Topic: Conservation, environmental pollution and degradation, environmental impact assessment.
5. The electronic waste, or e-waste, is becoming major a domestic and a global issue. Discuss the steps that must be taken to ensure safe disposal of e-wate in the country. (250 words)
Difficulty level: Moderate
Reference: Insights on India.
Why the question:
The question is part of the static syllabus of General studies paper – 3 and mentioned as part of Mission-2023 Secure timetable.
Key Demand of the question:
To mention the cause for the exponential growth of e waste across the world and effective measures to check it.
Directive word:
Discuss – This is an all-encompassing directive – you must debate on paper by going through the details of the issues concerned by examining each one of them. You must give reasons for both for and against arguments.
Structure of the answer:
Introduction:
Begin by giving few facts regarding the rising number of e waste production every year.
Body:
Firstly, highlight the various factors leading to high amount of e waste generation such as low product life cycle, technology getting redundant very quickly, low opportunities for repairs and recycles etc and impact of this on developing countries like India wand environment.
Next, suggest various measures to control and minimise the cause of e waste production, highlight some of the provisions of e waste management rules,2016 and also the benefits of recycling e waste.
Conclusion:
Conclude by stressing on the need for a quick and effective approach by the government highlighting the fact that recycling is a great way to extract precious metals and also curb burning of hazardous materials in the landfills.
