UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — On India’s updated climate pledges

Q1. In India's updated Nationally Determined Contribution for 2031-2035, the target for creating an additional carbon sink through forest and tree cover has an upper bound of how many billion tonnes of CO2 equivalent by 2035?

  • A. 3.0 billion tonnes
  • B. 3.5 billion tonnes
  • C. 4.0 billion tonnes
  • D. 4.5 billion tonnes

Q2. With reference to the targets in India's Nationally Determined Contribution for 2031-2035, consider the following: 1. Reduction of emissions intensity of GDP by 47% below 2005 levels by 2035. 2. Achieving 60% cumulative electric power installed capacity from non-fossil sources by 2035. 3. Creating a carbon sink of 3.5-4.0 billion tonnes of CO2 equivalent by 2035. 4. Achieving net-zero emissions by 2050. Which of the above is/are correctly identified?

  1. Reduction of emissions intensity of GDP by 47% below 2005 levels by 2035.
  2. Achieving 60% cumulative electric power installed capacity from non-fossil sources by 2035.
  3. Creating a carbon sink of 3.5-4.0 billion tonnes of CO2 equivalent by 2035.
  4. Achieving net-zero emissions by 2050.
  • A. 1 and 2 only
  • B. 1, 2 and 3
  • C. 3 and 4 only
  • D. 2, 3 and 4

Q3. Under the Paris Agreement, the obligation on each Party to prepare, communicate and maintain successive Nationally Determined Contributions, each representing a progression over the previous one, is laid down primarily in which Article?

  • A. Article 2
  • B. Article 4
  • C. Article 6
  • D. Article 9

Q4. With reference to Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) under the Paris Agreement, consider the following: 1. NDCs are communicated to the UNFCCC secretariat on a five-year cycle. 2. Each successive NDC is required to represent a progression beyond the Party's then current NDC. 3. NDCs are to reflect common but differentiated responsibilities and respective capabilities in light of national circumstances. 4. The Paris Agreement legally binds each Party to achieve the targets stated in its NDC. Which of the above is/are correctly identified?

  1. NDCs are communicated to the UNFCCC secretariat on a five-year cycle.
  2. Each successive NDC is required to represent a progression beyond the Party's then current NDC.
  3. NDCs are to reflect common but differentiated responsibilities and respective capabilities in light of national circumstances.
  4. The Paris Agreement legally binds each Party to achieve the targets stated in its NDC.
  • A. 1, 2 and 3
  • B. 1 and 4 only
  • C. 2, 3 and 4
  • D. 1, 3 and 4

Q5. The metric that India commits to reduce by 47% (by 2035) and 45% (by 2030) in its NDCs — the 'emissions intensity of GDP' — is best defined as:

  • A. Greenhouse gas emissions per unit of gross domestic product
  • B. Per-capita greenhouse gas emissions of the population
  • C. The absolute annual quantum of greenhouse gas emissions
  • D. The share of renewable energy in total primary energy supply

Q6. Consider the following targets: 1. Reducing emissions intensity of GDP by 45% by 2030 from 2005 levels. 2. Achieving about 50% cumulative non-fossil installed electric power capacity by 2030. 3. Creating an additional carbon sink of 2.5-3 billion tonnes of CO2 equivalent by 2030. 4. Achieving 60% non-fossil installed electric power capacity by 2030. Which of the above is/are NOT correctly identified as a target of India's Updated First NDC (August 2022)?

  1. Reducing emissions intensity of GDP by 45% by 2030 from 2005 levels.
  2. Achieving about 50% cumulative non-fossil installed electric power capacity by 2030.
  3. Creating an additional carbon sink of 2.5-3 billion tonnes of CO2 equivalent by 2030.
  4. Achieving 60% non-fossil installed electric power capacity by 2030.
  • A. 1 only
  • B. 4 only
  • C. 3 and 4
  • D. 2 and 4

Q7. With reference to India's progress on its climate targets as reported alongside the 2031-2035 NDC, consider the following: 1. India's emissions intensity of GDP fell by about 36% during 2005-2020. 2. Non-fossil sources accounted for about 52.57% of installed electric power capacity. 3. India's original 2015 target of 40% non-fossil capacity was achieved ahead of the 2030 timeline. 4. India achieved its 50% non-fossil capacity target only after 2035. Which of the above is/are correctly identified?

  1. India's emissions intensity of GDP fell by about 36% during 2005-2020.
  2. Non-fossil sources accounted for about 52.57% of installed electric power capacity.
  3. India's original 2015 target of 40% non-fossil capacity was achieved ahead of the 2030 timeline.
  4. India achieved its 50% non-fossil capacity target only after 2035.
  • A. 1 and 4 only
  • B. 1, 2 and 3
  • C. 2 and 4 only
  • D. 1, 3 and 4

Q8. Comparing India's original 2015 NDC with its August 2022 updated NDC, consider the following statements: 1. The emissions intensity reduction target was raised from 33-35% to 45% (by 2030). 2. The non-fossil installed power capacity target was raised from 40% to 50% (by 2030). 3. The carbon sink target was raised from 2.5-3 billion tonnes to 3.5-4.0 billion tonnes of CO2 equivalent in the 2022 update. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. The emissions intensity reduction target was raised from 33-35% to 45% (by 2030).
  2. The non-fossil installed power capacity target was raised from 40% to 50% (by 2030).
  3. The carbon sink target was raised from 2.5-3 billion tonnes to 3.5-4.0 billion tonnes of CO2 equivalent in the 2022 update.
  • A. 1 only
  • B. 1 and 2 only
  • C. 2 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3

Q9. Underpinning India's 'equitable share' and climate-justice argument, India's official position notes that its annual per-capita carbon emission is only about what fraction of the global average?

  • A. About one-half
  • B. About one-third
  • C. About two-thirds
  • D. Roughly equal to the global average

Q10. India's argument that developed and developing countries bear differentiated levels of obligation — central to its 'equitable share' stance — is enshrined in the Paris Agreement chiefly through which principle?

  • A. The Polluter Pays Principle
  • B. The Precautionary Principle
  • C. Common But Differentiated Responsibilities and Respective Capabilities (CBDR-RC)
  • D. The Principle of Sustainable Development

Q11. The consultations and studies by ten working groups — comprising central ministries, domain experts, industry bodies and civil society — that shaped India's 2031-2035 NDC were constituted under which body?

  • A. NITI Aayog
  • B. Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change
  • C. Central Pollution Control Board
  • D. Ministry of Power

Q12. India's engagement under the UNFCCC — including the 'Panchamrit' commitments and the communication of its NDCs towards the net-zero-by-2070 goal — is coordinated by which nodal Union ministry?

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