PIB · Government of India ·

Department of Pharmaceuticals Launches Special Campaign 4.0 for Scientific E-Waste Management and Disposal of Pending Matters

Distilled Policy Brief

  • The campaign focuses on disposing of 1,011 obsolete electronic items (including IT, telecom, and laboratory equipment) through recyclers registered with the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC).

🎯 Prelims High-Yield Examination Points

National SCDPM Portal and MoEFCC guidelines for authorized e-waste recyclers.

⚖️ Mains Analytical & Syllabus Linkages

Role of institutionalized cleanliness drives (Special Campaigns) in improving administrative efficiency, reducing pendency, and promoting scientific e-waste management in government departments.

🎯 UPSC Prelims Practice Drill

Environment & Ecology

With reference to the 'Special Campaign 6' launched by the Department of Pharmaceuticals in October 2026, consider the following statements: 1. The campaign targets the systematic disposal of obsolete electronic items specifically through recyclers registered with the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY). 2. The scope of e-waste disposal under this campaign includes IT, telecom, and laboratory equipment. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  • [A] 1 only
  • [B] 2 only
  • [C] Both 1 and 2
  • [D] Neither 1 nor 2
▶ Reveal Official Answer & Analytical Explanation
✓ Correct Option: [B] 2 only

Statement 1 is incorrect because the scientific disposal of obsolete electronic items under Special Campaign 6 is carried out through recyclers registered with the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC), not MeitY. Statement 2 is correct as the targeted 1,011 obsolete electronic items include IT, telecom, and laboratory equipment, alongside other electronic assets.

Tark High-Yield Question Bank ⚡ Practice Full Test in Testing Arena ↗

🏛️ Historical Twin PYQ Anchor (2021)

UPSC Prelims 2021

Consider the following statements regarding the "National Clean Air Programme (NCAP)": 1. It is implemented by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change. 2. Central Pollution Control Board acts as the sole regulatory executive body.

Forensic Anchor: Cabinet Allocation of Business Rules & NCAP Framework
Examiner Trap Takeaway: UPSC swapped Central Pollution Control Board role with State Pollution Control Boards for state-level monitoring.

📚 Static Syllabus & Constitutional Linkages

E-Waste (Management) Rules: Understanding the categorization of e-waste, extended producer responsibility (EPR), and the role of state/central pollution control boards.
Administrative Reforms in India: Efforts to reduce red tape, digitize records (e-Office), and institutionalize grievance redressal mechanisms like CPGRAMS.