLD, ~28–30% treated; BOD (bathing ≤ 3 mg/l), DO ≥ 5 mg/l; 311 polluted stretches (2022)
Water Act 1974 (first; amended 2024); Namami Gange 2014 (NMCG; National Ganga Council chaired by PM)
Land degradation ~97.85 Mha (~30%; ISRO atlas 2021); restore 26 Mha by 2030; UNCCD COP14 India 2019
SWM Rules 2016 (segregation at source); new rules from Apr 2026; Indore model; GOBARdhan
Plastics: SUP ban 1 July 2022; carry bags ≥ 120 microns; EPR 2022; treaty talks failed (Busan 2024, Geneva Aug 2025)
E-waste ~1.75 MT (3rd largest); E-Waste Rules 2022 (from Apr 2023, EPR); Battery Rules 2022; Basel 1989; Mission LiFE 2021

Revision card summarising Water, Soil and Waste Pollution: Plastics, E-waste and Solid Waste — One-page visual summary of the key points to revise.

Source: https://upscprep.in/upsc/gs3/pollution-and-environmental-governance/water-soil-and-waste-pollution-plastics-e-waste-and-solid-waste/ · UPSCPrep.in