Challenges and Solutions for Managing Solar PV Waste in India

Why in News?

Despite the efforts of Indian policymakers to transition to a circular economy, there is currently a lack of clear directives for waste management in the solar photovoltaic (PV) industry.

What is PV Waste?

• About:
  • Photo-Voltaic waste is the electronic waste generated by discarded solar panels. PV waste may contain hazardous materials, including heavy metals such as cadmium, copper, lead, antimony, and selenium.
  • PV waste are sold as scraps in India. It can increase by at least four-five-fold by the next decade. India should focus its attention on drafting comprehensive rules to deal with solar waste.
• Composition of Solar PV:
  • India’s solar PV installations are dominated by crystalline silicon (c-Si) technology. A typical PV panel is made of c-Si modules (93%) and cadmium telluride thin-film modules (7%).
    • A c-Si module mainly consists of a glass sheet, an aluminum frame, an encapsulant, a back sheet, copper wires, and silicon wafers. Silver, tin, and lead are used to make c-Si modules. The thin-film module is made of glass, encapsulant, and compound semiconductors.
• Status of India in PV Waste:
  • Globally, India has the world’s fourth-highest solar PV deployment. The installed solar capacity was nearly 62GW in November 2022. This leads to a huge amount of solar PV waste.
  • According to a 2016 report by the International Renewable Energy Agency, India could generate 50,000-3,25,000 Tonnes of PV waste by 2030 and more than four million Tonnes by 2050.

Can this Waste be Recovered or Recycled?

• As PV panels near expiration, some portions of the frame are extracted and sold as scrap, and junctions and cables are recycled according to e-waste guidelines.
• The glass laminate is partly recycled, while silicon and silver can be extracted by burning the module in cement furnaces. However, approximately 50% of the total materials can be recovered, and only about 20% of the waste is recovered in general, with the rest being treated informally.
• This growing informal handling of PV waste has led to waste accumulation at landfills, polluting the surroundings. Incinerating the encapsulant also releases sulphur dioxide, hydrogen fluoride, and hydrogen cyanide into the atmosphere.

What are the Challenges in Managing PV Waste in India?

• Informal Handling of PV Waste:
  • Despite some portions of the PV panels being extracted and recycled, a significant portion of the waste is treated informally, leading to the accumulation of waste in landfills and polluting the surroundings.
• Limited Market for Reusing Recycled PV Waste:
  • The market to reuse recycled PV waste is currently extremely small in India due to a lack of suitable incentives and schemes in which businesses can invest.
    • The lack of central insurance or regulatory body to protect against financial losses incurred in waste collection and treatment.
• Lack of Specific Guidelines for PV Waste Treatment:
  • Simply clubbing PV waste with other e-waste could lead to confusion, and there is a need for specific provisions to be formulated and implemented within the ambit of the e-waste guidelines.
    • Need for specific provisions for PV waste treatment within e-waste guidelines to avoid confusion.
• Hazardous Waste Classification:
  • The waste generated from PV modules and their components is classified as ‘hazardous waste’ in India.
    • Conducting awareness campaigns and sensitization programs about managing PV waste can help people understand the importance of properly handling hazardous waste. This will encourage more people to participate in proper waste management and disposal practices.
• Limited Local Solar PV-panel Manufacturing:
  • India needs to pay more attention to domestic R&D efforts as depending on a single module type will dis-uniformly deplete certain natural resources and stunt the local capacity for recycling and recovery of critical materials. The domestic development of PV waste recycling technologies must be promoted through appropriate infrastructure facilities and adequate funding.

What are India’s Initiatives?

• Draft EPR Notification: Plastic Packaging Waste.
• Plastic Waste Management Amendment Rules, 2021.
• E-Waste (Management) Rules, 2016.
• E-waste (Management) Amendment Rules, 2018.
• Central Pollution Control Board.

Why should India Act now?

• India is expected to generate a vast amount of PV waste over the next 20 years, making it one of the top five leading photovoltaic waste producers worldwide by 2050.
  • Therefore, India needs to install clear policy directives, well-established recycling strategies, and greater collaboration to prepare for this new challenge. By addressing the gaps in PV waste management, India can achieve its goal of a circular economy and effective waste management while promoting sustainable development.

Source: TH

International Court of Justice and Climate Change

Why in News?

The United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) has asked the International Court of Justice (ICJ) by passing a Resolution to give its opinion on countries’ obligations towards Climate Change based on the U.N. Framework Convention for Climate Change (UNFCCC).

• The resolution was pushed through by one of the smallest countries in the world, the Pacific Island of Vanuatu, an island that was devastated in 2015 by the effects of Cyclone Pam, believed to have been spurred by climate change, that wiped out 95% of its crops and affected two-thirds of its population.

