Current Affairs Compilations for UPSC IAS Prelims 2022

Mains Oriented Articles

GS Paper 2

• On children’s right to protect their genetic information
• Justice.gov.in – On Court’s digitisation programmes
• How vikasvaad has lost out to centralisation of government
• One year of Ukraine war: India and France together for peace

GS Paper 3

• India’s R&D estimates are an incomplete picture
• A case that scans the working of the anti-defection law
• Can a centralized regulation help drug quality?
• New delivery mechanisms for genetic therapy will do us good
• Safe across borders: On Unified Payments Interface-PayNow link
• Disclosure gains – SEBI’s Proposal on listing

Prelims Oriented Articles (Factly)

• 60% of voters linked Aadhaar to voter ID: RTI
• More than 1.6 Lakh air travelers have taken benefit of Digi Yatra
• CSC Academy and NIELIT Sign MoU to Enhance Digital Literacy and skill development in India
• Himachal Pradesh to become first state in India to have organized cultivation of Mulethi
• NHAI to Explore Use of Phosphor-Gypsum in National Highway Construction

Mains Oriented Articles

GS Paper 2

On children’s right to protect their genetic information

News: Request for DNA test of children violates child fundamental right to privacy.

United Nations General Assembly in 1958,

“Mankind owes to the child the best it can give.”

How Children’s rights have evolved and what are the challenges they are facing now?

United Nation’s  Declaration of the Rights of the Child was adopted in 1959. It was aimed at ensuring basic rights to all children below 18 years.

India ratified the Convention in 1992 and over the years several laws have been enacted to protect the rights of children.

The advancements in digital technologies have helped in his objective on many fronts, from registration of births, creating a legal identity to health care.

However, technological development has also led to violation of rights integral to a harmonious upbringing of a child. For example, in many cases request for DNA test of children violates child fundamental right to privacy.

What is the judicial observation in this regard?

In a petition, a man questioned his second child’s paternity. In this case, judiciary held that Genetic information sheds light on a person’s essence. This “intimate, personal information” is part of a child’s fundamental right. So, Children have the right, not to have their legitimacy questioned frivolously before a court of law.

Forensic/DNA testing should only be used as a last resort.

Further, judiciary directed courts to acknowledge that children must not be regarded as material objects.

Justice.gov.in – On Court’s digitisation programmes

News: Supreme Court recently introduced live transcription of court proceedings on a screen and published the transcripts on its website.

What are the other digital initiatives of judiciary in India?

Other than that Supreme Court is already making use of virtual hearings and e-filing.

Digitisation of the Bombay high court library, with its 1. 25 lakh books and records, which date back to the 1800s. Other HCs have done their bit.

In 2021 Orissa HC started a Record Room Digitisation Centre, the country’s first, and by mid-2022 it had reportedly digitised almost 5. 2 lakh files.

Only last month Delhi HC introduced software for online inspection of digitised judicial files, another first.

And in a different kind of but equally important reform, Kerala HC recently published two judgments in a regional language, Malayalam.

What are the benefits of digitisation of judicial system?

Technology can make courts and records accessible to the general public, students, researchers and archivists.

It reduces their carbon footprint.

What are the challenges of digitisation of judicial system?

Digital system is also vulnerable to breaches. For example, AIIMS ransomware episode. Therefore, before digitisation security infrastructure must be made robust.

How vikasvaad has lost out to centralisation of government

News: India has taken up the G20 presidency and there have been talks about changing India. However, even among G20 nations, the condition of India is dismal.

This article discusses the reasons behind the dismal condition of India and provides an analysis of the vikasvaad of 2015.

Where does India stand amongst the G20 countries?

India’s per capita is lowest within the G20. The life expectancy in India is second lowest. More than 30 percent of jobs in India need just primary education and 70 percent of those in the workforce have no contract.

Hardly 35 percent of male population and 18 percent of the female population attain secondary education. India also has some of the most polluted rivers and cities.

Girls do not go to school in some areas while most cities remain unsafe for working women.

In all these matters, India stands at the bottom amongst the G20 nations and these all have brought into attention the vikasvaad of 2015.

What was Vikasvaad of 2015?

It was aimed to reform of the top bureaucracy of the country and revamp the central scientific agencies. Because, it is the top bureaucracy which determines the quality of people’s lives.

