Sunita Somvanshi
India's approach to the circular economy is shifting emphasis. At the World Circular Economy Forum 2026 in Gandhinagar, officials are focusing on keeping resources useful longer rather than simply measuring waste volumes. For India's automotive sector, this means policy attention is turning toward how vehicle materials can be recovered and reused, driven by the existing End-of-Life Vehicles EPR framework.
WCEF 2026 Sets the Policy Direction
The World Circular Economy Forum 2026 opened in Gandhinagar, Gujarat on September 15 and runs through September 18. More than 3,600 participants from 62 countries and 135 exhibitors attended the forum, making it India's first hosting of WCEF in South Asia. The forum's official theme is "Circular Economy: Transition for People and Prosperity."
Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav opened the forum with remarks emphasizing value preservation. He stated the true measure of a circular economy should be "how little value we allow to be wasted," rather than simply measuring volumes of waste recycled. India's existing EPR framework already covers more than 83,000 producers and 4,802 recyclers, with 482.24 lakh tonnes of waste processed to date.
India's End-of-Life Vehicles Rules
India's Environment Protection (End-of-Life Vehicles) Rules, notified on January 6, 2025, establish mandatory EPR obligations for vehicle producers. These rules are already in force, not pending. The framework sets EPR targets based on the steel content used in vehicles from earlier model years. For the initial compliance period from 2027–28, producers must meet an 8% EPR target calculated against the steel in vehicles from the relevant prior year. Targets rise to 13% and then 18% in later compliance periods.
What EPR Means in Practice
The EPR framework requires producers to ensure end-of-life vehicle materials are recovered and recycled according to the specified targets. This is not a new 2027 mandate—the rules were notified in January 2025. However, the enforcement timeline for manufacturers is phased. Starting 2027–28, producers are responsible for demonstrating they have met the steel-recovery targets for vehicles they placed on the market in earlier years.
Mahindra & Mahindra's statements at WCEF emphasized product longevity as a sustainability strategy. The company noted that designing for durability and eventual material recovery is becoming a core manufacturer consideration. However, no specific digital-tagging requirement has been formally notified by the government.
The Data Discussion
At a WCEF session, industry participants discussed whether end-of-life vehicle data could inform product design decisions. Financial Express reports that this was a topic of discussion, not a mandated requirement. No official source confirms a mandatory digital-tagging system for vehicle parts or a requirement for OEMs to share proprietary component data with third-party recyclers.
FAQ
What is India's circular economy policy?
India's circular-economy approach, emphasized at WCEF 2026, focuses on keeping products, materials, and resources useful for longer, rather than concentrating only on recycling waste after disposal. Officials have highlighted resource efficiency, product design, reuse, and recovery as central themes.
What are India's EPR rules for end-of-life vehicles?
India's Environment Protection (End-of-Life Vehicles) Rules, 2025, which were notified on January 6, 2025, require vehicle producers to meet EPR obligations. For the initial compliance period beginning 2027–28, producers must achieve an 8% EPR target calculated against the steel content of vehicles placed on the market in earlier years. These targets rise to 13% and 18% in subsequent periods.
What is WCEF 2026?
The World Circular Economy Forum 2026 is an international policy and business event taking place in Gandhinagar, India from September 15–18. More than 3,600 participants from 62 countries are attending, with 135 exhibitors. India is hosting WCEF for the first time in South Asia.
Closure
India's circular-economy policy direction emphasizes value preservation and resource efficiency. The existing End-of-Life Vehicles Rules are now in effect, with producer compliance obligations beginning 2027–28. The WCEF forum continues through September 18. Further implementation details from the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change are expected as compliance periods approach.
