UPSC Exams
Latest Update
UP Police Head Operator Result 2025 UPSSSC Junior Assistant Admit Card 2025 Fastag Annual Pass 2025 UGC NET Answer Key June 2025 UGC NET Exam Analysis 2025 UGC NET Question Paper 2025 AP LAWCET Result 2025 UGC NET City Slip 2025 UPSC DAF 1 2025 Rajasthan PTET Answer Key 2025 UPSC Prelims Result 2025 UPSC IFS Result 2025 8th Pay Commission Salary Hike News UPSC 2024 Prelims Answer Key UPSC 2026 Calendar UPSC Admit Card 2025 UPSC Prelims Result Date 2025 UPSC Prelims Answer Key 2025 UPSC Prelims 2025 Expected Cut Off UPSC Prelims Exam Analysis 2025 UPSC Final Result 2025 UPSC Topper Shakti Dubey UPSC Application Rejected List 2025 UPSC Application Date Re-Extended UPSC Interview Date 2024 UPSC Notification 2025 UPSC Admit Card 2025 for Prelims UPSC CSE Prelims 2025 Question Paper UPSC IFS Notification 2025 Indian Navy MR Result 2025 Indian Navy SSR Result 2025
Coaching
UPSC Current Affairs
Syllabus
UPSC Notes
Previous Year Papers
UPSC Mains Previous Year Question Papers Last 25 Years UPSC Prelims Question Papers Last 10 Years UPSC Question Papers UPSC CSE Prelims 2025 Question Paper UPSC Mains 2024 Model Answers UPSC 2024 Question Papers UPSC 2023 Question Papers UPSC 2022 Question Papers UPSC 2021 Question Papers UPSC 2020 Question Papers UPSC 2019 Question Papers UPSC 2018 Question Papers UPSC 2017 Question Papers UPSC 2016 Question Papers UPSC 2015 Question Papers UPSC 2014 Question Papers UPSC CSAT Question Papers UPSC IFS Previous Year Paper UPSC Assistant Labour Commissioner Previous Question Year Papers UPSC Combined Geo Scientist Previous Year Paper UPSC APFC Previous Year Question Papers UPSC CMS Previous Year Question Paper UPSC EPFO Previous Year Paper UPSC Air Safety Officer Previous Year Papers UPSC SO Steno Previous Year Paper UPSC IES ISS Previous Year Question Papers
Mock Tests
UPSC Editorial
Bilateral Ties
Albania India Relations India Algeria Relations Andorra India Relations India Angola Relations India Antigua Barbuda Relations India Argentina Relations Austria India Relations India Azerbaijan Relations Bahamas India Relations India Bahrain Relations Barbados India Relations India Belarus Relations Belgium India Relations Belize India Relations Benin India Relations Bolivia India Relations India Bosnia Herzegovina Relations India Botswana Relations Brazil India Relations Brunei India Relations Bulgaria India Relations Burundi India Relations Cabo Verde India Relations India Cambodia Relations India Cameroon Relations Canada India Relations India Cayman Islands Relations India Central African Republic Relations India Chad Relations Chile India Relations India Colombia Relations India Comoros Relations India Democratic Republic Of The Congo Relations India Republic Of The Congo Relations India Cook Islands Relations India Costa Rica Relations India Ivory Coast Relations India Croatia Relations India Cyprus Relations India Czech Republic Relations India Djibouti Relations India Dominica Relations India Dominican Republic Relations India Ecuador Relations India El Salvador Relations India Equatorial Guinea Relations India Eritrea Relations Estonia India Relations India Ethiopia Relations India Fiji Relations India Finland Relations India Gabon Relations India Gambia Relations India Georgia Relations Germany India Relations India Ghana Relations India Greece Relations India Grenada Relations India Guatemala Relations India Guinea Relations India Guinea Bissau Relations India Guyana Relations India Haiti Relations India Holy See Relations India Honduras Relations India Hong Kong Relations India Hungary Relations