What does the Resolution Seek?

• The UNGA asked the ICJ to answer two questions,
  • What are the obligations of states under international law to ensure the protection of the climate system for present and future generations?
  • What are the legal consequences under these obligations for states where they, by their acts and omissions, have caused significant harm to the climate system, particularly for Small Island Developing States (SIDS) and for people who are harmed.
• The resolution refers to international agreements like the Paris Agreement and the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).
• The ICJ will take around 18 months to give its opinion.

What is India’s Position?

• India has not taken a clear stance on the UN resolution, but it generally supports climate justice and accountability for Global Warming.
• The Indian government has referred the resolution to legal authorities to assess its implications and international ramifications.
• India has updated its NDC (Nationally Determined Contributions) commitments and plans to source half its electricity from renewable sources by 2030, but it did not co-sponsor the draft resolution.
• India is closely watching how major powers like the U.S. and China respond to the resolution, as their support is crucial for its implementation.
• India has emphasized that the ICJ process can only address climate change issues broadly and cannot name or profile any one country, also stressing that any attempt to impose an opinion in a "top-down" manner would be resisted.

Is the Advisory Opinion of the ICJ Binding?

• The advisory opinion of the ICJ would not be legally binding as a judgment, but it would carry legal weight and moral authority.
• It could provide important clarification on international environmental laws and streamline the process for issues related to climate finance, climate justice, and the loss and damages fund at the COP process.
• Past advisory opinions given by the ICJ, such as those on the Palestinian issue and the dispute between the U.K. and Mauritius over the Chagos Islands, have been respected.

Source: TH

Open-Source Seeds Movement

Why in News?

With declining public sector breeding and rising dominance of private sector in seed sector, the concept of Open-Source Seeds becomes increasingly relevant.

• 'Open-Source seeds' was first suggested by a Canadian plant-breeder - T.E. Michaels in 1999 based on the principles of Open-Source Software.
• Farmers have been sharing and innovating on seeds for centuries without claiming exclusive rights or intellectual property, similar to how programmers have been sharing and innovating on software.

What are Plant Breeders’ Rights?

• The growth of the commercial seed industry, scientific plant-breeding, and the advent of hybrid seeds led to the establishment of Plant Breeders' Rights (PBR) in many countries.
• Under the PBR regime, plant breeders and developers of new varieties have the exclusive right to demand royalties on seeds and legally enforce PBRs.
• This limited the rights of farmers to use and reuse seeds and restricted their ability to innovate.
• The establishment of the World Trade Organization (WTO) in 1994 and the Trade-Related IPR Agreement (TRIPS) cast a global IPR regime over plant varieties.
  • TRIPS required countries to provide at least one form of IP protection for plant varieties, which raised concerns about the freedom to innovate.
• The Green Revolution was spearheaded by public-sector breeding institutions and seeds were available as ‘open pollinated varieties’, or as reasonably priced hybrids with no restrictions on farmers to cultivate, reuse and share.
• But the genetic revolution in agriculture was led by the private sector, with seeds mostly made available as hybrids and/or protected by strong IPRs.

How is IP Protected in Agriculture?

• There are two forms of IPR protection in agriculture: plant-breeders’ rights and patents.
• Together, they restrict farmers’ rights and the freedom to develop new varieties using germplasm from IP-protected varieties.
• They have thus further consolidated the seed sector and increased the number of plant varieties covered by IPRs.

What are Open Source Seeds?

• Need:
  • The high prices of genetically modified seeds and IP claims triggered many problems, including the State’s intervention on Bt cotton seeds in India. As public sector breeding declined and the private sector began to dominate the seed sector, the need for alternatives became keenly felt.
  • This is when the success of open-source software inspired a solution
• Open-Source Model:
  • An open-source model was proposed in 2002 by scientists for seeds and plant varieties, calling it the “BioLinux model”, and scholars and civil-society members alike discussed and built on it.
  • In 2012, Jack Kloppenburg launched the Open Source Seeds Initiative (OSSI) in Wisconsin.
  • It can be used in farmer-led seed conservation and distribution systems. There are many traditional-variety conservation and sharing initiatives in India, including those involving farmers.
  • It can also be used to promote farmer-led participatory plant-breeding exercises.
  • Traditional varieties often lack uniformity and aren’t of excellent quality. Open source principles can help overcome these two challenges by facilitating testing, improvisation, and adoption – all of which will ultimately be beneficial to India’s food security and climate resilience.

Are there such Initiatives in India?

