General Studies 2025 GS Paper III 15 marks 250 words Compulsory Review

Q18

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 ? (Answer in 250 words) 15

हिंदी में प्रश्न पढ़ें

पेरिस समझौता (2015) के अंतर्गत, भारत की जलवायु वचनबद्धताओं पर समीक्षा लिखिए तथा बताइए कि उन्हें किस प्रकार कोप26 (2021) में और अधिक दृढ़ता प्रदान की गई है। इस दिशा में, किस प्रकार पहली बार भारत द्वारा प्रस्तावित राष्ट्रीय स्तर पर निर्धारित योगदान को 2022 में अद्यतन किया गया है ? (उत्तर 250 शब्दों में दीजिए)

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Directive word: Review

This question asks you to review. 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 'review' demands a critical assessment of India's climate trajectory across three timeframes—Paris 2015, COP26 2021, and the 2022 NDC update—rather than mere description. Structure as: brief introduction contextualizing India's climate diplomacy; body in three chronological segments comparing commitments, mechanisms, and ambition levels; conclusion assessing coherence, gaps, and global significance.

Key points expected

  • Paris Agreement 2015: India's original NDC targets—reduce emission intensity by 33-35% by 2030 (from 2005 levels), achieve 40% non-fossil fuel capacity, create additional carbon sink of 2.5-3 billion tonnes CO2e through forest cover
  • COP26 Glasgow 2021: Panchamrit announcement—net zero by 2070, 500 GW non-renewable energy capacity by 2030, reduce total projected carbon emissions by 1 billion tonnes, reduce emission intensity by 45%, fulfill 50% energy requirement through renewables
  • 2022 Updated NDC formalization: emission intensity reduction enhanced to 45% by 2030 (from 2005), non-fossil fuel capacity target raised to 50%, net zero by 2070 made official commitment, removal of reference to 'additional' carbon sink creating ambiguity
  • Critical comparison: 2022 NDC quantifies Panchamrit partially but omits explicit 500 GW renewable target and 1 billion tonnes absolute reduction, focusing instead on intensity metrics
  • Institutional mechanisms: mention of National Adaptation Communication, State Action Plans on Climate Change (SAPCC), and sectoral missions as implementation frameworks

Evaluation rubric

DimensionWeightMax marksExcellentAveragePoor
Demand-directive understanding20%3Treats 'review' as critical appraisal not summary; explicitly compares 2015 vs 2021 vs 2022 commitments identifying enhancements, omissions, and continuities; addresses all three temporal mandates without disproportionate focusCovers all three timeframes descriptively but lacks comparative analysis; treats 2022 update as standalone rather than evolution; misses subtle downgrades (e.g., 500 GW omission in formal NDC)Describes only one or two phases; confuses COP26 announcements with 2022 NDC text; fails to distinguish between intensity-based and absolute targets; ignores 'review' directive entirely
Content depth & accuracy20%3Precise figures: 33-35%→45% intensity reduction, 40%→50% non-fossil capacity, 2070 net zero; notes 2022 NDC's exclusion of 500 GW and 1 billion tonnes despite Panchamrit promise; mentions 2005 baseline consistencyBroadly correct targets but imprecise figures; conflates COP26 rhetoric with 2022 NDC legal text; omits baseline year specificity; mentions 'net zero' without 2070 timelineFactually incorrect targets (e.g., 2030 net zero, 50% emission reduction); confuses installed capacity with generation; misidentifies 2022 update as first NDC rather than updated NDC
Structure & flow20%3Chronological or thematic progression with clear signposting; each paragraph bridges to next (e.g., 'building on Glasgow promises, the 2022 NDC...'); word economy within 250 limit with no redundant transitionsCovers all components but with uneven weightage; abrupt shifts between 2015/2021/2022; some repetition of targets; functional but uninspired paragraphingDisorganized chronology (e.g., 2022 before 2015); no paragraph breaks or excessive fragmentation; exceeds word limit or severely underutilizes it; missing introduction or conclusion
Examples / case-law / data20%3Specific data: current RE capacity ~180 GW (2024), LED bulb distribution reducing 40 million tonnes CO2, International Solar Alliance as diplomatic instrument; mentions LULUCF sector ambiguity in 2022 NDCGeneric references to 'solar expansion' or 'wind energy' without figures; mentions ISA or CDM without relevance to NDC progression; no contemporary implementation dataNo data or examples; irrelevant case citations (e.g., NGT orders without climate treaty linkage); fabricated statistics; examples from other countries without Indian application
Conclusion & analytical edge20%3Assesses whether 2022 NDC represents genuine ambition enhancement or diplomatic hedging; notes tension between development imperatives (Common But Differentiated Responsibilities) and climate leadership claims; suggests pathway for 2025 NDC strengtheningSummarizes commitments without evaluative stance; generic statement on 'India's climate leadership'; no forward-looking element or critical self-assessmentAbsent or abrupt conclusion; contradictory claims (e.g., 'India exceeded targets' without evidence); polemical stance ignoring CBDR-RC principle; no connection to global stocktake or 1.5°C pathway

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