Policy Brief

Zero Draft Policy on Regulation of Nanoproducts in Agriculture

10 Nov 2017
| Dr Alok Adholeya
| Dr Ratul Kumar Das
| Dr Mukul Kumar Dubey
| Dr Mandira Kochar
| Dr Reena Singh

The use of nanotechnology in agriculture may help India meet challenges such as depleting soil health, rise in food grain demand and the need to make agriculture sustainable.

Discussion Paper: Restructuring the Environmental Governance Architecture for India

30 Oct 2017
| Ms Nidhi Srivastava
| Mr S Vijay Kumar

The Discussion Paper examines the current architecture of the main environment related legislations, namely the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986; Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980; The Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972; The Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974; and The Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981, in the context of the Constitutional provisions and the evolution of approaches to better environmental management, including those emanating from international conventions.

Discussion Paper: Why we need a New Mineral Exploration Policy for National Mineral Security

15 Jun 2017
| Mr S Vijay Kumar
| Ms Swati Ganeshan

Discussion Paper on Roadmap for Achieving Additional 2.5-3 Billion Tonnes CO2e Sequestration from Forestry Sector by 2030

17 Apr 2017
| Mr Jitendra Vir Sharma

In India, forests are considered as social and environmental resource primarily and more than 275 million people are deriving their full or partial livelihood and sustenance needs. India has stabilized its forest and tree cover but quality of forests is degrading due to unsustainable harvest of fuelwood and other minor forest produce. The Government of India has communicated to UNFCCC to achieve voluntarily additional 2.5-3 billion tonnes of CO2e by 2030 from forestry sector on October 2, 2015 and further ratified on October 2, 2016.

Designing a Business Model for Sustainable Management of End-of-Life Vehicles (ELVs) in India

28 Mar 2017
| Mr Nitish Arora
| Dr Shilpi Kapur
| Mr Souvik Bhattacharjya

This policy brief proposes a framework/business model for sustainable management of end-of-life vehicles in India. It not only suggest ways for collection and management of the ELVs, but also outline ways to obtain maximum economic benefits from their recovery, creating social values and preventing environmental degradation along with fulfilling the relevant legislations. over-lay

Significance of the Decision at Kigali: Implications for India

23 Mar 2017
| Swati Agarwal
| Mr Barath Mahadevan
| Mr Karan Mangotra

What lies ahead for India as countries undertake the Kigali amendment, and the innovative approaches required to meet the targets On October 15, 2016 nearly 197 countries got together to mark incremental progress in overcoming differences, drawing upon creativity, compromises, and trust towards finally reaching an agreement which is ambitious, balanced, and unique.

Position paper on Improving Inspection and Maintenance System for In-use Vehicles in India

03 Mar 2017
| Mr Jai Kishan Malik
| Dr Sumit Sharma
| Dr Arindam Datta
| Ms C Sita Lakshmi

The transport sector is an important contributor to pollution in cities. The sector accounts for a significant contribution in PM2.5 concentrations in most Indian cities. In Bengaluru, the sector accounts for almost 50% of PM2.5 concentrations.

Charging Power - Understanding Electricity Pricing and the Willingness to Pay for Electricity in India

15 Feb 2017
| Ms Bigsna Gill
| Ms Sonakshi Saluja
| Dr Debajit Palit

The issue of energy access and the associated willingness to pay for energy services has been extensively researched and studied globally as well as in India. To provide useful recommendations for future electricity-pricing debates, this study undertook a comprehensive literature review and stakeholder interviews to examine and quantify the existing evidence on the Willingness to Pay (WTP) for electricity supply in India. It compared these findings with the current electricity-pricing mechanisms to derive recommendations on future electricity pricing and subsidy policies.

Water Neutral Electricity Production in India: Avoiding the Unmanageable

14 Dec 2016
| Dr Shresth Tayal
| Dr Sonia Grover

Water scarcity has the potential to impact the financial viability of thermal power plants by affecting the project’s rate of return. This could be due to delays in project execution leading to cost escalation and revenue losses, as well as due to affects during the operating life of the project. During operations, any drop in plant load factor may reduce the revenues.

Discussion Paper on Faecal Sludge Management in Urban India: Policies, Practices, and Possibilities

09 Dec 2016
| Dr Syamal Kumar Sarkar
| Dr Girija K Bharat

Urban Sanitation and Need for Faecal Sludge Management (FSM) in India The Government of India has undertaken an ambitious social change endeavour of clean and open defecation free (ODF) India. Sustained efforts in this direction has improved the sanitation scenario in India, which in turn would help in achieving the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goal 6 of universal and equitable access to safe and aff ordable drinking water and adequate and equitable sanitation and hygiene for all.