• In India, the Hyderabad-based Centre for Sustainable Agriculture (CSA), part of the Apna Beej Network, developed a model incorporated into an agreement between CSA and the recipient of the seed/germplasm. It is trying to use this approach through three farmer producer organisations (FPOs).
• Worldwide, the number of seed firms using open-source models and the crop varieties and seeds made available thereunder is small but growing. India is yet to test and adopt it widely.
• Under the Plant Variety Protection and Farmers’ Rights Act (PPVFRA) 2001, farmers can register varieties as ‘farmer varieties’ if they meet certain conditions, and have the right to reuse, replant, and exchange seeds.
• However, they can’t breed and trade in varieties protected under the Act for commercial purposes.

Way Forward

• Using the open-source approach will enable farmers to gain more rights over germplasm and seeds and facilitate innovation.
• So there is a need to test this approach with farmers and the three FPOs can take the lead.

Source: TH

China, Japan Set Up Military Hotline

Why in News?

Recently, China and Japan set up military hotlines (a direct phone line set up for a specific purpose) to manage maritime, air incidents over disputed islands (Senkaku Island).

• China and Japan have a long-festering dispute over uninhabited East China Sea islands controlled by Japan but claimed by China.

Why was the Hotline Established?

• This move was made to strengthen their capability of managing and controlling incidents arising due to their aggressive patrolling of the disputed waters.
• The hotline will enrich the communication channels between the defence departments of China and Japan, strengthen the capabilities of the two sides to manage and control maritime and air crises, and help maintain regional peace and stability.
• This move will further maintain regional peace and stability.

What is the Senkaku Island Dispute?

• About:
  • The Senkaku Island dispute concerns a territorial dispute over a group of uninhabited islands known as:
    • Senkaku Islands in Japan,
    • Diaoyu Islands in China, and
    • Tiaoyutai Islands in Taiwan.
  • Both Japan and China claim ownership of these islands.
• Location:
  • Eight uninhabited islands lie in the East China Sea. They have a total area of about 7 sq km and lie northeast of Taiwan.
• Strategic Importance:
  • Islands are close to strategically important shipping lanes, offer rich fishing grounds and are thought to contain oil deposits.
• Japan's Claim:
  • After World War II, Japan renounced claims to a number of territories and islands including Taiwan in the 1951 Treaty of San Francisco.
  • But under the treaty, the Nansei Shoto islands came under USA trusteeship and were then returned to Japan in 1971.
  • Japan says that Senkaku islands are part of the Nansei Shoto islands and hence they also belong to Japan.
  • Besides, China raised no objections to the San Francisco deal.
  • Only since 1970s, when the issue of oil resources in the area emerged, Chinese and Taiwanese authorities began pressing their claims.
• China's Claim:
  • These Islands have been part of its territory since ancient times, serving as important fishing grounds administered by the province of Taiwan.
  • When Taiwan was returned in the Treaty of San Francisco, China said the islands as part of it – should also have been returned.
• Taiwan Claims:
  • Taiwan claims the islands but has forged agreements with Japan to avoid any conflict as Japan maintains close defence ties with Taipei.
  • Despite the ongoing dispute, Japan maintains close defence ties with Taiwan.

Source: IE

Megafauna Bias Hampers Carnivore Conservation Efforts

Why In News?

India's carnivore research is focusing too much on larger and more popular species, leading to a lack of understanding of smaller and less well-known carnivores. This gap in knowledge is hindering conservation efforts in the country.

Why are Carnivores Important for Conservation?

• Carnivores dominate the food web, playing a crucial role in maintaining ecological balance. Despite their importance, carnivores are among the most threatened mammals in the world.
• Hence, substantial research and conservation resources are invested in studying, protecting, and managing carnivore populations, globally.

What is India's Carnivore Conservation Status?

• India is home to 23% of the world’s carnivore population, belonging to 60 species.
• However, a review of studies published since 1947 shows that the impact of the 70 years of research on charismatic species on their conservation status and policies in the country has been far from satisfactory.
• The wild cat family, particularly the tiger, dominates carnivore literature in the country. Other top carnivores that have received a substantial research focus include the Indian leopard, golden jackal, dhole, and jungle cat.
  • However, the quality of studies on smaller and less charismatic carnivores has generally been poor.

What is the Impact of Research on Carnivores in India?