India Iceland Relations India Indonesia Relations India Iran Relations India Iraq Relations India Ireland Relations India Jamaica Relations India Kazakhstan Relations India Kenya Relations India Kingdom Of Eswatini Relations India Kiribati Relations India Kuwait Relations India Kyrgyzstan Relations India Laos Relations Latvia India Relations India Lebanon Relations India Lesotho Relations India Liberia Relations Libya India Relations Liechtenstein India Relations India Lithuania Relations India Luxembourg Relations India Macao Relations Madagascar India Relations India Malawi Relations India Mali Relations India Malta Relations India Marshall Islands Relations India Mauritania Relations India Micronesia Relations India Moldova Relations Monaco India Relations India Montenegro Relations India Montserrat Relations India Morocco Relations Mozambique India Relations India Namibia Relations India Nauru Relations Netherlands India Relations India Nicaragua Relations India Niger Relations India Nigeria Relations India Niue Relations India North Macedonia Relations Norway India Relations India Palau Relations India Panama Relations India Papua New Guinea Relations India Paraguay Relations Peru India Relations India Philippines Relations Qatar India Relations India Romania Relations Rwanda India Relations India Saint Kitts And Nevis Relations India Saint Lucia Relations India Saint Vincent And Grenadines Relations India Samoa Relations India Sao Tome And Principe Relations Saudi Arabia India Relations India Senegal Relations Serbia India Relations India Sierra Leone Relations India Singapore Relations India Slovak Republic Relations India Slovenia Relations India Solomon Islands Relations Somalia India Relations India South Sudan Relations India Spain Relations India Sudan Relations Suriname India Relations India Sweden Relations India Syria Relations India Tajikistan Relations Tanzania India Relations India Togo Relations India Tonga Islands Relations India Trinidad And Tobago Relations India Tunisia Relations India Turkmenistan Relations India Turks And Caicos Islands Relations India Tuvalu Relations India Uganda Relations India Ukraine Relations India Uae Relations India Uruguay Relations India Uzbekistan Relations India Vanuatu Relations India Venezuela Relations India British Virgin Islands Relations Yemen India Relations India Zambia Relations India Zimbabwe Relations
Books
Government Schemes
Production Linked Incentive Scheme Integrated Processing Development Scheme Rodtep Scheme Amended Technology Upgradation Fund Scheme Saathi Scheme Uday Scheme Hriday Scheme Samagra Shiksha Scheme India Nishta Scheme Stand Up India Scheme Sahakar Mitra Scheme Mdms Mid Day Meal Scheme Integrated Child Protection Scheme Vatsalya Scheme Operation Green Scheme Nai Roshni Scheme Nutrient Based Subsidy Scheme Kalia Scheme Ayushman Sahakar Scheme Nirvik Scheme Fame India Scheme Kusum Scheme Pm Svanidhi Scheme Pmvvy Scheme Pm Aasha Scheme Pradhan Mantri Mahila Shakti Kendra Scheme Pradhan Mantri Lpg Panjayat Scheme Mplads Scheme Svamitva Scheme Pat Scheme Udan Scheme Ek Bharat Shresth Bharat Scheme National Pension Scheme Ujala Scheme Operation Greens Scheme Gold Monetisation Scheme Family Planning Insurance Scheme Target Olympic Podium Scheme
Topics
NASA Space Missions
