Q1. The world is reeling under the stress of micro-plastic pollution. Elaborate on the reasons behind the micro-plastics pollution. What impacts they have on humans and larger ecology? Suggest measures to mitigate the ill effects of micro-plastics pollution.(15 marks, 250 words)
Topic- Plastic waste:
Introduction:
Plastic particles that are less than 5 mm in length are called micro-plastics. Major sources of micro-plastics are beauty products, dental creams, clothing, disposable water bottles, single use plastics, foaming agents etc. which have had hazardous impacts on our environment and human health that have long been ignored to our detriment demanding a deeper introspection of the issue.
Body :
- Reasons behind micro-plastics pollution
- Impacts of micro-plastics on humans
- Impacts of micro-plastics on larger ecology
- Measures to mitigate the ill effects of micro plastics pollution
Conclusion :
No single source can be pointed out in contributing to micro plastics pollution. As such, the impact will also be magnified due to multiple stakeholders and ignorance of the hazard. An estimated 358 trillion micro plastic particles are floating on the surface of the world’s oceans. Business as usual would doom disaster as the world plastic production is set to triple by 2060. Thus, concrete efforts are necessary involving all stakeholders so as to minimize the spate of micro plastics pollution.
UPSC Syllabus Plastic waste:
Why was this question asked?
Q. What are the impediments in disposing off the huge quantities of discarded solid wastes which are continuously being generated? How do we remove safely the toxic wastes that have been accumulating in our habitable environment? (UPSC CSE 2018)
Introduction
Plastic particles that are less than 5 mm in length are called micro-plastics. Major sources of micro-plastics are beauty products, dental creams, clothing, disposable water bottles, single use plastics, foaming agents etc. which have had hazardous impacts on our environment and human health that have long been ignored to our detriment demanding a deeper introspection of the issue.
Body Status :
Reasons behind micro-plastics pollution
- Lifestyle choices – The newfound love with the synthetic textiles is one of the culprits behind the micro-plastics pollution. A single wash load of synthetic textiles may release as many as 7 lakh micro-plastic fibres.
- Cosmetics – Microbeads made of plastics are used in face washes, hand soaps, and personal care products. UNEP estimates that more than 500 types of micro-plastics are used in cosmetics industry.
- Occupational – Fishermen irresponsibly leave ghost nets in the middle of the ocean. Micro-plastics release in the form of leachates from these nets.
- Shipping: According to one study, commercial shipping fleets dump millions of tonnes of plastic waste every year of which a good portion turns into micro-plastics.
- Single use plastics: Cups, straws, plates, parcel wrappers etc. are major sources of micro-plastics pollution since they have poor recyclability.
Impact of micro-plastics on humans
- Heart disease: Reports in the New England Journal of Medicine states that micro plastics indirectly contribute to an average 50,000 deaths due to heart diseases in America.
- Excretory system: Micro plastics have been found to alter the gut micro-biota thereby contributing to the formation of gall stones in the bladder.
- Endocrine system: Micro plastics alter the hormone production in our body resulting in growth disorders, diabetes and increasing infertility among men and women.
Impact of micro-plastics on larger ecology
- Marine mammals: According to a study, 64% of the lung tissue samples collected from 2000 to 2021, of dead whales and dolphins contained samples of micro-plastics.
- Food chain: Micro plastics affect the growth of planktons and corals jeopardizing the entire food chain as corals are known as the ‘rain forests of oceans’, as they provide habitat to 25% of all marine organisms.
- Biodiversity: Micro plastics get infused in gills of marine organisms and affect their breathing capacity. Those with minimal coping capacity bear the brunt resulting in loss of biodiversity.
Measures to mitigate the ill effects of micro plastics pollution
- Country specific: India banned the use of Single Use Plastics (SUP) through The Plastic Waste Amendment Rules, 2021 in August, 2021. Such measures must be adopted at the global level.
- Global level: The Clean Seas Campaign led by the UNEP has already removed 2.20 lakh pounds of plastic from the Great Pacific Garbage Patch inspiring much greater efforts.
- Commercial level: Amazon India announced in 2020 that they eliminated single use plastics in all their fulfillment centers. Industry wide resolution is necessary which may contribute to lower micro plastics pollution.
- Individual level: Mission LiFE (Lifestyle For Environment) at the individual level aims at adopting 7R (Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, Redesign, Remanufacture, Refurbish, and Repair) mantra which will contribute to mitigate micro plastics pollution.
Conclusion
No single source can be pointed out in contributing to micro plastics pollution. As such, the impact will also be magnified due to multiple stakeholders and ignorance of the hazard. An estimated 358 trillion micro plastic particles are floating on the surface of the world’s oceans. Business as usual would doom disaster as the world plastic production is set to triple by 2060. Thus, concrete efforts are necessary involving all stakeholders so as to minimize the spate of micro plastics pollution.