In India, through the IAS, IITs, IIMs and a network of central agencies are available. Power is concentrated in a few hundred top functionaries.

They are responsible for the conduct of most state functions such as managing irrigation systems, making railway engines, running universities or regulating hospitals.

The scientists and professors are responsible for the measurement, analysis and upgradation of most practices like estimating groundwater and tackling pollution.

The elite institutions, through their graduates, create new professionals, companies and agencies that bring modern services to the citizens of this country.

However, these institutions and top functionaries have not performed up to the expectations.

What are the issues with these top institutions and functionaries?

The IITs today are the same as in the 1990s, because they remain disconnected from the states they belong to. Most professors have little understanding of regional problems like floods and droughts, pollution, etc.

The IIT graduate is a global brand with little training or interest in nation-building or the temperament for working on hard scientific problems.

Further, the current IAS officers are incapable of performing well and as per changing demands of society because of their old-fashioned training and work culture.

This has been one of the reasons behind the failure of most of the departments in several states.

This has ultimately led to the coming up of a contractual system for government works. These are mostly taken up by the politicians and big contractors who provide low grade services.

Hence, the aim of the vikasvaad of 2015 was to dismantle this system. That could not be achieved.

Why were the aims of the vikasvaad of 2015 not accomplished?

There were various political reasons such as – a) it would diminish the power of the government by creating a more elite society, b) it would strengthen a diverse civil society, enhance awareness and free thinking on issues of education, health and culture, c) it would further develop the southern states which might affect the supremacy of central government controlling those states from the North.

One year of Ukraine war: India and France together for peace

News: Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has not only caused damage to Ukraine but has also affected the global economy along with disrupting international rule of law.

This article discusses the measures required by India and France to prevent the war like situations in the world.

What are the different measures required by France and India to improve the Ukraine’s conditions and tackle other issues?

First, there is a need to respond to the humanitarian emergency in Ukraine. India has already taken step by participating in the international conference which raised 1 billion euros for humanitarian assistance.

Second, there is a need to work towards diplomatic solutions. India has done this effectively by talking to Russia on key issues such as the safety of the Zaporizhzhya nuclear power plant.

Third, at multilateral level, there is a need to address the economic consequences of Russia’s war, uphold universal principles, and keep up global action on challenges such as climate change. India’s vision of “Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam” is needed in this regard.

Fourth, India’s G20 presidency will act as a voice for the world because India is an independent, major power whose voice is heard across all continents and which has the capacity to act as a bridge. France and India are working together to tackle key challenges of the world.

Fifth, at the bilateral level, India and France need to join hands together and address the issues of energy, food, technology or defence. France’s nuclear-powered aircraft carrier was also deployed in the Indian Ocean to carry out the “Varuna” joint exercise with the Indian Navy.

Hence, both nations should come together and improve bilateral relationship and become a force for global good.

GS Paper 3

India’s R&D estimates are an incomplete picture

News- India’s research and development expenditure ­GDP ratio of 0.7% is very low when compared to major economies. It is much below the world average of 1.8%.

What is the reason for low spending on R&D in India?

The main reason is the low investment in R&D by the corporate sector. While the corporate sector accounts for about two thirds of gross domestic expenditure on R&D in leading economies, its share in India is just 37%.

What are issues with GERD statistics in India?

Evidence suggests that India’s GERD data are an underestimate.

A 2022 report of the National Science Foundation of the United States on Foreign R&D by U.S.­based MNCs shows a spending of ₹649.7 on R&D in India in 2018.

But the DST has provided an estimate of ₹60.9 billion R&D spending in 2017­-18 by foreign MNCs. It is only about 10% of what U.S. firms have reported to have spent in India on R&D.

Why are GERD statistics underestimated in India?

The National Science and Technology Management Information System (NSTMIS) of the

DST is the agency that compiles GERD statistics in India.

It is easier to gather the information on R&D by the government sector, the higher education sector and public sector enterprises.

The challenge lies in collecting data from the private corporate sector. The method used for identification of R&D performing firms does not capture all the R&D performing firms.

The NSTIMS relies on the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research list of recognised R&D units and the database of the CMIE for this purpose.

The DSIR list may not have many of the actual R&D performers for two reasons:

1. Firms which consider government incentives as not attractive enough may register themselves with the DSIR.
2. It may be difficult for R&D firms in services such as software and R&D services to meet the requirement of having separate infrastructure for R&D to distinguish it from their usual business.

