India is ranked 120 among 165 nations with respect to sustainable development and critically suffers from insufficient waste treatment provisions and amenities. And the abrupt occurrence of the COVID-19 virus has aggravated the issue of managing of medical waste in India, manifolds. As a result, the safe disposal of a huge volume of hazardous medical waste has become a top priority. This conceptual study evaluates India's management of medical waste during the COVID-19 pandemic. Additionally, this article aims to highlight the inadequacies in India's implementation of the BMW 2016 standards by a synthesis of multiple agency reports (government and non-government) and data obtained directly from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB). The findings indicate that India is well behind in terms of COVID-19 waste management and requires comprehensive monitoring and implementation systems to enable the achievement of SDGs related to environmental health.
Redefining bio medical waste management during COVID- 19 in india: A way forward