NASA Mercury-Redstone 3 (Freedom 7) Mission NASA Mercury-Redstone 4 (Liberty Bell 7) Mission NASA Mercury-Atlas 6 (Friendship 7) Mission NASA Mercury-Atlas 7 (Aurora 7) Mission NASA Mercury-Atlas 8 (Sigma 7) Mission NASA Mercury-Atlas 9 (Faith 7) Mission NASA Gemini 3 Mission NASA Gemini 4 Mission NASA Gemini 5 Mission NASA Gemini 7 Mission NASA Gemini 8 Mission NASA Gemini 9 Mission NASA Gemini 10 Mission NASA Gemini 11 Mission NASA Gemini 12 Mission NASA Apollo 1 (AS‑204) Mission NASA Apollo 7 Mission NASA Apollo 8 Mission NASA Apollo 9 Mission NASA Apollo 10 Mission NASA Apollo 11 Mission NASA Apollo 12 Mission NASA Apollo 13 Mission NASA Apollo 14 Mission NASA Apollo 15 Mission NASA Apollo 16 Mission NASA Apollo 17 Mission NASA Skylab Orbital Workshop Mission NASA Skylab 2 Mission NASA Skylab 3 Mission NASA Skylab 4 Mission NASA Apollo–Soyuz Test Project Mission NASA STS‑1 Columbia Mission NASA STS‑3 Columbia Mission NASA STS‑7 Challenger Mission NASA STS‑8 Challenger Mission NASA STS‑41B Challenger Mission NASA STS‑41G Discovery (1st female EVA) Mission NASA STS‑51L Challenger (accident) Mission NASA STS‑26 Discovery (Return‑to‑Flight) Mission NASA STS‑31 Discovery (Hubble Launch) Mission NASA STS‑49 Endeavour (first capture EVA) Mission NASA STS‑61 Endeavour (Hubble Servicing 1) Mission NASA STS‑73 Columbia (microgravity) Mission NASA STS‑95 Discovery (John Glenn returns) Mission NASA STS‑107 Columbia (accident) Mission NASA STS‑114 Discovery (RTF‑2) Mission NASA STS‑120 Discovery (Node 2) Mission NASA STS‑125 Atlantis (Final Hubble Service) Mission NASA STS‑132 Atlantis Mission NASA STS‑135 Atlantis (Final Shuttle flight) Mission NASA Artemis I (Orion/ SLS‑1) Mission NASA Artemis II (Planned) Mission NASA Artemis III (Planned lunar landing) Mission NASA Mariner 4 Mission NASA Mariner 6 Mission NASA Mariner 7 Mission NASA Mariner 9 Mission NASA Viking 1 Orbiter/Lander Mission NASA Viking 2 Orbiter/Lander Mission NASA Mars Pathfinder & Sojourner Mission NASA Mars Global Surveyor Mission NASA 2001 Mars Odyssey Mission NASA Mars Exploration Rover – Spirit Mission NASA Mars Exploration Rover – Opportunity Mission NASA Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter Mission NASA Phoenix Mars Lander Mission NASA InSight Mars Lander Mission NASA Mars 2020 (Perseverance & Ingenuity) Mission NASA Mars Sample Return – SRL (planned) Mission NASA Pioneer 10 Mission NASA Pioneer 11 Mission NASA Voyager 1 Mission NASA Voyager 2 Mission NASA Galileo Jupiter Orbiter/Probe Mission NASA Cassini–Huygens Mission NASA New Horizons (Pluto & KBO) Mission NASA Juno Mission NASA Europa Clipper (planned) Mission NASA Parker Solar Probe Mission NASA Solar Orbiter (ESA/NASA) Mission NASA Surveyor 1 Mission NASA Lunar Orbiter 1 Mission NASA Lunar Prospector Mission NASA LCROSS Mission NASA LADEE Mission NASA Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO) Mission NASA CAPSTONE Mission NASA VIPER Rover (planned) Mission NASA NEAR Shoemaker Mission NASA Deep Space 1 Mission NASA Stardust Mission NASA Genesis Mission NASA Deep Impact Mission NASA Dawn (Vesta/Ceres) Mission NASA OSIRIS‑REx Mission NASA Lucy Mission NASA DART Mission NASA Landsat‑1 (ERTS‑1) Mission NASA Landsat‑5 Mission NASA Landsat‑9 Mission NASA Terra Mission NASA Aqua Mission NASA Aura Mission NASA Suomi NPP Mission NASA Sentinel‑6 Michael Freilich Mission NASA ICESat‑2 Mission NASA GRACE‑FO Mission NASA SMAP Mission NASA GPM Core Observatory Mission NASA CALIPSO Mission NASA CloudSat Mission NASA NISAR (NASA‑ISRO) Mission NASA Explorer 1 Mission NASA COBE Mission NASA Compton Gamma Ray Observatory Mission NASA Hubble Space Telescope Mission NASA Chandra X‑ray Observatory Mission NASA Spitzer Space Telescope Mission NASA WISE Mission NASA Kepler Mission NASA TESS Mission NASA Fermi Gamma‑ray Space Telescope Mission NASA NICER Mission NASA IXPE Mission NASA Roman Space Telescope (planned) Mission