Circular Economy in Agriculture: Waste to Wealth

• Circular economy in agriculture = closing the loop on crop residues, livestock dung, and food-processing by-products by converting them into bio-energy (CBG, ethanol, power), bio-fertiliser, and feedstock instead of burning/dumping.
• India generates an estimated 350 million tonnes of agricultural waste annually, with the residue energy potential pegged at over 18,000 MW by MNRE.
• Cross-cuts UPSC themes: environment (pollution, climate), economy (farmer income, energy security), governance (multi-ministry convergence) and Mission LiFE.