Need for Outer Space Sustainability

Recently, the UK hosted the fourth summit for Space Sustainability in London in collaboration with the Secure World Foundation.

What does Sustainability in Outer Space mean?

One of the hot issues when it comes to space sustainability is orbital crowding.

With the emergence of large constellations and complex satellites, there is a risk of collisions and interference with radio frequencies.

It poses a direct threat to the operations and safety of a mission and is likely to cause legal and insurance-related conflicts.

Space debris is another prominent issue.

After the completion of a mission, an ‘end-of-life protocol’ requires space objects to be moved to the graveyard orbit or to a low altitude.

Other causes of concern are solar and magnetic storms which potentially damage communication systems.

Such space weather threats need to be addressed along with the efforts to identify the terrestrial carbon footprint of outer space missions.

Why was a conference held in the UK?

Long-term sustainability looks toward space research and development of technology to ensure the reuse and recycling of satellites at every stage.

The UK plan proposes active debris removal and in-orbit servicing.

Policy measures so far

As the outer space is considered a shared natural resource, the United Nations Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (COPUOS) in 2019 adopted a set of 21 voluntary, non-binding guidelines.

They aim to ensure the long-term sustainability of outer space activities.

What does the UK plan for space sustainability entail?

The UK calls for an “Astro Carta” for space sustainability, based on the Artemis Accords model for sustainable space exploration.

The UK Space Sustainability plan mentions four primary elements:

To review the regulatory framework of the UK’s orbital activity

To work with organisations such as the G-7 and the UN to emphasise international engagement on space sustainability

To try and develop safety and quality-related metrics that quantify the sustainability of activities; and

To induce additional funding of $6.1 million on active debris removal

The UK also confirmed investments in its National Space Surveillance and Tracking Programme, which works on collision assessment services for UK-licenced satellite operators.

Where does India stand on space sustainability?

India is well on its way to create a subsystem that addresses global sustainability questions.

The headquarters of the Indian National Space Promotion and Authorisation Centre (In-SPACe) was formally inaugurated last month.

One can expect an increased role of the private sector in India’s space activities.

The ISRO has initiated ‘Project NETRA’ to monitor space debris.

To provide in-orbit servicing, ISRO is developing a docking experiment called ‘SPADEX’.

It looks at docking a satellite on an existing satellite, offering support in re-fuelling and other in-orbit services while enhancing the capability of a satellite.

Way forward

Outer space in the 2020s can no longer be considered a ‘space race’ because of the cost, when compared to the beginning of this century.

Today, any entity (government or private) with the necessary access to resources and technology can invest in outer space.

Sustainable practices in outer space would directly help reduce orbital crowding and collision risk while nurturing future technologies.

As the natural course of evolution, the Plan for Space Sustainability, which includes private industries, is a timely move.

This would serve as a model for other space programmes.

Hotels cannot force customers to pay Service Charge: Centre

The Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA) issued guidelines asking hotels and restaurants not to collect service charge from customers.

What is the news?

Under the guidelines, consumers can lodge complaints against hotels and restaurants by calling the number 1915.

The CCPA has issued guidelines under Section 18 (2) (I) of The Consumer Protection Act, 2019.

The CCPA was established in July 2020 to promote, protect, and enforce the rights of consumers as a class, and to investigate, prosecute, and punish violators.

What are the guidelines?

The CCPA has issued five major guidelines regarding the levy of service charge by restaurants and hotels, which has for long been a contentious issue and has periodically triggered complaints from consumers.

The guidelines say:

No hotel or restaurant shall add service charge automatically or by default in the bill;

Service charge shall not be collected from consumers by any other name;

No hotel or restaurant shall force a consumer to pay service charge and shall clearly inform the consumer that service charge is voluntary, optional, and at the consumer’s discretion;

No restriction on entry or provision of services based on collection of service charge shall be imposed on consumers; and

Service charge shall not be collected by adding it along with the food bill and levying GST on the total amount.

What can a consumer do in case of a violation of these guidelines?

The consumer has four options at different levels of escalation in case she spots the levy of service charge in her bill.

First, she can make a request to the hotel or restaurant to remove the service charge from her bill.

Second, she can lodge a complaint on the National Consumer Helpline (NCH), which works as an alternative dispute redressal mechanism at the pre-litigation level.

The complaint can be lodged by making a call on the number 1915, or on the NCH mobile app.

Third, the consumer can complain to the Consumer Commission, or through the edaakhil portal, http://www.edaakhil.nic.in.

Fourth, she can submit a complaint to the District Collector of the concerned district for investigation and subsequent proceedings by the CCPA.

A consumer can complain directly to the CCPA by sending an e-mail.

What are the components of a food bill?

A restaurant bill in India comprises food charge (from the menu), with an addition of service charge (anywhere between 5 to 15 per cent) and a 5 per cent GST on this amount (IGST+SGST).

This is for all kinds of standalone restaurants.

In case a restaurant is located inside a hotel wherein room rate is upwards of Rs 7,500 (mostly in case of five-stars), the GST would be 18 per cent.

Nature of Service charge

While the GST is a mandatory component as per law, the service charge is supposed to be optional.

It is the equivalent of what is known as gratuity around the world, or tip, in casual parlance.

Most restaurants decide the service charge on their own, and print it at the bottom of the menu with an asterisk.

What do the restaurants say?

