Why in news
- Ministry of Mines partnered with the Materials Recycling Association of India to establish a circular economy framework for secondary recovery of critical minerals.
Key terms
Urban Mining
The process of reclaiming raw materials, metals, and minerals from waste products and scrap produced by society.
Circular Economy
An economic model focused on minimizing resource consumption and waste through continuous reuse, repair, remanufacturing, and recycling.
What is the critical minerals recycling ecosystem initiative?
- A strategic policy drive led by the Ministry of Mines to foster domestic recovery of critical and strategic minerals from End-of-Life products and electronic waste.
- Aims to reduce import dependency for minerals essential in clean energy technologies, defense electronics, semi-conductors, and advanced manufacturing.
Key focus areas
- Establishment of urban mining technologies and industrial-scale recycling facilities across India.
- Promoting public participation (Jan Bhagidari) in e-waste segregation and responsible disposal of technology hardware.
- Encouraging R&D collaboration between government agencies, recyclers, academic institutions, and startups for economic extraction of trace elements.
Why it matters
- Strengthens supply chain resilience for critical minerals against geopolitical disruptions and export curbs by primary producer countries.
- Mitigates environmental impacts associated with primary mining operations while advancing circular economic practices in heavy industry.
Prelims facts
- Secondary processing of e-waste and scrap is termed urban mining for critical mineral recovery.
- Ministry of Mines oversees both primary mineral development and secondary recycling frameworks.
Mains discussion
- Geopolitical security of critical supply chains and India's clean energy transition goals.
- Challenges and policy measures required to formalize India's electronic waste and recycling ecosystem.
Source: PIB
Same topic · past papers
UPSC has asked this before
These previous-year questions sit on the same topic. Open one to practise the earlier ask.
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2018 · Q121 · UPPGS
Which among the following is the secondary pollutant?