To expedite the transition of India from a linear to a circular economy, 11 committees have been formed—to be led by the concerned line ministries and comprising officials from MoEFCC and NITI Aayog, domain experts, academics and industry representatives—for 11 focus areas.
- The committees will prepare comprehensive action plans for transitioning from a linear to a circular economy in their respective focus areas. They will also carry out the necessary modalities to ensure the effective implementation of their findings and recommendations.
- The focus areas include 11 end-of-life products/recyclable materials/wastes that either continue to pose considerable challenges or are emerging as new challenge areas that must be addressed in a holistic manner.
- While increased manufacturing and changing consumption patterns will generate more employment and increase per capita income, the effects of such higher production on the environment must also be efficiently managed and mitigated.
- With only 2% of the world’s landmass and 4% of freshwater resources, a linear economy model of ‘Take-Make-Dispose’ would constrain India’s manufacturing sector and, consequently, the overall economy. Therefore, it is essential to recognize and revolutionize the material flow in the manufacturing process and shift towards a circular economy, which provides multipronged economic and ecological benefits.
11 Focus Areas
| S. No. | Focus Area | Concerned Line Ministry |
| 1 | Municipal Solid Waste and Liquid Waste | Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs |
| 2 | Scrap Metal (Ferrous and Non-Ferrous) | Ministry of Steel |
| 3 | Electronic Waste | Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology |
| 4 | Lithium Ion (Li-ion) Batteries | NITI Aayog |
| 5 | Solar Panels | MNRE |
| 6 | Gypsum | Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade |
| 7 | Toxic and Hazardous Industrial Waste | Department of Chemicals and Petrochemicals |
| 8 | Used Oil Waste | Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas |
| 9 | Agriculture Waste | Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare |
| 10 | Tyre and Rubber Recycling | Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade |
| 11 | End-of-life Vehicles (ELVs) | Ministry of Road Transport and Highways |