A study at the Institute for Studies in Industrial Development found that only 11% of firms receiving foreign investment for R&D purposes had been registered with DSIR. The CMIE database covers only 3.5% of the currently active registered enterprises in India.

The survey conducted by the NSTMIS is the key source of R&D statistics of India. For those firms which do not respond to the survey, the data is collected from secondary sources such

as annual reports and CMIE. This method will work only if firms disclose their R&D spending.

A review of the documents submitted to the Ministry of Corporate Affairs shows that there are firms which do not report any spending on R&D. But, their declarations suggest that they are engaged in activities of technology development.

What is the way forward to improve GERD statistics?

In the short term, NSTMIS should use the patents granted data, both in India and the U.S. in addition to its current method to identify R&D performing enterprises.

R&D statistics should not be confined to the responses to the surveys. Instead, annual R&D estimates can be prepared from mandatory disclosures by enterprises to MCA.

In order to ensure compliance and proper reporting, technologies can be used like in the case of revamped income tax return forms where various sections are interlinked.

Proper disclosure of information to regulatory agencies, including R&D spending data, should be made an essential component of the environmental, social and governance ranking of enterprises.

A case that scans the working of the anti-defection law

News- SC of India is presently hearing a set of cases related to political events in Maharashtra last year, when a breakaway faction of Shiv Sena formed government.

What are some facts related to anti- defection laws?

The anti-defection law was introduced into the Constitution via the Tenth Schedule in 1985.

Its purpose was to check increasingly frequent floor crossing; lured by money, ministerial berths, threats.

The Tenth Schedule stipulates that if any legislator voted against the party whip, he or she would be disqualified from the house.

While on the one hand this empowered party leadership against the legislative backbench, and weakened the prospect of intra­party dissent.

How has the 10th schedule worked in recent times?

The working of the Tenth Schedule has been patchy. In the last few years, there have been innumerable instances of mid-term toppling of government after a set of the ruling party or coalition’s own members turn against it.

This is power politics and not the expression of intra­party dissent. It is evident from the well-documented rise of “resort politics”.

Indeed, politicians have adopted various strategies to avoid the provisions of anti-defection law.  Recent examples involve mass resignations instead of defections to force a fresh election. There have been partisan actions by State Governors with respect to swearing in ceremonies and the timing of floor tests, and equally partisan actions by Speakers in refusing to decide disqualification petitions.

Why does the role of the Supreme Court become crucial in such cases?

Such cases place the Court in a difficult position.

The court has to adjudicate the actions of a number of constitutional functionaries: Governors, Speakers, legislative party leaders, elected representatives.

But the Court does not have the liberty of presuming dishonesty. It must maintain an institutional arm’s length from the political actors, and adjudicate according to legalities.

Why the role of SC in case of 10th schedule being questioned?

In recent years the Supreme Court has given multiple substantive judgments on anti-defection. But, the toppling of governments remains as frequent as ever.

Politicians find loopholes in Supreme Court judgments and Tenth Schedule. But, Some of these loopholes were easily foreseeable at the time. They were not addressed by the Court.

Can a centralized regulation help drug quality?

News- The Central government is planning to centralise drug regulation.

What is the current regulatory landscape?

The Central Drugs Standard Control Organization (CDSCO) is the apex regulatory body. It is responsible for approving new drugs, import of drugs and devices, clinical trials and laying down standards for drugs.

Each state has its own regulator as well, which is often conjoined with the food and drug administration in the state. It looks after licensing and auditing manufacturing facilities, and distribution and sale of drugs.

They also grant licence for manufacturing drugs that have been around for 4 years or more.

What is the new proposal?

It is likely a step toward centralization of drug regulation in India. Currently, drugs older than four years can be registered in one state and sold in another.

The health ministry may be planning a single centralized system for the registration of all kinds of drugs, under the CDSCO.

Will it have a bearing on export quality?

It will not have much impact. Drugs sold in the global market are subject to regulations of the buyer country. The US and Europe deploy vast resources to make pharma adhere to their own standards.

Poorer countries such as Gambia often rely on a list of manufacturers and inputs of the World Health Organization (WHO).

A centralized repository can aid in better monitoring.

Will it help improve drug quality?

Even if drug registration is centralized, the regulation for manufacturing will continue to be decentralized.

