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What is the Modi Government's vision of a circular economy?

Published By : Admin | February 24, 2024 | 16:48 IST

• India ranks seventh globally in Solid Waste Generation(SWG).
• The present rate of SWG in India is 0.34 kg per capita per day, which is expected to increase to 0.7 kg per day by 2025.
• India will generate 165 million tonnes of waste by 2030.
• Out of 8 million tonnes of plastic waste in the world's oceans, the Meghna-Brahmaputra-Ganges river system dumps close to 73 thousand tons, making it the 6th most polluting river system contributing to marine plastic waste in the world.

These are some of India's shocking statistics regarding waste management.

India is well on track to become the third-largest economy in the world. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has emphasized that Aatmanirbhar Bharat, or 'Self-Reliant India, ' will be a launch pad that will put India on a high economic growth trajectory that is inclusive and sustainable. With Self-Relaint India, the aim is to make the country and its citizens independent, and the vision is firmly rooted in sustainability.
Moreover, the circular economy is no longer a choice for India. With a rising population, urbanization, environmental challenges and international commitments, shifting towards a circular economy has become imperative for India. To quote William Shakespeare, "This above all: to thine own self be true," which means "be true to yourself," has been the guiding principle of the Modi government development agenda. If India grows without following the principle of sustainability, then such growth would be fictitious, as it would be unsustainable. Therefore, India's economic development must align with the principles of circularity, eliminating waste and pollution, circulating products and materials (at their highest value), and regenerating nature.

"India is making the circular economy a major tool for urban development." Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Post-budget webinar speech, 2023.
The circular economy presents an economic approach focused on minimizing/eliminating wastage while promoting the optimal use or complete reuse of resources. It emphasizes the significance of embracing a holistic view of products and processes. India should embrace practices aligned with the principles of the circular economy to enhance industrial productivity, competitiveness and efficient use of the resources. Being a resource-intensive economy with a large and rapidly growing population, India has a vast potential to be a global leader in the Circular Economy.

India's adoption of a circular economy pathway could yield substantial environmental benefits and a reduction in congestion, thereby reducing pollution. This, in turn, has the potential to catalyze economic growth. Advancing towards a Circular Economy is vital given India's Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) targets of reducing greenhouse gas emissions and fulfilling the commitments to the Sustainable Development Goals regarding responsible consumption and production. The circular economy is also a key pillar of the Mission Lifestyle for Environment (LiFE), proposed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to the global community, which aims to encourage individuals to adopt environmentally friendly sustainable lifestyles.

The significance of the Circular Economy, extended to producer responsibility and resource efficiency in achieving sustainable development, was underscored in the Delhi Declaration at the G20 Summit in 2023. This pivotal event saw the launch of the Resource Efficiency and Circular Economy Industry Coalition (RECEIC), signifying a collective commitment to promoting environmentally friendly waste management, significantly reducing waste generation by 2030 and emphasizing the importance of zero-waste initiatives.

The Modi Government is spearheading the movement to push India towards a circular economy through an environment-friendly, sustainable economic policy framework while taking the country on a high growth rate trajectory. It has notified several rules, including the rules on Plastic Waste Management, e-waste Management, Construction and Demolition waste management, and policy on Metals Recycling to promote a circular economy.

NITI Aayog, a government think-tank, has recommended various initiatives to promote sustainable economic growth. To expedite India's transition from a linear to a circular economy, NITI Aayog has identified 11 focus areas in waste management. The focus areas include 11 end-of-life products, which continue to pose considerable challenges or are emerging as new areas that must be addressed holistically. Concrete steps have been suggested by this body to tackle challenges related to utilizing waste as a resource and to develop a comprehensive policy framework to develop an advanced recycling industry in India.

The principles of the circular economy agenda in municipal solid & liquid waste have received a significant push with the launch of Swachh Bharat Mission-Urban (SBM-U) by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2014. The Mission is based on three fundamental principles or the 3Rs (reduce, reuse, recycle). It has achieved remarkable success as India has enhanced its solid waste treatment capacity from 18% in 2014 to over 68%. Significant progress has been made in utilizing fly ash and slag generated in the steel industry and other sectors.

