General Studies 2021 GS Paper III 15 marks 250 words Compulsory Describe

Q17

Describe the major outcomes of the 26th session of the Conference of the Parties (COP) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). What are the commitments made by India in this conference? (Answer in 250 words)

हिंदी में प्रश्न पढ़ें

संयुक्त राष्ट्र जलवायु परिवर्तन प्रेमवर्क सम्मेलन (यू.एन.एफ.सी.सी.सी.) के सी.ओ.पी. के 26वें सत्र के प्रमुख परिणामों का वर्णन कीजिए । इस सम्मेलन में भारत द्वारा की गई वचनबद्धताएँ क्या हैं ? (250 शब्दों में उत्तर दीजिए)

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Directive word: Describe

This question asks you to describe. The directive word signals the depth of analysis expected, the structure of your answer, and the weight of evidence you must bring.

See our UPSC directive words guide for a full breakdown of how to respond to each command word.

How this answer will be evaluated

Approach

The directive 'describe' requires a systematic, factual exposition of COP26 outcomes followed by India's specific commitments. Structure: brief context on COP26 (Glasgow, 2021) → 3-4 major global outcomes with specifics → India's Panchamrit commitments and net-zero target → critical conclusion on implementation gaps.

Key points expected

Glasgow Climate Pact: first explicit mention of 'phasing down' unabated coal power and fossil fuel subsidies
Completion of Paris Rulebook including Article 6 on carbon markets and enhanced transparency framework
India's Panchamrit commitments: 500 GW non-fossil capacity, 50% electricity from renewables, 1 billion tonnes emissions reduction, net-zero by 2070
Global commitments on methane reduction (Global Methane Pledge), deforestation (Glasgow Leaders' Declaration), and climate finance ($100 billion goal shortcomings)
Differentiation between developed and developing countries' responsibilities (Common But Differentiated Responsibilities)

Evaluation rubric

Dimension	Weight	Max marks	Excellent	Average	Poor
Demand-directive understanding	20%	3	Clearly distinguishes between describing global COP26 outcomes versus India's specific national commitments; maintains factual, non-evaluative tone for 'describe' while covering both question parts proportionally	Covers both parts but conflates global and Indian commitments or slips into analysis prematurely; minor imbalance in coverage	Misinterprets 'describe' as requiring heavy critique, or omits one part entirely; treats COP26 as generic climate conference without specifics
Content depth & accuracy	20%	3	Precise details: Glasgow Climate Pact's coal 'phase down' (not 'phase out'), Article 6 completion, India's 2070 net-zero with interim 2030 targets, $100 billion finance gap; no factual errors on dates or commitments	Broadly accurate but vague on specifics (e.g., 'coal reduction' without 'phase down' distinction); minor errors on India's target years or commitment magnitudes	Confuses COP26 with other COPs (e.g., Paris 2015), misstates India's commitments (e.g., 2060 net-zero), or includes outdated/wrong information
Structure & flow	20%	3	Clear two-part structure with signposting; logical progression from global outcomes to India's commitments; smooth transitions within 250-word constraint; effective use of bullet points or paragraphs	Adequate structure but weak transitions between global and Indian sections; some repetition or uneven word distribution; readable but not optimally organized	Disorganized or rambling; no clear separation between global outcomes and India's commitments; abrupt ending or missing introduction
Examples / case-law / data	20%	3	Specific quantitative anchors: 1.5°C warming target, 45% emissions cut by 2030, India's 500 GW renewable capacity, 1 billion tonnes CO2 reduction, 2070 net-zero year; mentions Global Methane Pledge (100+ countries) or Glasgow Leaders' Declaration on Forests	Some numbers present but imprecise (e.g., 'around 500 GW'); generic reference to climate finance without $100 billion figure; missing specific pledge names	No quantitative data or specific commitments cited; purely qualitative description; confuses India's commitments with other nations
Conclusion & analytical edge	20%	3	Brief forward-looking conclusion on implementation challenges (finance, technology transfer, CBDR-RC) or India's leadership role in bridging developed-developing divide; maintains descriptive tone with subtle analytical insight	Generic conclusion on climate change importance; or over-critiques despite 'describe' directive; no clear linkage to India's domestic policy implications	No conclusion or abrupt ending; purely repetitive summary; introduces entirely new information in conclusion; ideological rant unrelated to question

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