India’s transition towards a circular economy is central to both resource security and sustainable development. Discuss.

A circular economy is an economic model that seeks to maximise resource efficiency by keeping products and materials in use for as long as possible. It based on reducing, reusing, repairing and recycling. Hence, it replaces the traditional 'take-make-dispose' model with a regenerative system that minimises waste and maximises resource utilisation. Resource security

• Reduces import dependence via recycling of lithium, cobalt, nickel and rare earths through urban mining.
• Enhances material efficiency: by lowering India's material demand while sustaining economic growth (NITI Aayog's Circular Economy Report (2025)
• Creates secondary raw material markets via recycling e-waste, batteries and reduces extraction pressure.
• Waste-to-Energy, SATAT and

GOBARdhan convert municipal and agricultural waste into compressed biogas (CBG), reducing fossil fuel dependence.

• Improves supply chain resilience as resource streams reduce the vulnerability to global supply disruptions and geopolitical shocks. Sustainable development
• Minimises waste generation and landfill dependence (SDG 11 & SDG 12).
• Reduces greenhouse gas emissions through recycling and resource efficiency (SDG 13).
• Promotes clean energy through bioenergy and waste-to-energy initiatives (SDG 7).
• Generates green jobs in recycling, repair and remanufacturing (SDG 8).
• Encourages sustainable industrial production and innovation (SDG 9).
• Reduces marine plastic pollution and conserves biodiversity (SDG 14 & SDG 15).

Therefore, as highlighted by NITI Aayog, India's transition to a circular economy is essential for achieving resource security, green growth and the vision of Viksit Bharat 2047.