Write a review on India’s climate commitments under the Paris Agreement (2015) and mention how these have been further strengthened in COP26 (2021). In this direction, how has the first Nationally Determined Contribution intended by India been updated in 2022?
Approach · directive: “write a review / mention / how”
What it asks · Review India’s Paris pledges and progress, show how COP26 raised ambition, and state exactly what the 2022 updated NDC changed.
The question has 3 parts — answer each
- Review India's climate commitments under the Paris Agreement (2015), with their progress
- Mention how these commitments were strengthened at COP26 (2021)
- Explain how India's first NDC was updated in 2022
Open with · The Paris Agreement lets each country set its own NDC; India’s 2015 pledge balanced climate action with development needs and common but differentiated responsibilities.
Cover
- 2015 pledge (by 2030): emissions intensity of GDP down 33–35% from 2005; 40% non-fossil power capacity; 2.5–3 billion tonnes CO2e additional carbon sink.
- Review: the non-fossil capacity and emissions-intensity goals were met well ahead of 2030; the forest-sink goal has progressed more slowly.
- COP26 ‘Panchamrit’: 500 GW non-fossil capacity, half of energy needs from renewables, one billion tonnes less emissions, 45% intensity cut, net zero by 2070.
- COP26 also launched LiFE (Lifestyle for Environment) and the Green Grids Initiative — One Sun One World One Grid.
- 2022 update (by 2030): emissions intensity down 45% from 2005; about 50% of installed power capacity non-fossil; LiFE written into the NDC.
- Follow-up: long-term low-emission development strategy (COP27), Green Hydrogen Mission, Carbon Credit Trading Scheme, ethanol blending.
- Gaps: climate finance and technology transfer from developed countries, coal dependence, adaptation needs.
Close with · India has turned pledges into over-achieved targets and set a tougher 2035 path — while insisting that developed countries deliver finance and equity.
Add value (verified)
- The 2022 updated NDC raised the 2030 targets to a 45% cut in emissions intensity and about 50% non-fossil power capacity. PIB, Cabinet — Cabinet approves India’s Updated Nationally Determined Contribution (3 August 2022) ↗“India now stands committed to reduce Emissions Intensity of its GDP by 45 percent by 2030, from 2005 level and achieve about 50 percent cumulative electric power installed capacity from non-fossil fuel-based energy resources by 2030.”
- India’s next NDC (2031–2035), approved in March 2026, targets a 47% cut in emissions intensity and 60% non-fossil power capacity by 2035. PIB, Cabinet — Cabinet approves India’s NDC (2031-2035) (25 March 2026) ↗“India commits to reduce Emissions Intensity of its GDP by 47 percent by 2035 from 2005 level India to achieve 60 percent cumulative electric power installed capacity from non-fossil fuel-based energy resources by 2035”
Question: UPSC's CS (Main) 2025, GS Paper III — paper ↗. Approach: Minimalist IAS, checked 30 Sept 2026 (how we verify) — UPSC publishes no model answers. ·
Model answer · 304 words (UPSC limit 250) · Minimalist IAS
The Paris Agreement lets each country set its own Nationally Determined Contribution; India submitted its first on 2 October 2015, balancing climate action with development needs and the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities.
Paris commitments (2015): a review
- Eight goals, three of them quantitative for 2030: emissions intensity of GDP down 33–35% from 2005; 40% of installed power capacity from non-fossil sources; an additional carbon sink of 2.5–3 billion tonnes of CO2 equivalent through forest and tree cover.
- The other goals were qualitative: sustainable lifestyles, climate-resilient development, adaptation, and mobilising finance and technology.
- Progress: the non-fossil capacity and emissions-intensity goals were met well ahead of 2030, driven by solar and wind additions; the forest-sink goal has progressed more slowly.
Strengthened at COP26 (2021): Panchamrit
- 500 GW of non-fossil capacity by 2030; half of energy requirements from renewables by 2030; one billion tonnes less emissions by 2030; emissions intensity down 45% by 2030; net zero by 2070.
- Also launched: LiFE — Lifestyle for Environment — and the Green Grids Initiative, One Sun One World One Grid.
The 2022 updated NDC
- Approved by the Cabinet in August 2022, it raised two targets for 2030: emissions intensity down 45% from 2005 (from 33–35%) and about 50% of installed power capacity non-fossil (from 40%).
- LiFE was written in as a mass movement for mindful consumption, and the update was framed as a step towards net zero by 2070.
- Follow-through: a long-term low-emission development strategy at COP27, the National Green Hydrogen Mission, the Carbon Credit Trading Scheme and ethanol blending; gaps remain in climate finance and technology transfer from developed countries, coal dependence and adaptation.
India has turned pledges into over-achieved targets and, since then, set a tougher 2035 path (a 47% intensity cut and 60% non-fossil capacity) — while insisting that developed countries deliver finance and equity.
Written by Minimalist IAS from facts checked at source (how we verify) — a little fuller than exam length, so every part of the question is covered; in the hall, keep the structure and trim the detail. UPSC publishes no model answers: compare your structure and coverage with this, then write your own.