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India’s Prime Minister calls for his nation's e-waste to enter 'circular economy,' also promotes subsidies to factories that make e-waste

(2020/12/09)


Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has called on his nation’s industries to get better at recycling electronics.

In a [1]speech to the Indian Mobile Congress 2020, an event staged by India’s Department of Telecommunications and the Cellular Operator Association of India, Modi suggested that India’s gadget lust has become a problem.

“Due to technological upgradation, we have a culture of replacing handsets and gadgets frequently,” he said, before asking: “Can the industry form a task-force to think of better ways of handling the electronic waste and create a circular economy?”

Modi didn’t explain the goals he hoped such a task force should pursue, or what success would look like for the hypothetical body.

Due to technological upgradation, we have a culture of replacing handsets and gadgets frequently

But the PM did mention the [2]production-linked incentive scheme that aims to lure electronics manufacturers to India by offering them subsidies that increase as production ramps up. Modi also pointed out that India is a low-tariff country that should therefore appeal to investors.

“We have achieved much success in mobile manufacturing in India,” he said, adding: “Let us work together to make India a global hub for telecom equipment, design, development and manufacturing.”

He did not link the call for development of a circular economy with India’s investment attraction efforts. Nor did the PM mention that China has banned imports of recyclable waste products nor the potential for India to either become an e-waste recycling alternative or to have its new manufacturers emphasize re-use.

Modi did reiterate India’s plans to digitize services, wire the nation, foster startups, and do it all faster with 5G. ®

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[1] https://pib.gov.in/PressReleaseIframePage.aspx?PRID=1679017

[2] https://www.theregister.com/2020/06/02/india_electronics_manufacturing_push/

[3] https://whitepapers.theregister.com/

The smiling Spring comes in rejoicing,
And surly Winter grimly flies.
Now crystal clear are the falling waters,
And bonnie blue are the sunny skies.
Fresh o'er the mountains breaks forth the morning,
The ev'ning gilds the oceans's swell:
All creatures joy in the sun's returning,
And I rejoice in my bonnie Bell.

The flowery Spring leads sunny Summer,
The yellow Autumn presses near;
Then in his turn come gloomy Winter,
Till smiling Spring again appear.
Thus seasons dancing, life advancing,
Old Time and Nature their changes tell;
But never ranging, still unchanging,
I adore my bonnie Bell.
-- Robert Burns, "My Bonnie Bell"