The levy of service charge by a restaurant is a matter of individual policy to decide if it is to be charged or not.

There is no illegality in levying such a charge.

Once the customer is made aware of such a charge in advance and then decides to place the order, it becomes an agreement between the parties, and is not an unfair trade practice.

GST is also paid on the said charge to the Government.

Where does the fund go?

Restaurants claim that a major chunk of the service charge thus collected goes to the staff, while the rest goes towards a welfare fund to help them out during good and bad times.

It’s a default billing option, even as customers can choose not to pay it if they don’t want to.

Of course, they are paid the salaries but the service charge works as an incentive for them.

Restaurateurs also say that patrons can decide not to pay the charge and tip the server directly, but in this case, the backroom staff doesn’t get anything.

A service charge ensures all staff members are rewarded evenly.

What is the issue then?

The issue is that almost all restaurants have put service charge (fixed at their own accord) as a default billing option.

And if a consumer is aware that it is not compulsory and wants it removed or wants to tip the server directly, the onus is on them to convince the management why they don’t want to pay it.

The department says they received several complaints saying it leads to public embarrassment and spoils the dining experience since at the end of it, they either pay the charge quietly and exit the place feeling cheated, or have to try hard to get it removed.

Also, there is no transparency as to where this charge goes.

The officials also say that collecting service charge on their own and paying GST on it to the government doesn’t make it authorised.

Problems faced by customers

It is this component which has come under dispute from time to time, with consumers arguing they are not bound to pay it.

It also said that hotels and restaurants charging tips from customers without their express consent in the name of service charges amounts to unfair trade practice.

Enforcing the Single-Use Plastic Ban

A ban on the use of single-use plastics that was notified by the Union Environment Ministry on August 2021 came into effect on July 1 this year.

What is the news?

The national and State-level control rooms would be set up to check illegal manufacture, import, stocking, distribution, sale and use of banned single use plastic items.

The Plastic Waste Management Amendment Rules, 2021, will also prohibit manufacture, import, stocking, distribution, sale and use of plastic carry bags.

This is for plastics having thickness less than 120 microns with effect from December 31, 2022.

What is Single-Use Plastic?

The Centre defines it as an object made of plastic that is intended to be used “only once” before being disposed off or recycled.

Single-use plastic items such as these had “low utility and high littering potential,” it noted.

What is now included in SUPs?

For the purposes of the ban, there is a list of 21 items that come under the definition of single-use plastic including ear buds with plastic sticks, plastic sticks for balloons, plastic flags, candy sticks, ice-cream sticks, thermocol for decoration etc.

It also includes plates, cups, glasses, cutlery such as forks, spoons, knives, straw, trays, wrapping or packing films around sweet boxes, invitation cards, and cigarette packets, plastic or PVC banners less than 100 microns, stirrers.

These objects were listed by the Environment Ministry in August when it notified the Plastic Waste Management Amendment Rules, 2021.

How will the ban be implemented?

So far 32 States/UTs have reportedly constituted a dedicated Task Force to eliminate the use of single-use plastics.

Of these 14 states/UTs and 12 Central Ministries, as of March, had developed action plans describing how they would be enforcing this.

A few States, for example Maharashtra, already have legislation banning the manufacture and storage of such plastic.

But implementing it wasn’t always successful as there was regular supply from States where such bans were not in force.

An all-India ban, it’s hoped, would make enforcement more effective.

Penal provisions

According to the Environment Protection (EP) Act, violating the ban could invite “punitive action”.

Manufacturers and distributors of single-use plastic goods were directed to have zero inventory by June 30.

The EP Act says that violating the ban could invite a five-year imprisonment and a fine of upto ₹1 lakh, or both.

If the violations are repeated, it could mean additional fines up to ₹5000 for each day.

There are different penalties for companies, organisations, and government departments under the EP Act.

What is the history of the single use plastic ban in India?

The Environment Ministry told the Rajya Sabha last July of its plan to phase out some categories of single use plastic by 2022.

A draft outlining the manner in which the ban was to be implemented was issued in March and involved amending the PWM Rules, 2016.

Before the amendments came into force, the Rules only prohibited the manufacture, import, stocking, distribution, sale and use of carry bags and plastic sheets less than 50 microns in thickness in the country.

There is a ban on sachets using plastic material used for storing, packing or selling gutkha, tobacco and pan masala.

Since October 2021, there is a ban on carry bags made of virgin or recycled plastic less than 75 microns as opposed to 50 microns under the earlier version of the rules.

Is there popular support for the ban?

The All India Plastic Manufacturers Association has said that the ban would shutter 88,000 units in the plastic manufacturing business.

These employ close to a million people and contribute to exports worth ₹25,000 crore.

Fast Moving Consumer Goods companies (FMCG) would be severely affected by the the ban due to their dependence on plastic straws, plates.

Their replacements, industry representatives say, are available but cost much more than their plastic alternatives.

There is also limited capacity in India to provide biodegradable replacements.

What is the environmental damage from SUPs?

Unlike thicker and denser plastic material, single-use plastic objects being light and flexible are less amenable to being recycled.

While 99% of plastic is recycled, they constitute heavier plastics that are likely to be collected by ragpickers and plastic waste recyclers.

Single use plastics do not provide an incentive enough for the effort needed to collect them and hence they lie around, leach their toxins into the soil and cause environmental damage in both land and sea.