Pollution & Waste Systems — Air, Water, Plastic, Bio-medical

What should you study in Pollution & Waste Systems?

• Air pollution — AQI categories, NCAP targets, Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP)
• Water pollution — zero liquid discharge norms; Common Effluent Treatment Plants
• Plastic pollution — SUP ban 2022; EPR rules; plastic waste management rules
• Solid waste — SWM Rules 2016; source segregation; landfill phaseout

How often is Pollution & Waste Systems asked in UPSC Mains?

Asked in 4 of 10 years, including 2 of the last 5. Highlighted years below are the ones it appeared in.

1. 2016: asked
2. 2017: not asked
3. 2018: not asked
4. 2019: asked
5. 2020: not asked
6. 2021: asked
7. 2022: not asked
8. 2023: not asked
9. 2024: asked
10. 2025: not asked

About the Mains GS Paper III paper

GS Paper III is a 250-mark descriptive Mains paper covering technology, economic development, biodiversity, environment, security and disaster management. See all 50 Mains GS Paper III topics.

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