Mentor’s Comment:

The  Union  ministry  of  environment,  forest  and  climate  change  amended  the  Plastic  Waste Management  Rules  (2016). Introduction should mention about the provisions of new rules as well as the harm caused by the use of plastic bags in India and also across globe.

Further, mention why such steps needed? Points like poor handling of plastic waste, issues with recycling, harm caused to animals when they eats them, non renewable sources, chocking into soil, causing pollution in water bodies, chemicals used in plastic bags harm the normal functioning of hormones in humans, with ban on plastic bags there will be rise of new business etc…etc…can form the better argument.

Further, mention the criticism/limitation of this step. Like production is not the problem, problem is littering and unregulated use, shutdown of industries will leave many unemployed, unavailable of other alternatives to consumers, unrealistic timeline for phasing out, also other alternatives like paper bags are not all environment friendly etc…etc…etc…

Next, mention way forward. Mention example of Kannur District and the initiative taken by Administration there. Increasing cost, reducing the GST on other alternatives of plastic, skill development in making other items bags like jute, cotton, coconut, bamboo etc…this will also give additional income to farmers. Coercive restriction will not help rather normative social influence bias can be leveraged to nudge Indian citizens away from plastic.

Conclude the points based on the ideas of main body.