• Scientific research on tigers has led to the establishment of Project Tiger in 1973 and helped in the establishment of tiger reserves in 50 locations across the country.
• Research has provided evidence against the construction or expansion of highways through tiger habitats in litigation, such as through Bandipur Tiger Reserve, Kanha-Pench tiger corridor, and Bhagwan Mahavir Wildlife Sanctuary.
  • Research data has contested the ambitious Ken-Betwa river interlinking project, which is likely to submerge a major portion of the core area of the Panna Tiger Reserve in Madhya Pradesh.
• Research on the Indian leopard has resulted in the formulation of national guidelines on human-leopard conflict mitigation.
• It is found that the wild cat family, particularly the tiger, dominates carnivore literature in the country. The Indian leopard, golden jackal, dhole, and jungle cat are the other top carnivores that have received a substantial research focus.
• But the quality of studies on smaller and less charismatic carnivores has generally been poor.

Why is Research on Smaller and Less Charismatic Carnivores Important?

• Research on smaller and less charismatic carnivores is important as it helps in understanding the important link between carnivores and their ecological communities and ecosystems, which has implications for human sustenance.
• Small cat carnivores execute important ecological functions like controlling rodent populations, known to be agricultural pests and disease carriers, dispersing seeds, and maintaining forest ecosystems.
  • Civets are known to disperse seeds and help in maintaining forest ecosystems.

What are the Challenges in Carnivore Research and Conservation in India?

• Wetland conservation remains under-prioritized, and grassland ecosystems, which give refuge to critically threatened species like the caracal, are also sidelined in research and conservation.
• There is a decline in natural history studies, the basic steppingstone to understanding species ecology, expedited by a parallel reduction in journals that publish such studies.
• Policies are often driven by political influences and misplaced priorities, and scientific recommendations are disregarded.
• Limited interdisciplinary studies in carnivore literature hinder the development of socio-ecologically sensitive policies.
• Bureaucratic hurdles need to be eliminated to benefit non-government agencies and independent researchers.

What Steps can be Taken to Improve Carnivore Conservation in India?

• Increased funding for research on smaller and less charismatic carnivores to raise their profile and focus attention on their vulnerable and threatened habitats in India’s conservation policies.
• Interdisciplinary research with a collaborative and constructive approach by roping in communities to encourage socio-ecologically sensitive policies.
• Frameworks like biodiversity heritage sites under the Indian Biological Diversity Act (2002) or community reserves under the Indian Wildlife Protection Act (1972) facilitate the maintenance of socio-ecological systems by fostering local stewardship and ultimately democratising carnivore research.

Source: DTE

Stand-Up India Scheme

Why in News?

Recently, the Prime Minister of India has acknowledged the role that the Stand-Up India initiative has played in empowering the SC/ ST communities and ensuring women empowerment.

What are the Key Details of the Stand-Up India Scheme?

• About:
  • Stand up India Scheme was launched by Ministry of Finance on 5^th April 2016 to promote entrepreneurship at grassroot level focusing on economic empowerment and job creation.
  • This scheme has been extended up to the year 2025.
• Purpose:
  • Promote entrepreneurship amongst women, Scheduled Caste (SC) and Scheduled Tribe (ST) category.
  • Provide loans for greenfield enterprises in manufacturing, services or the trading sector and activities allied to agriculture.
  • Facilitate bank loans between Rs.10 lakh and Rs.100 lakh to at least one SC/ST borrower and at least one-woman borrower per bank branch of Scheduled Commercial Banks.
• Facilitates Bank Loans:
  • The scheme aims to encourage all bank branches in extending loans. The desiring applicants can apply under the scheme:
    • Directly at the branch or,
    • Through Stand-Up India Portal (www.standupmitra.in) or,
    • Through the Lead District Manager (LDM).
• Eligibility for a Loan:
  • SC/ST and/or women entrepreneurs, above 18 years of age.
  • Loans under the scheme are available for only green field projects. Green field signifies, in this context, the first-time venture of the beneficiary in manufacturing, services or the trading sector and activities allied to agriculture.
  • In case of non-individual enterprises, 51% of the shareholding and controlling stake should be held by either SC/ST and/or Women Entrepreneur.
  • Borrowers should not be in default to any bank/financial institution.
  • The Scheme envisages ‘up to 15%’ margin money which can be provided in convergence with eligible Central/State schemes.
    • In any case, the borrower shall be required to bring in a minimum of 10 % of the project cost as own contribution.
• Achievements:
  • Rs.40,710 crore has been sanctioned under Stand-Up India Scheme to 180,636 accounts in the last 7 years.
    • More than 80% of loans given under this scheme have been provided to women.

Source: PIB

Biotech-KISAN Scheme

Why in News?

The Biotech-Krishi Innovation Science Application Network (KISAN) scheme has been successful in providing benefits to over 1 lakh 60 thousand farmers in the last one year.

What is Biotech-KISAN Scheme?

