Government amends the Plastic Waste Management Rules to control pollution caused by single-use plastics

In 2019, the Prime Minster of India had expressed the Government's resolve to phase out all single-use plastics in India by 2022. During that year, India also piloted a resolution at the 4th United Nations Environment Assembly seeking to address the pollution caused by single-use plastic items. These actions reflected the Government's eagerness to check the adverse impacts of single use plastic on both terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems. In line with this, Government of India has taken various steps to control plastic pollution in India. Such steps include constitution of taskforces and preparation of comprehensive action plans at the Union and State/Union Territory levels for elimination of single use plastics and effective implementation of Plastic Waste Management Rules, 2016 ("Rules"). Most States and Union Territories have also announced partial or complete prohibition on use of plastic bags and/or single-use plastic items.