Q2. ‘India’s insurance sector despite its potential, has not reached its optimum potential.’ In the light of this statement, explain the problems inherent to the India’s insurance sector? Elucidate the recent reforms taken in this regard? Suggest further measures needed in this regard. (15 marks, 250 words)
Topic- Insurance Sector:
Introduction
The Indian insurance market is expected to reach $200 billion by 2027 and the country is the 9th largest life insurance market globally. IRDAI claims that, within a decade, the country will become the 6th largest life insurance market leapfrogging Canada, Germany, Italy and South Korea. Yet the sector is plagued with multiple problems.
Body
- Problems inherent to the India’s insurance sector
- Recent reforms taken to improvise the sector:
- Measures to improve the sector
- Case study
Conclusion
Insurance sector is plagued by systemic issues which demand structural reforms. An attitudinal change towards insurance is necessary among the common folk along with supply side reforms. Insurance is a shield for the future. It is not an additional burden to bear. Thus, further reforms are necessary in the sector as India’s insurance penetration is low while 60% of its agriculture is rain fed thereby ensuring a resilient future in line with SDG 3.8 (Achieving universal health coverage and financial risk protection for all).
UPSC Syllabus Insurance Sector:
Why was this question asked?
Q. What measures do you suggest to raise the volume of public savings in our country? Briefly state the importance of such savings for the contemporary economic scene. (UPSC CSE 2012)
Introduction:
The Indian insurance market is expected to reach $200 billion by 2027 and the country is the 9th largest life insurance market globally. IRDAI claims that, within a decade, the country will become the 6th largest life insurance market leapfrogging Canada, Germany, Italy and South Korea. Yet the sector is plagued with multiple problems.
Body
Problems inherent to the India’s insurance sector
- Low penetration: According to IRDAI, insurance penetration (the ratio of total insurance premiums to GDP in a given year) rose by a mere 1% from 2.7% in 2001 to 3.7% in 2017. This is a quarter of the insurance penetration in the US where it is 12%.
- Deficient rural participation: Just 8%-10% of rural India has life insurance coverage. This is compounded by poor awareness regarding the significance of insurance in rural hinterlands.
- Depressed private sector participation: In 2021, private insurers across the market segment held 49% of the total market share while in foreign countries the market share of private sector insurers in much larger.
- Crop insurance: With 85% of Indian farmers being in the small and marginal category, crop insurance has become a daunting task as they can’t afford the hefty premiums charged by the insurance firms.
- Household investment: Indian households on an average held 77% of their assets in the form of real estate while the remaining is invested in durable goods and financial products. This stymies the investment in insurance sector.
- Ailing non-life sector: Non-life insurance sector accounts for just 25% of the market share in India. This further impacts recycling, resale and mortgage benefit that one can derive from after insurance under non-life segment.
Recent reforms taken to improvise the sector
- Multiple schemes: PM Fasal Bima Yojna, PM Suraksha Bima Yojana and Ayushman Bharat Yojna (covers approximately 50 crore persons) have been extended to life and non-life segments.
- FDI: FDI limit in the insurance industry was increased from 26% in 2014 to 74% in 2021. Thus, greater investments are expected increase insurance density and penetration.
- Digitization: In 2021, LIC inked a pact with PayTM to extend digital life insurance products and payments. This would improve access that has been fleeting in the Indian insurance sector.
- Recapitalization: In 2021, the Finance Ministry announced to infuse Rs. 3,000 crores in the public sector general insurance firms to promote their financial health.
- Risk management: Reliance General Insurance has partnered with Satsure for satellite based predictive analytics to improve the efficiency of its crop insurance schemes.
Measures to improve the sector
- Diversity: Companies should come up with customized products like micro-insurance, reinsurance, coinsurance etc. to further extend the reach of insurance.
- Claims management: Time bound claims settlement should be a sine qua non to build trust of citizens in the insurance products.
- Risk based premium: Higher the risk higher the premium instead of one-size fits all approach.
- Technology: Firms must use drones and satellite data post disaster or accidents for claims settlements to improve efficiency of their settlement operations.
- Non-life sector: There is greater necessity to increase the market share of non-life sector so as to improve the mortgage possibility of the assets owned.
Case study
- Dr Milind Ramteke (District Magistrate, West Tripura District) and Arun Bhattacharjee (Agricultural Officer) were awarded with PM’s Award for Excellence in Public Administration for improving the access to crop insurance for high risk horticultural crops in 2018.
Conclusion
Insurance sector is plagued by systemic issues which demand structural reforms. An attitudinal change towards insurance is necessary among the common folk along with supply side reforms. Insurance is a shield for the future. It is not an additional burden to bear. Thus, further reforms are necessary in the sector as India’s insurance penetration is low while 60% of its agriculture is rain fed thereby ensuring a resilient future in line with SDG 3.8 (Achieving universal health coverage and financial risk protection for all).