A plant is jointly inspected by the CDSCO and state regulators at the time of licensing of drugs, but regular auditing is usually done by state regulators.

Lower-level bureaucrats and inspecting officials need capacity- raising and training. India needs greater accountability at the manufacturer level to adhere to norms.

What else can be done to improve standards?

Along with tighter regulation of manufacturing, there is a need for a national policy on recall of drugs. If a drug is found to be substandard in one state and recalled by the regulator there, it is not necessarily recalled in other states.

It should be the job of the national regulator to ensure that a defective batch isn’t sold in other markets.

Last, the track record of prosecuting and penalizing drug manufacturers for violating norms is poor in India. It needs improvement.

New delivery mechanisms for genetic therapy will do us good

News- A biotech company called Aera Therapeutics has unveiled a type of protein nanoparticle that can be used to deliver all sorts of genetic medicines around the body.

What are the challenges associated with present genetic therapies?

The presently available genetic therapy technologies can only fix the genome in reachable parts of the body. Its reach is very limited. The liver, eyes and blood are the main places where cures might be possible.

These technologies largely rely on viral vectors and lipid nanoparticles. But they can only efficiently deliver to certain Zip codes. Lipid nanoparticles’ routes are largely limited to the liver and eyes.

These have other limitations, for example how much cargo they can hold. Some genes for fixing the diseases are too big to fit inside a virus. It can be tough to squeeze the instructions for making Crispr tools into a usable lipid nanoparticle.

What are some facts associated with the new protein nanoparticle unveiled by Aera?

It is capitalizing on a recent discovery about a class of human proteins that are relics of viruses that infected humans ages ago.

One of these proteins assembled into a protein shell of a virus particle that stored the RNA needed for making more copies of itself.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology scientist Feng Zhang saw in the discovery an opportunity to exploit the system to deliver genetic material of his choice.

His lab experimented on the human genome for other proteins that assemble into protective shells and probed whether they were capable of transferring RNA.

In 2021, they showed that one of the proteins, called PEG10 could be repurposed to deliver gene-editing tools. That work became the foundation for Aera.

So far, around 50 of these self-assembling proteins have been found. The protective shells these proteins form come in a range of sizes. It means that some might be better suited for

slipping across the blood-brain barrier.

They are also, in theory, adaptable. Scientists have gotten very good at engineering proteins to do specific jobs. So, it is reasonable to think Aera researchers could engineer the capsids to travel to specific organs or tissues.

Safe across borders: On Unified Payments Interface-PayNow link

News: Recently, India and Singapore enabled faster transfer of remittances between both countries by enabling integration of Unified Payments Interface(UPI) with Singapore’s PayNow.

Read more

The daily transaction limit is set at ₹60,000 or about SGD 1,000.

Significance of Cross-border integration of Payment Interfaces

1. It is the beginning of real-time cross-border person-to-person money transfers.
2. Singapore is home to a sizeable Indian diaspora as well as tens of thousands of migrant workers employed in Singapore.
3. It enables individuals to quickly and safely remit money. It will save them the hassle of running to bank branch or a wire transfer facility’s outlet or costly hawala transactions.
4. It will eliminate the use of external settlement currency like US Dollar.
5. Singapore has already established payment settlement facility with Thailand in 2021. It is also the member of larger five-member initiative among the central banks of Southeast Asian economies, to connect their domestic digital payment systems. India could become a part of this initiative.
6. Besides boost to regional trade and tourism, such a network would help India to further formalise the flow of inbound remittances.

Disclosure gains – SEBI’s Proposal on listing

News: The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) has proposed to tweak disclosure norms to improve transparency and streamline processes.

Amendments are connected to various aspects of SEBI Issue of Capital and Disclosure Requirements, or ICDR Regulations 2018.

Aspects included:

1. Underwriting public issues,
2. The preconditions for announcing a bonus,
3. The eligibility of pension funds to participate as anchor investors,
4. Providing material documents and contracts for inspection in the case of a public issue.

What are the changes proposed?

Underwriters: First, presently, investors don’t know, if appointment of underwriters is on a “soft” or “hard” basis. Soft basis means underwriter is only handling the technical rejections. Hard basis means underwriter will have to pick up a stake in the company, in case of under-subscription.

A hard commitment means underwriter has a stake and believes that the share price valuations are fair.