Switching to a circular economy has several advantages and vast potential to increase industry competitiveness, contribute to the GDP, and boost economic growth. By 2050, India's circular economy is projected to reach $2 trillion. It is also expected to create close to 10 million jobs by 2050, stated CII in its 'National Circular Economy Framework' (NCEF).

Transitioning to a circular economy requires macro-economic level planning and bringing various stakeholders on board. The Modi Government's vision is clear: Circular Economy is the need of the hour, and it advocates adopting the 7Rs of the circular economy, encompassing Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, Redesign, Remanufacture, Refurbish, and Repair. These principles should guide the design of new ventures, business parks, and industrial clusters. With a stable and supportive policy ecosystem for a circular economy, India has the potential to emerge as a manufacturing powerhouse while fulfilling its commitment to climate change.

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6 Years of Jal Jeevan Mission: Transforming Lives, One Tap at a Time
August 14, 2025
Jal Jeevan Mission has become a major development parameter to provide water to every household.” - PM Narendra Modi

For generations, the sight of women carrying pots of water on their heads was an everyday scene in rural India. It was more than a chore, it was a necessity that was an integral part of their everyday life. The water was brought back, often just one or two pots which had to be stretched for drinking, cooking, cleaning, and washing. It was a routine that left little time for rest, education, or income-generating work, and the burden fell most heavily on women.

Before 2014 water scarcity, one of India’s most pressing problems, was met with little urgency or vision. Access to safe drinking water was fragmented, villages relied on distant sources, and nationwide household tap connections were seen as unrealistic.

This reality began to shift in 2019, when the Government of India launched the Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM). A centrally sponsored initiative which aims at providing a Functional Household Tap Connection (FHTC) to every rural household. At that time, only 3.2 crore rural households, a modest 16.7% of the total, had tap water. The rest still depended on community sources, often far from home.

As of July 2025, the progress under the Har Ghar Jal program has been exceptional, with 12.5 crore additional rural households connected, bringing the total to over 15.7 crore. The program has achieved 100% tap water coverage in 200 districts and over 2.6 lakh villages, with 8 states and 3 union territories now fully covered. For millions, this means not just access to water at home, but saved time, improved health, and restored dignity. Nearly 80% of tap water coverage has been achieved in 112 aspirational districts, a significant rise from less than 8%. Additionally, 59 lakh households in LWE districts have gained tap water connections, ensuring development reaches every corner. Acknowledging both the significant progress and the road ahead, the Union Budget 2025–26 announced the program’s extension until 2028 with an increased budget.

The Jal Jeevan Mission, launched nationally in 2019, traces its origins to Gujarat, where Narendra Modi, as Chief Minister, tackled water scarcity in the arid state through the Sujalam Sufalam initiative. This effort formed a blueprint for a mission that would one day aim to provide tap water to every rural household in India.

Though drinking water is a State subject, the Government of India has taken on the role of a committed partner, providing technical and financial support while empowering States to plan and implement local solutions. To keep the Mission on track, a strong monitoring system links Aadhaar for targeting, geo-tags assets, conducts third-party inspections, and uses IoT devices to track village water flow.

The Jal Jeevan Mission’s objectives are as much about people as they are about pipes. By prioritizing underserved and water-stressed areas, ensuring that schools, Anganwadi centres, and health facilities have running water, and encouraging local communities to take ownership through contributions or shramdaan, the Mission aims to make safe water everyone’s responsibility..

The impact reaches far beyond convenience. The World Health Organization estimates that achieving JJM’s targets could save over 5.5 crore hours each day, time that can now be spent on education, work, or family. 9 crore women no longer need to fetch water from outside. WHO also projects that safe water for all could prevent nearly 4 lakh deaths from diarrhoeal disease and save Rs. 8.2 lakh crores in health costs. Additionally, according to IIM Bangalore and the International Labour Organization, JJM has generated nearly 3 crore person-years of employment during its build-out, with nearly 25 lakh women are trained to use Field testing Kits.

From the quiet relief of a mother filling a glass of clean water in her kitchen, to the confidence of a school where children can drink without worry, the Jal Jeevan Mission is changing what it means to live in rural India.