NASA NuSTAR Mission NASA GALEX Mission NASA Swift Mission NASA SOHO (ESA/NASA) Mission NASA Cluster II (ESA/NASA) Mission NASA TIMED Mission NASA STEREO‑A/B Mission NASA MMS Mission NASA IRIS Mission NASA Solar Dynamics Observatory Mission NASA X‑37B OTV‑1 (USAF/NASA liaison) Mission NASA X‑59 QueSST Mission NASA Mars Helicopter Ingenuity Mission NASA Valkyrie R5 Robot Mission NASA Low‑Boom Flight Demo Mission NASA CRS‑1 Dragon Mission NASA CRS‑1 Cygnus Mission NASA Crew Dragon Demo‑2 Mission NASA Starliner OFT‑2 Mission NASA STS-2 (Shuttle flight) Mission NASA STS-4 (Shuttle flight) Mission NASA STS-5 (Shuttle flight) Mission NASA STS-6 (Shuttle flight) Mission NASA STS-41C (Shuttle flight) Mission NASA STS-41D (Shuttle flight) Mission NASA STS-51A (Shuttle flight) Mission NASA STS-61C (Shuttle flight) Mission NASA STS-26 (Shuttle flight) Mission NASA STS-27 (Shuttle flight) Mission NASA STS-29 (Shuttle flight) Mission NASA STS-30 (Shuttle flight) Mission NASA STS-32 (Shuttle flight) Mission NASA STS-34 (Shuttle flight) Mission NASA STS-38 (Shuttle flight) Mission NASA STS-45 (Shuttle flight) Mission NASA STS-60 (Shuttle flight) Mission NASA STS-70 (Shuttle flight) Mission NASA STS-71 (Shuttle flight) Mission NASA STS-73 (Shuttle flight) Mission NASA STS-88 (Shuttle flight) Mission NASA STS-92 (Shuttle flight) Mission NASA STS-97 (Shuttle flight) Mission NASA STS-99 (Shuttle flight) Mission NASA STS-100 (Shuttle flight) Mission NASA STS-104 (Shuttle flight) Mission NASA STS-106 (Shuttle flight) Mission NASA STS-110 (Shuttle flight) Mission NASA STS-112 (Shuttle flight) Mission NASA STS-115 (Shuttle flight) Mission NASA STS-116 (Shuttle flight) Mission NASA STS-117 (Shuttle flight) Mission NASA STS-118 (Shuttle flight) Mission NASA STS-120 (Shuttle flight) Mission NASA STS-122 (Shuttle flight) Mission NASA STS-123 (Shuttle flight) Mission NASA STS-126 (Shuttle flight) Mission NASA STS-130 (Shuttle flight) Mission NASA Vanguard 1 Mission NASA Transit 1B Mission NASA Echo 1 Mission NASA Telstar 1 Mission NASA Syncom 3 Mission NASA ATS‑6 Mission NASA Skynet Mission NASA Nimbus‑1 Mission NASA Nimbus‑7 Mission NASA ERS-1 Mission NASA SeaSat Mission NASA QuikSCAT Mission NASA Jason‑1 Mission NASA Jason‑3 Mission NASA ICESat Mission NASA Earth Observing‑1 Mission NASA Orbiting Carbon Observatory‑2 Mission NASA CYGNSS Mission NASA PACE Mission NASA TRMM Mission NASA Terrestrial Planet Finder (cxl) Mission NASA Laser Interferometer Space Antenna (LISA) Mission NASA Explorer 33 Mission NASA Voyager Interstellar Mission Mission NASA Helios‑A Mission NASA Helios‑B Mission NASA ISEE‑3 (ICE) Mission NASA ACE Mission NASA DSCOVR Mission NASA IBEX Mission NASA Solar Orbiter Heliospheric Imager Mission NASA SAGE‑III ISS Mission NASA SPACE Telescope Imaging Spectrograph Mission NASA ARIEL (ESA/NASA) Mission NASA OSAM‑1 (Restore‑L) Mission NASA Dragonfly (Titan rotorcraft) Mission NASA VERITAS (Venus orbiter) Mission NASA DAVINCI (Venus probe) Mission NASA SPHEREx Mission NASA MAGGIE (Mars Geophysical) Mission NASA CLPS – Peregrine Mission NASA CLPS – VIPER Delivery Mission NASA CAPSTONE Mission NASA Gateway (HALO / PPE) Mission NASA Mars Telecommunication Orbiter (cxl) Mission NASA Mars Polar Lander (MPL) Mission NASA Mars Climate Orbiter Mission NASA Pathfinder Mission Mission NASA SLS Block 1B (Exploration Upper Stage) Mission NASA Orion Crew Module Mission NASA Commercial LEO Destinations – Axiom Station Mission NASA ISS Expedition 1 Mission NASA ISS Expedition 70 Mission NASA CRS‑11 (Dragon) Mission NASA CRS‑21 (Dragon 2) Mission NASA Snoopy CubeSat Mission