• About: Biotech-KISAN scheme is a farmer-centric scheme for farmers, launched in 2017, developed by and with farmers under the Department of Biotechnology, Ministry of Science and Technology.
  • It is a pan-India program, following a hub-and-spoke model and stimulates entrepreneurship and innovation in farmers and empowers women farmers.
  • It has a unique feature to identify and promote local farm leadership in both genders.
    • Such leadership helps to develop science-based farming besides facilitating the transfer of knowledge.
  • Biotech-KISAN Hubs have been established covering all 15 agroclimatic zones and Aspirational Districts in the country.
• Aim: The programme links available science and technology to the farm by first understanding the problem of the local farmer and then providing scientific solutions to those problems.
  • The Biotech-KISAN hubs are expected to fulfill the technology required to generate agriculture and bio-resource related jobs and better livelihood ensuring biotechnological benefits to small and marginal farmers.
• Counseling and Demonstrations:
  • Under the scheme farmers are provided counseling and demonstrations on improved seed, planting stock of vegetable, interventions for use of plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR’s)/bio-fertilizers, irrigation & protected cultivation technologies.
  • Improved livestock (goat, pig), poultry and fishery as well as health management of livestock/poultry are also covered under it.

Source: PIB

Rapid Fire Current Affairs

Olive Crown Awards

The 13^th edition of the Olive Crown Awards was held in Mumbai, India, to commend individuals and corporates that promoted sustainability or ‘green advertising’. This award is awarded by the International Advertising Association. The awards featured 17 categories, including ‘Green Agency of the Year’ and ‘Green Campaign of the Year’. Notable winners included P. N. Mohan, who won the coveted ‘Green Crusader of the Year award for his commitment to restoring seven lakes near Chennai. Kirloskar Limitless received the gold award in the ‘Corporate Crusader of the Year’ category for their work on ‘A Minute for Nature’. Famous Innovations won 10 awards across categories, while Chirag Rural Development Foundation and People for Animals Wildlife Rescue and Conservation Centre were awarded the gold prize in the ‘Green NGO of the Year' category.

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India achieves 100% Rice Fortification target

As part of the Rice Fortification Program, 269 districts in 27 states in India have achieved a 100% target for Phase II by March 2023 in the distribution of fortified rice under the Targeted Public Distribution System (TPDS). This program aims to supply fortified rice in every Social Safety Net Scheme of the Centre throughout the country by 2024 in a phased manner. During Phase II of the Rice Fortification Programme, 105 Lakh Metric Tonnes of fortified rice was lifted and distributed to 27 states/union territories under the TPDS, while about 29 LMT was lifted by states/UTs under Integrated Child Development Services and PM POSHAN. In total, about 134 LMT of fortified rice was lifted in 2022-23. The department is now preparing for Phase III to complete the coverage of all remaining districts, except for those that consume wheat, before the targeted date of March 2024.

Fortification is the process of enhancing the nutritional value of staple foods like rice, by adding important vitamins and minerals including iron, iodine, zinc, Vitamin A & D. Before processing, these nutrients may or may not have been present in the food.

Read more: Public Distribution System (TPDS)

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Konda Reddi Tribe

The Polavaram-Konda Reddi clan is experiencing cultural shock as the Godavari river does not flow through their new settlements. Pochavaram village is scheduled to undergo rehabilitation as part of the Polavaram irrigation project's Resettlement and Rehabilitation (R&R). The Konda Reddis, classified as a Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Group (PVTG) in Andhra Pradesh, They inhabit on both the banks of the Godavari River (East and West Godavari districts), in the hilly forest region of Khammam (Telangana) and Srikakulam (Andhra Pradesh). They live in the interior forest areas largely cut off from the mainstream. Traditionally, they were shifting cultivators and recently, some of them have adopted settled agriculture and horticulture. Collection of non-timber forest products and basket-making supplement the sources of their livelihood.

Read more: Konda Reddi Tribe

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Thira Dance

Thirra, also known as Theyyam thira, is a ritual dance performed in the groves and temples of the Malabar region in Kerala, India. This art form is performed by the artists of the Malaya community, known as "perumalayans." It is usually performed during the annual temple festival known as Utsavam. Clan deities such as Bhagavathi and Shiva are worshipped in these forms. Thira is a sub-division of Theyyam and is similar to the Theyyam dance, except that in Thira, the performer is considered to be possessed by the god rather than representing the god. The objective of Thira is to bring the gods to life. Toddy, an alcoholic drink, plays a significant role in the proceedings as an offering to the gods, and almost all the performers dance under its influence, which helps create the feeling of being "possessed." The performers belong to the Peruvannan caste, who are given prime importance in Thira. Both upper caste Brahmins and lower caste tribals have an important place in worship in Kerala.