Proposed change: Any agreement with the underwriters regarding under-subscription and few related information should be mentioned in Red Herring Prospectus (RHP). It would give investors an idea of the underwriters’ commitment and fair valuation.

Bonus Shares: Bonus issues involve capitalisation of reserves or profits. However, it is seen sometimes that companies have not fulfilled the conditions of issuing bonus shares. For example, the company may have outstanding employee stock options or convertible debentures.

Proposed change: company should be allowed to issue a bonus only if it has received in-principal approval for all prior issues, including employee stock options and convertible debentures/warrants.

Pension funds: pension funds that are associates of the lead manager (LM) or sponsored by an associate of the LM may not participate as anchor investors.

Proposed change: If a pension fund hold a minimum corpus of Rs 25 crore, it should be allowed to participate as anchor investor.

Reports: Presently, material documents and industry reports are available at the issuer’s registered office only for a physical inspection.

Changes proposed: The papers should be available online, at the issuer’s website.

Prelims Oriented Articles (Factly)

60% of voters linked Aadhaar to voter ID: RTI

Source:  The post is based on the article “60% of voters linked Aadhaar to voter ID: RTI” published in The Hindu on 24th February 2023

What is the News?

The Election Commission of India has said that over 60% of India’s 94.5 crore voters in India have linked their Aadhaar number to their voter IDs.

Why are voter IDs being linked to Aadhar?

In December 2021, the Central Government passed The Election Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2021 which amended the Representation of the People Act, 1950 and the Representation Act, 1951 to implement certain electoral reforms.

The amendment stated that an electoral registration officer may require a person to furnish their Aadhaar number.

The amendments also stated that no individual will be denied inclusion in the electoral roll, nor have their names deleted from the roll if they are unable to furnish their Aadhaar number due to “sufficient cause as may be prescribed”. Such individuals may be allowed to provide alternative documents prescribed by the government.

Why does the government want to link electoral rolls to Aadhaar?

The government claims the linkage will solve the problem of multiple enrollments of the same person at different places. 

Once the Aadhaar linkage is achieved, the electoral roll data system will instantly alert the existence of previous registration(s) whenever a person applies for new registration. 

This will help in cleaning the electoral roll to a great extent and facilitate elector registration in the location at which they are ‘ordinarily resident’.

What are the arguments against the Aadhar-Electoral roll linkage?

Firstly, the amendment allows people to furnish alternative documents other than Aadhar on the basis of sufficient cause.

– But the option of showing another identity proof is only available to the voter if they don’t have an Aadhaar number. Hence, the option of being unwilling to furnish an Aadhar number if alternatives are available is not permitted.

– This is against the Supreme Court judgment in Justice K. S Puttaswamy v Union of India & Ors which dealt with the validity of the Aadhar card. According to the judgment, Aadhar cards can only be made mandatory if some benefit or subsidy is sought and not if there is an intrinsic right, such as the right to vote.

Secondly, the linkage poses a major threat to the independence of the Election Commission (EC) as the preparation of the electoral rolls is made dependent on the processes of Aadhaar, a process it has no control over.

More than 1.6 Lakh air travelers have taken benefit of Digi Yatra

Source: The post is based on the article “More than 1.6 Lakh air travelers have taken benefit of Digi Yatra” published in The Hindu on 23rd February 2023

What is the News?

The total number of passengers who have used the Digi Yatra process at the airports from December 2022 to February 2023 is over 1.6 lakh.

What is Digi Yatra?

Digi Yatra is a biometric boarding system using Facial Recognition Technology to provide a seamless and hassle-free experience for passengers at airports.

It enhances passenger experience by eliminating the need for verification of ticket and ID at multiple touch-points and provides better throughput through existing infrastructure using a Digital Framework.

Features:

Voluntary: The Digi Yatra is a voluntary facility. 

No data stored: In the Digi Yatra process, there is no central storage of passengers’ Personally Identifiable Information data.

– All the passengers’ data is encrypted and stored in the wallet of the passengers’ smartphones and shared only for a limited time duration with the airport of travel origin, where the passenger’s Digi Yatra ID needs to be validated. 

– The data is purged from the system within 24 hours of the flight.

Implementation: Digi Yatra is being implemented across airports in a phased manner.In the first phase, it was launched at Delhi, Bengaluru, and Varanasi Airports on 1st December last year. 

