Executive Summary:
Between 2022 and 2025, the Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES) conducted surveys to assess microplastic and marine debris levels along India's coastline. The surveys identified riverine inputs and discarded fishing gear as primary sources of microplastics, and tourism-related activities as major contributors to beach litter. A draft National Marine Litter Policy has been formulated and circulated for review.
Key Points / Main Content:
Microplastic and Marine Debris Assessment:
* Field surveys (2022-2025) along India's coastline assessed microplastic levels in water and sediment, focusing on the east and west coasts.
* West coast: 19 transects surveyed (Porbandar to Kanyakumari).
* East coast: Approximately 25 transects sampled (Puri to Tuticorin).
* Riverine inputs and Abandoned, Lost, and Discarded Fishing Gear (ALDFG) are primary sources of microplastic pollution.
* National-level assessment of beach litter conducted annually during the International Coastal Cleanup Day (3rd Saturday of September).
* Tourism and recreational activities are major sources of beach litter.
* Beach litter data indicates a declining trend: plastic litter reduced from 67% (2018) to 43% (2024).
* NIO, Goa study revealed significant microplastic pollution in eastern Arabian Sea shelf sediments.
* Microplastic uptake study found higher contamination in benthic regions and sediment compared to pelagic regions and water column.
Vulnerability of Coastal Ecosystems:
* Mangroves, estuaries, and coral reefs are identified as most sensitive coastal ecosystems to marine litter and microplastic accumulation.
* Plastic litter is ubiquitous in coastal mangroves, with land-based mismanaged solid waste and public littering as primary sources.
* Underwater surveys show plastic as the dominant litter in coral reef environments.
* Marine litter surveys in intertidal coral habitats of Mumbai show single-use plastic bags and wrappers as dominant plastic debris.
National Marine Litter Policy:
* The draft policy document has been formulated by MoES through NCCR Chennai.
* The draft policy has been circulated to relevant stakeholders, line ministries, and agencies for review and consultations.
Coastal Clean-Up Campaigns:
* More than 250 beach cleanup events have been organized by MoES institutes.
* Approximately 150 tons of beach litter have been removed through programs like Swachh Sagar Surakshit Sagar and International Coastal Cleanup Day.
* Beach cleanup and awareness campaigns are conducted by NCCR-MoES since 2018.
Scientific and Community-Led Measures:
* NCCR-MoES conducts beach cleanup and awareness campaigns involving students, the public, and fishermen to raise awareness about the effects of marine litter and microplastics.
* Various scientific studies have been conducted along the Indian coast to assess the occurrence, characteristics, and impacts of microplastics on biotic ecosystems.
Impact Analysis:
Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES) and National Centre for Coastal Research (NCCR):
* Impact: Responsible for conducting surveys, formulating policies, and organizing cleanup campaigns.
* Action Required: Continue implementing the National Marine Litter Policy, conduct regular assessments, and organize cleanup events.
Coastal States and Union Territories:
* Impact: Directly affected by marine litter and microplastic pollution impacting coastal ecosystems.
* Action Required: Participate in cleanup campaigns, implement waste management strategies, and support policy implementation.
Stakeholders, Line Ministries, and Agencies:
* Impact: Their input shapes and refines the National Marine Litter Policy.
* Action Required: Review the draft policy document and provide consultations.
General Public, Students, and Fishermen Communities:
* Impact: Directly affected by marine litter and microplastic pollution.
* Action Required: Participate in beach cleanups, reduce plastic consumption, and raise awareness.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Earth Sciences: The Indian government ministry responsible for Earth sciences, the primary ministry involved in the policy.
National Marine Litter Policy: A draft policy document created by the Ministry of Earth Sciences aimed at addressing marine litter.
National Centre for Coastal Research (NCCR) Chennai: An institute under the Ministry of Earth Sciences, involved in conducting surveys and formulating policies related to coastal research and marine litter.
Swachh Sagar Surakshit Sagar: A program initiative focused on coastal cleanup efforts.
International Coastal Cleanup Day: An annual event mentioned in the context of national level assessment of beach litter.
Goa: A state on the western coast of India where studies were conducted on microplastics in offshore sediments and estuarine systems.
Andaman and Nicobar Islands: An Indian archipelago in the Bay of Bengal where marine litter surveys were conducted, particularly in coral reef ecosystems and remote islands.