The Circular Economy: A Path to Sustainability

Download As PDF
IMPORTANT LINKS

In recent years, the concept of the Circular Economy (CE) has gained increasing attention as a way to address a range of environmental and economic challenges. With the growing recognition of the finite nature of many resources and the negative impacts of waste and pollution, the circular economy offers a more sustainable and resilient alternative to the traditional linear model of economic growth.

Governments, businesses, and other organizations around the world are increasingly exploring ways to adopt circular practices and transition to a more circular economy. The COP27 meet also brought to the fore the circular economy’s relevance in mitigating carbon emissions for India by ensuring responsible consumption and sustainable resource management.

Aspiring UPSC IAS exam candidates must give utmost importance to this article. To enhance your academic support, you can also consider joining UPSC coaching.

What is A Circular Economy?

A Circular Economy is the one where products are designed for durability, reuse, and recyclability, and thus almost everything gets reused, remanufactured, and recycled into raw material or used as a source of energy. It includes 6 R’s - Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, Refurbishment, Recover, and Repairing of materials. 

Circular Economy focuses on minimizing waste while maximizing utilization and calls for a production model aiming to retain the most value to create a system that promotes sustainability, longevity, reuse, and recycling. Though India has always had a culture of recycling and reuse, its rapid economic growth, growing population, impact of climate change, and rising environmental pollution, the adoption of a circular economy is more imperative now. CE can lead to the emergence of more sustainable production and consumption patterns, thus providing opportunities for developed and developing countries to achieve economic growth and inclusive and sustainable industrial development (ISID) in line with the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

FREEMentorship Program by
Ravi Kapoor, Ex-IRS
UPSC Exam-Hacker, Author, Super Mentor, MA
100+ Success Stories
Key Highlights
Achieve your Goal with our mentorship program, offering regular guidance and effective exam strategies.
Cultivate a focused mindset for exam success through our mentorship program.
UPSC Beginners Program

Get UPSC Beginners Program SuperCoaching @ just

₹50000

Claim for free

Global Response to Circular Economy:

Germany and Japan have used it as a binding principle for reorganizing their economies, whereas China even has a law on it (Circular Economy Promotion Law).

India’s Initiatives to Promote Circular Economy:

The 2022-23 Budget recognized the importance of sustainable growth and in sync with a circular economy, the government formulated:

  • Battery Waste Management Rules 2022
  • Plastic Waste Management (Amendment) Rules 2022
  • e-Waste Management Rules 2022 These rules set out target waste disposal standards for manufacturers, producers, importers, and bulk consumers, along with enabling transactions among stakeholders for Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) certificates. Action plans were also formulated across 10 sectors, including e-waste, lithium-ion batteries, end-of-life vehicles, scrap metal, municipal solid waste, etc., emphasizing the importance of reusing secondary materials.

What are the Roadblocks to Achieving Circular Economy?
  • Unclear Vision for CE: Despite the Government’s policy efforts, the progress has been underwhelming; one of the major challenges is the lack of a clear vision towards the end-goal of India’s circular economy mission and gaps in actual implementation of the policies. Also, the efforts for promoting CE are made at the very end of value chains, resulting in sub-optimal economic and environmental outcomes.
  • Reluctance of Industries: The Industries are reluctant in adopting the circular economy model due to supply chain limitations, lack of incentives to invest, complex recycling processes, and lack of information to support participation in reusing/ recycling/re-manufacturing processes.
  • Lack of Awareness and Understanding: Many people in India are not aware of the concept of a circular economy and its benefits, making it difficult to gain support for implementing circular economy initiatives.
  • Infrastructure Challenges: India's infrastructure is not well-suited to support a circular economy. For example, there is a lack of recycling facilities, which makes it difficult to recycle and reuse materials.
  • Cultural Challenges: There is a cultural resistance to the idea of reusing and recycling products in India making it difficult to change consumer behavior and shift towards a circular economy.

Check out the article Reserve Bank of India.

The Seven Pillars of the Circular Economy

The concept of the circular economy is based on a set of principles and practices that aim to minimize waste, maximize resource use, and create a more sustainable and regenerative economic system. These principles are often referred to as the "Seven Pillars of the Circular Economy," and they provide a framework for understanding and implementing circular practices. Let's delve into each of these pillars:

Design for Durability and Longevity

  • In a circular economy, products are designed with durability in mind, ensuring they have a longer lifespan.
  • Manufacturers focus on creating products that can withstand wear and tear and are easy to repair.
  • This reduces the need for frequent replacements and minimizes waste.

Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle

  • The three R's—reduce, reuse, and recycle—are fundamental to circular economy practices.
  • Reducing consumption and waste generation is the first step.
  • Reusing products or components extends their life.
  • Recycling materials ensures that valuable resources are recovered and used again in the production process.

Refurbishment and Remanufacturing

  • Refurbishing and remanufacturing involve restoring used products to like-new condition.
  • This process can apply to a wide range of items, from electronics to automotive parts.
  • It reduces the demand for new products and minimizes waste.

