UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — How will the new NDC accelerate climate action?

Q1. In India's new NDC (2031–2035), which one of the following headline targets is set at the highest numerical percentage value to be achieved by 2035?

  • A. Share of non-fossil fuel sources in installed electric power capacity
  • B. Reduction in emissions intensity of GDP from 2005 levels
  • C. Reduction in absolute greenhouse gas emissions from 2005 levels
  • D. Reduction in per capita emissions from the global average

Q2. Under the Paris Agreement, what does a country's Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) precisely denote?

  • A. A nationally-set, voluntary pledge outlining a country's plans to reduce emissions and adapt to climate change, communicated periodically to the UNFCCC
  • B. A legally binding emissions cap allocated to each country by the UNFCCC Secretariat
  • C. A mandatory financial contribution paid by developed countries into the Green Climate Fund
  • D. A peer-reviewed scientific assessment of a country's emissions submitted to the IPCC

Q3. With reference to the three headline quantitative targets in India's new NDC (2031–2035), consider the following: 1. Raising the non-fossil share of installed electric power capacity to 60% by 2035. 2. Reducing the emissions intensity of GDP by 47% from 2005 levels by 2035. 3. Creating an additional carbon sink of 3.5–4.0 billion tonnes of CO2 equivalent by 2035. 4. Achieving an absolute cut of 50% in total greenhouse gas emissions from 2005 levels by 2035. Which of the above is/are NOT correctly stated as a headline target?

  1. Raising the non-fossil share of installed electric power capacity to 60% by 2035.
  2. Reducing the emissions intensity of GDP by 47% from 2005 levels by 2035.
  3. Creating an additional carbon sink of 3.5–4.0 billion tonnes of CO2 equivalent by 2035.
  4. Achieving an absolute cut of 50% in total greenhouse gas emissions from 2005 levels by 2035.
  • A. 4 only
  • B. 1 and 4
  • C. 2 and 3
  • D. 3 only

Q4. India's new NDC (2031–2035), besides its headline quantitative targets, additionally sets out how many qualitative targets?

  • A. Three
  • B. Five
  • C. Seven
  • D. Eight

Q5. Which one of the following is the nodal Union ministry responsible for preparing and communicating India's NDC to the UNFCCC?

  • A. Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change
  • B. Ministry of New and Renewable Energy
  • C. Ministry of Power
  • D. Ministry of Earth Sciences