Abandoned, Lost, and Discarded Fishing Gear (ALDFG): Identified as a predominant source of microplastic pollution.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF EARTH SCIENCES
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 2794
TO BE ANSWERED ON WEDNESDAY, 6TH AUGUST, 2025
SURVEY TO ASSESS MICROPLASTIC AND MARINE DEBRIS
2794. MS. PRANITI SUSHILKUMAR SHINDE:
SHRI SAPTAGIRI SANKAR ULAKA:
Will the Minister of EARTH SCIENCES be pleased to state:
(a) whether the Government has conducted any surveys between the year 2022 and 2025 to
assess microplastic and marine debris levels along country’s coast and if so, the key
findings thereof;
(b) the details of coastal ecosystems such as mangroves, estuaries or coral reefs that have
been identified as most vulnerable to plastic accumulation;
(c) the current status of the draft National Marine Litter Policy including the timeline for its
release, public consultation and inter-ministerial review;
(d) the number of new beach locations where litter data has been collected as on June 2025
along with the updated estimates of marine litter quantity removed under coastal clean-
up campaigns; and
(e) the details of scientific or community-led measures that have been supported by the
Government to address marine plastic pollution since 2022?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) FOR
MINISTRY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
AND EARTH SCIENCES
(DR. JITENDRA SINGH)
(a) Yes. Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES) through National Centre for Coastal Research
(NCCR) has conducted field surveys between the year 2022 and 2025 along India’s
coastline to assess the microplastic and marine debris levels. Assessment of
microplastics in both water and sediment has been carried out along the east and west
coasts of India. On the west coast, 19 transects were surveyed from Porbandar (Gujarat)
to Kanyakumari (Tamil Nadu), while on the east coast, around 25 transects were
sampled from Puri (Odisha) to Tuticorin (Tamil Nadu). The findings indicate that the
predominant sources of microplastic pollution are riverine inputs and Abandoned, Lost,
and Discarded Fishing Gear (ALDFG). Further, regarding the marine debris, national
level assessment of beach litter is being conducted every year during the International
Coastal Clean-up Day on 3rd Saturday of September under programme “Swachh Sagar
Surakshit Sagar” covering the coastal States and Union Territories. The assessments
reveal that the major sources of beach litter are tourism-related and recreational
activities. Further, the data indicates a declining trend in beach litter over the years, with
plastic litter contributing 67% in 2018 and reducing to 43% in 2024.In addition, National Institute of Oceanography (NIO), Goa has carried out a detailed
study assessing microplastics in offshore sediments along the eastern Arabian Sea shelf.
The findings revealed significant levels of microplastic pollution in marine sediments.
Evaluation of spatial and seasonal variation of microplastics along Mandovi-Zuari
estuarine system, Sal estuarine system was undertaken and assessed the predominant
type of plastics in these systems. Research was also conducted to assess the microplastic
uptake and influence in bentho-pelagic region and its associated ecological risks along
the coast of Goa. In this study, 9 pelagic and benthic fish and shellfish species were
studied and habitat wise higher micro-plastics contamination was found in benthic
region and sediment compared to pelagic region and water column.
(b) Studies have indicated that coastal ecosystems such as mangroves, estuaries and coral
reefs are most sensitive coastal ecosystems to accumulate marine litter and microplastic.
Plastic litter survey conducted in coastal mangroves along the Goa coast has shown that
average litter was estimated at 5.14 ± 0.55 items/m². Plastic items were ubiquitous,
accounting for 66 % of anthropogenic litter. Land-based mismanaged solid waste and
public littering were identified as primary sources of litter pollution.
Likewise, marine litter survey conducted on coastal mangroves along the Maharashtra
coast has shown that average concentration of litter was measured 8.5±1.9 items/
m2 (ranged 1.4 ̶ 26.9 items/m2). Plastic dominated 83.02 % of all litter deposited on the
mangrove forest.
Underwater marine litter survey was conducted along the fringing coral reefs in the
Mahatma Gandhi Marine National Park, Andaman and Nicobar Islands. The survey
recorded an average litter density of 0.42 ± 0.08 items/m2 (range: 0.23 ± 0.02 to 0.71 ±
0.09) and a mean mass of 138.61 ± 42.15 g/m2 (range: 70.17 ± 7.74 to 303.4 ± 2.55).
Plastic was the most dominant litter (60.82 %) recorded in the reef environment.
Marine litter on North Cinque Island, a remote uninhabited island in the Andaman and
Nicobar archipelago, Bay of Bengal has enumerated total of 6227 litter items with an
average concentration of 0.12 items/m2, representing 20 diverse litter types, with plastic
dominating the litter composition (86 %).
Marine litter survey was done in intertidal coral habitats of Mumbai. Average density
of marine debris was estimated at 1.60 ± 0.13 items/m2. Plastic materials were the most
abundant of all debris registered in the study area, comprising 91.27% of the total
marine litter. Single use plastic bags and wrappers were dominant plastic debris.
(c) The roadmap for National Marine Litter Policy has been formulated by Ministry of
Earth Sciences (MoES) through National Centre for Coastal Research (NCCR) Chennai.
The draft policy document has been circulated to relevant stakeholders, line ministries
and agencies for review and consultations.
(d) More than 250+ beach cleanup events have been organized by MoES institutes. About
150 tons of beach litter was removed through various programs such as Swachh Sagar
Surakshit Sagar, International Coastal Cleanup Day, World Oceans Day, Swachhata
Pakhwada etc.(e) Community-led measures: NCCR-MoES has conducted several beach clean-up and
awareness campaigns since 2018, to raise awareness among students, the public, and
fishermen communities about ill-effect of marine litter and microplastics. The main
objective is to involve the public in beach clean-up (Citizen Science approach) and to
spread awareness of marine litter and microplastics.
Scientific activities: Several scientific studies including occurrence, characterization,
spatial and seasonal variability of microplastics and impact on biotic ecosystem have
been conducted along the eastern and western Indian coast. Details of scientific and
community led measures to address marine plastic pollution since 2018 are given
below:
Number of beach cleanup event conducted by NCCR
S tate/UT (MoES)
2018 2019 2021 2022 2023 2024
G ujarat - 3 2 10 3 3
Maharashtra - 3 3 6 2 1
Goa - 3 2 6 2 -
K arnataka 1 2 4 6 3 3
K erala 1 4 - 5 6 3
T amil Nadu 2 9 12 10 9 12
Puducherry - 1 3 4 3 2
A ndhra Pradesh 1 1 1 8 46 1
O disha 1 4 5 7 3 2
West Bengal - 1 1 6 2 2
Lakshadweep
- 2 - 4 3 -
Islands
Andaman&
1 2 - 3 1 2
Nicobar Islands
Daman/Diu - - - 2 - 1
Total 7 35 33 77 83 32
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