General Studies 2022 GS Paper II 15 marks 250 words Compulsory Describe

Q20

'Clean energy is the order of the day.' Describe briefly India's changing policy towards climate change in various international fora in the context of geopolitics. (Answer in 250 words) 15

हिंदी में प्रश्न पढ़ें

'स्वच्छ ऊर्जा आज की जरूरत है।' भू-राजनीति के संदर्भ में, विभिन्न अंतर्राष्ट्रीय मंचों में जलवायु परिवर्तन की दिशा में भारत की बदलती नीति का संक्षिप्त वर्णन कीजिए। (250 शब्दों में उत्तर दीजिए)

Evaluate your answer to this question → See all 2022 General Studies questions

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 account of India's evolving climate policy across international platforms, with emphasis on geopolitical dimensions. Structure as: brief introduction acknowledging the shift from 'historical responsibility' to 'climate leadership'; body covering chronological/policy evolution across UNFCCC, Paris Agreement, COP presidencies, and minilateral forums; conclusion synthesizing how energy security, economic interests, and great-power competition shape India's stance.

Key points expected

Shift from Common But Differentiated Responsibilities (CBDR) to proactive commitments (net-zero by 2070, Panchamrit at COP26)
Evolution in UNFCCC/Kyoto to Paris Agreement: from defensive bloc politics (G-77+China) to constructive ambiguity and ambition
COP26 Glasgow and India's leadership moments: 500 GW non-fossil capacity, 50% renewable energy by 2030
Geopolitical positioning: balancing Quad climate initiatives, ISA leadership, and resistance to Western carbon border taxes
Minilateral engagement: International Solar Alliance, Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure, and climate finance demands ($1 trillion/year)
Strategic autonomy dimension: maintaining development space while claiming green technology leadership in Global South

Evaluation rubric

Dimension	Weight	Max marks	Excellent	Average	Poor
Demand-directive understanding	20%	3	Correctly interprets 'describe' as requiring systematic, chronological coverage of policy shifts across multiple fora; explicitly links each policy evolution to geopolitical context rather than treating climate and geopolitics separately	Attempts description but conflates 'describe' with 'evaluate' or 'analyse'; covers some fora but misses the geopolitical linkage or treats it as afterthought	Misreads directive as opinion-based ('clean energy is order of the day' taken as personal stance); produces generic essay on climate change without addressing India's specific international positioning
Content depth & accuracy	20%	3	Accurately captures three-phase evolution (Copenhagen defensive → Paris constructive → Glasgow assertive); correctly identifies institutional mechanisms and India's specific commitments with precise timelines	Broadly correct on major milestones but conflates timelines (e.g., mixing Kyoto and Paris features); mentions fora without specificity on India's role or position	Factual errors on commitments (wrong net-zero date, confusing ISA with IRENA); omits critical geopolitical dimensions like CBAM response or Quad climate cooperation
Structure & flow	20%	3	Clear chronological or thematic progression across fora; seamless integration of policy content with geopolitical analysis; effective signposting between UNFCCC, bilateral, and minilateral tracks	Identifiable structure but uneven weightage (over-detailed on early period, rushed on recent shifts); some disconnection between climate policy description and geopolitical implications	Disorganised listing without logical flow; repetitive content; abrupt jumps between domestic and international without establishing linkage
Examples / case-law / data	20%	3	Specific, current examples: COP26 Glasgow commitments, ISA membership (100+ countries), CDRI, Quad Climate Working Group, India's response to EU CBAM, $100 billion climate finance demand; quantitative anchors (500 GW, 2070 net-zero, 1 billion tonnes CO2 reduction)	Some relevant examples but dated (Copenhagen 2009 without progression) or generic; mentions ISA without specifics; lacks quantitative precision	No concrete examples from actual negotiations or forums; relies on vague references ('international meetings', 'global summits'); invents or misattributes initiatives
Conclusion & analytical edge	20%	3	Synthesises India's climate diplomacy as strategic hedging—claiming moral leadership in Global South while engaging developed nations; identifies tension between energy security (coal dependence) and climate ambition; projects future trajectory (G20 presidency leverage, critical minerals diplomacy)	Restates main points without synthesis; generic conclusion on 'need for global cooperation'; misses the strategic autonomy dimension	No conclusion or abrupt ending; purely aspirational closing ('India will lead the world') without analytical grounding; contradicts own argument

Practice this exact question

Write your answer, then get a detailed evaluation from our AI trained on UPSC's answer-writing standards. Free first evaluation — no signup needed to start.

Evaluate my answer →