Recovery and Regeneration

  • The recovery of materials and energy from waste is a crucial aspect of the circular economy.
  • Technologies such as waste-to-energy and recycling play a significant role.
  • The goal is to recover as much value as possible from discarded materials.

Product as a Service

  • Instead of owning products, consumers can access them as services.
  • This shift promotes sharing and leasing, reducing the overall demand for products.
  • Companies are incentivized to design products that are durable and easy to maintain.

Sustainable Supply Chains

  • Circular economy principles extend to the entire supply chain.
  • Businesses seek to minimize waste and resource consumption at every stage of production and distribution.
  • Sustainable sourcing of materials is a key component.

Digital Technologies and Data

  • Digital technologies, such as the Internet of Things (IoT) and data analytics, play a role in optimizing resource use.
  • They enable better tracking of products and materials throughout their lifecycle.
  • Data-driven insights can inform decisions to reduce waste and improve efficiency.

Study the article Non Tax Revenue here

Examples of Circular Economy Practices

To better understand how the circular economy works in practice, let's explore some real-world examples:

Clothing Rental Services

  • Instead of buying new clothes, consumers can rent garments for special occasions or everyday wear.
  • This reduces the demand for fast fashion and decreases clothing waste.

Smartphone Refurbishment

  • Companies refurbish and resell used smartphones after thorough cleaning and repairs.
  • This extends the life of devices and reduces electronic waste.

Closed-Loop Recycling

  • Some beverage companies use recycled plastic bottles to produce new bottles.
  • This closed-loop recycling system reduces the need for virgin plastic.

Car Sharing Programs

  • Car-sharing services allow multiple users to access a single vehicle when needed.
  • This reduces the number of cars on the road and associated emissions.

Circular Packaging

  • Companies are exploring innovative packaging designs that can be easily reused, refilled, or recycled.
  • This minimizes packaging waste.

Click here to read the full article on India’s Gross Fiscal Deficit.

What Steps can be Taken to Promote Circular Economy?

Statutory Reforms: The challenges mentioned above may be overcome through legislative mandates for the procurement of recycled/ secondary raw materials in the initial stages of the production cycle, developing a unified legislation addressing the circular economy from a regulatory perspective. A streamlined framework on circular economy reporting, clarifying the mechanism surrounding the trading of EPR certificates, and providing fiscal incentives to businesses to complete the supply chain will also help.

Syncing Laws with Implementation Strategies: The government’s initiatives need to be in conjunction with implementable actions with industry collaboration to reap the benefits of the circular economy. A combination of the government’s current efforts along with relevant implementation strategies will instill a sense of confidence in businesses to adopt the circular model of production.

R&D Investments: The renewable energy industry should invest in the research and development of recycling technologies. Investments in R&D could help discover new ways of recycling that result in higher efficiency and a less environmentally damaging footprint. Industries should also explore technology transfers with global recycling firms for establishing domestic waste recycling facilities.

Technology Driven Recycling: The government should encourage R&D in the field of waste recycling at University and School levels to promote active participation of masses in technology enhancement in the field of waste management. Also, composting centers can be established in cities to reuse organic waste, which will enhance soil carbon content and eliminate the need for chemical fertilizers.

As India grapples with the challenges of sustainable development, the circular economy presents a promising framework for achieving economic growth while reducing the environmental impact. Through a combination of policy reforms, industry engagement, and public awareness, India can harness the potential of the circular economy to create a more sustainable and resilient future.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the circular economy represents a promising approach to addressing environmental and economic challenges. By embracing the Seven Pillars of the Circular Economy and implementing innovative practices, societies can transition toward more sustainable and resilient systems that benefit both people and the planet.

Testbook provides comprehensive notes for various competitive exams. To study more topics for UPSC, download the Testbook App now.

More Articles for IAS Preparation

Circular Economy FAQs

A circular economy reduces resource consumption, minimizes waste generation, and lowers greenhouse gas emissions. It helps protect ecosystems and biodiversity.

Consumers can support circular practices by choosing durable products, recycling, repairing items, and participating in sharing and rental services.

Challenges include changing consumer behavior, updating infrastructure, and transitioning industries to circular models. Overcoming these hurdles requires collaboration among stakeholders.

Innovation is essential for developing new technologies, materials, and business models that enable circular practices.

Yes, the circular economy can generate employment opportunities, particularly in areas such as recycling, remanufacturing, and sustainable supply chains.

Report An Error