– The implementation of Digi Yatra under phase I is also planned at Kolkata, Pune, Vijayawada, and Hyderabad Airports.

CSC Academy and NIELIT Sign MoU to Enhance Digital Literacy and skill development in India

Source: The post is based on the article “CSC Academy and NIELIT Sign MoU to Enhance Digital Literacy and skill development in India” published in PIB on 23rd February 2023

What is the News?

CSC Academy, a subsidiary of Common Service Centre e-Governance Services India Limited, and NIELIT (National Institute of Electronics and Information Technology) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to enhance digital literacy and skill development in India.

What is the purpose of the MoU signed between CSC Academy and NIELIT?

The MoU aims to establish a long-term partnership between CSC Academy and NIELIT to jointly develop and implement initiatives that promote digital literacy and create employment opportunities in India. 

Under the MoU, the two organizations will work together to develop and implement training programs in various fields of technology such as Skill Development, Virtual Academies, Accreditation and Facilitation Centre, Digital and financial inclusion, Entrepreneurship development, and Provision of support to mutual partners, and NGOs.

What is CSC Academy?

CSC Academy is a subsidiary of Common Service Centre (CSC SPV) and provides digital literacy and skill development training to the rural youth of India. 

The organization aims to bridge the digital divide in the country and create employment opportunities for the rural population.

What is NIELIT?

NIELIT (National Institute of Electronics and Information Technology) is a premier institute in the field of information technology and is affiliated with the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology.

The organization provides training and certification programs in various fields of technology and aims to create a digitally literate society in India.

Himachal Pradesh to become first state in India to have organized cultivation of Mulethi

Source: The post is based on the article “Himachal Pradesh to become first state in India to have organized cultivation of Mulethi” published in TOI on 23rd February 2023

What is the News?

Himachal Pradesh has become the first state in India to start the organized commercial cultivation of Licorice (Mulethi).

What is Mulethi?

Mulethi commonly known as licorice, is an important sweet-tasting perennial shrub.

It has a sweet taste due to the presence of glycyrrhizin, which is 50 times sweeter than sucrose. 

Suitable climate for cultivation: The plant thrives in a dry and sunny climate and is cultivated in subtropical and warm temperate regions.

Uses: It is used as a natural sweetener in herbal medicines, flavouring in candies and tobacco. 

– It is also used in traditional medicines for treating chest and lung diseases, pneumonia, bronchitis, kidney and heart diseases, coughs, low blood pressure, liver toxicity and pancreatic disorders.

Cultivation: Mulethi is grown mainly in Afghanistan, while minor producing countries include Pakistan, China, Nepal and India.

– India imports 8,047 tonnes of liquorice annually from Afghanistan, China and Nepal.To reduce these imports, India has started the organized cultivation of Mulethi.

NHAI to Explore Use of Phosphor-Gypsum in National Highway Construction

Source: The post is based on the article “NHAI to Explore Use of Phosphor-Gypsum in National Highway Construction” published in PIB on 22nd  February 2023

What is the News?

The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has partnered with the Department of Fertilizers under the Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers. They will conduct field trials on NHAI projects for the use of Phosphor-Gypsum in National Highway Construction. 

What is Phosphor Gypsum?

Phosphor-Gypsum is a by-product of fertilizer production.

It has been found to be an effective material for road construction.

Note: An Indian fertilizer company has constructed a road using Phosphor-Gypsum. Based on the Central Road Research Institute’s (CRRI) report, the Indian Road Congress (IRC) has accredited Phosphor-Gypsum waste material, for road construction.

Significance: The use of Phosphor-Gypsum in road construction aligns with the principles of a circular economy. This process encourages the use of waste material to create new products, thus reducing waste and conserving resources. 

What are the other steps taken by NHAI to encourage the use of waste material in road construction?

Use of waste plastic: The NHAI has already tested the use of waste plastic in road construction, which has been found to be highly successful. 

– Studies have shown that roads built using plastic waste are durable, sustainable, and increase the life of bitumen. The construction of one kilometer of a four-lane highway helps in the disposal of approximately seven tons of plastic waste.

Use of Fly Ash: NHAI has been using fly ash, a fine residue of coal combustion in Thermal Power Plants (TPPs) for the construction of highways and flyover embankments.

– Notably, the 135 km long, six-lane Eastern Peripheral Expressway used 1.2 crore cubic meters of fly ash in its construction.