UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — India and Japan Adopt Rules of Implementation for Joint Crediting Mechanism Under Article 6.2 of Paris Agreement

Q1. With reference to Article 6.2 of the Paris Agreement, consider the following statements: Which of the statements given above are correct?

1. It allows Parties to use Internationally Transferred Mitigation Outcomes (ITMOs) toward their Nationally Determined Contributions through cooperative approaches.
2. Operational guidance for its implementation was adopted through Decision 2/CMA.3 at the Glasgow Conference (COP26) in 2021.
3. Parties engaging in cooperative approaches under it must apply robust accounting to avoid double counting of mitigation outcomes.
4. Activities under it are operated and supervised directly by a 12-member UNFCCC Supervisory Body designated by the CMA.

• A. 1, 2 and 3 only
• B. 1, 3 and 4 only
• C. 2 and 4 only
• D. 1, 2, 3 and 4

Q2. With reference to the Joint Crediting Mechanism (JCM) operationalised between India and Japan, consider the following statements: 1. It is a bilateral cooperative approach implemented under Article 6.2 of the Paris Agreement. 2. Mongolia was the first country to sign a JCM bilateral document with Japan, in January 2013. 3. The credits generated under the JCM are termed Certified Emission Reductions (CERs) and are issued by the Executive Board of the Clean Development Mechanism. 4. A Joint Committee with representatives from both partner Governments is responsible for approval procedures and oversight of credit issuance. Which of the above are correctly identified as features of the JCM?

1. It is a bilateral cooperative approach implemented under Article 6.2 of the Paris Agreement.
2. Mongolia was the first country to sign a JCM bilateral document with Japan, in January 2013.
3. The credits generated under the JCM are termed Certified Emission Reductions (CERs) and are issued by the Executive Board of the Clean Development Mechanism.
4. A Joint Committee with representatives from both partner Governments is responsible for approval procedures and oversight of credit issuance.

• A. 1, 2 and 4
• B. 1, 3 and 4
• C. 2 and 3 only
• D. 1, 2, 3 and 4

Q3. With reference to the Joint Crediting Mechanism (JCM) and the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM), consider the following statements: 1. While the CDM was established under the Kyoto Protocol, the JCM functions as a cooperative approach under Article 6.2 of the Paris Agreement. 2. Both the CDM and the JCM require a multilateral United Nations Executive Board to approve methodologies and issue credits to project participants. 3. Unlike CERs issued under the CDM, mitigation outcomes generated under the JCM may be counted toward the Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) of both partner countries, subject to corresponding adjustments to avoid double counting. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

1. While the CDM was established under the Kyoto Protocol, the JCM functions as a cooperative approach under Article 6.2 of the Paris Agreement.
2. Both the CDM and the JCM require a multilateral United Nations Executive Board to approve methodologies and issue credits to project participants.
3. Unlike CERs issued under the CDM, mitigation outcomes generated under the JCM may be counted toward the Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) of both partner countries, subject to corresponding adjustments to avoid double counting.

• A. 1 only
• B. 1 and 3 only
• C. 2 and 3 only
• D. 1, 2 and 3

Q4. The 'Rule of Implementation' of the Joint Crediting Mechanism (JCM) adopted by India and Japan in June 2026 operationalises a cooperative approach under which provision of the Paris Agreement?

• A. Article 4.2
• B. Article 6.2
• C. Article 6.4
• D. Article 9.1

Q5. In the context of the India–Japan Joint Crediting Mechanism, the term 'Internationally Transferred Mitigation Outcomes (ITMOs)' refers to:

• A. Concessional climate finance flows from Annex-I to non-Annex-I Parties earmarked for adaptation projects under the Green Climate Fund
• B. Real, verified emission reductions or removals generated in one Party and transferred for use toward another Party's NDC, with corresponding adjustments to prevent double counting
• C. Voluntary corporate carbon credits issued under independent standards such as Verra or Gold Standard and tradable on private exchanges
• D. Technology-transfer commitments quantified in tonnes of CO2-equivalent reported under the Technology Mechanism of the UNFCCC

Q6. With reference to Internationally Transferred Mitigation Outcomes (ITMOs) under Article 6.2 of the Paris Agreement, consider the following statements: 1. They must be real, verified, and additional emission reductions or removals. 2. They are measured in metric tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent or in other non-GHG metrics determined by the participating Parties. 3. They can be generated only by mitigation projects hosted in Annex I (developed) countries. 4. Their international transfer requires corresponding adjustments to be applied by both the transferring and the using Party in their NDC accounting. Which of the statements given above is/are NOT correct?

1. They must be real, verified, and additional emission reductions or removals.
2. They are measured in metric tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent or in other non-GHG metrics determined by the participating Parties.
3. They can be generated only by mitigation projects hosted in Annex I (developed) countries.
4. Their international transfer requires corresponding adjustments to be applied by both the transferring and the using Party in their NDC accounting.

• A. 1 and 2 only
• B. 3 only
• C. 3 and 4 only
• D. 2 and 4 only

Q7. On the Indian side, the Joint Crediting Mechanism (JCM) with Japan under Article 6.2 of the Paris Agreement is operationalised by which one of the following ministries/departments?

• A. Ministry of New and Renewable Energy
• B. Ministry of External Affairs
• C. Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change
• D. Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade

Q8. Consider the following statements regarding milestones of the UNFCCC/Paris Agreement framework relevant to the Joint Crediting Mechanism (JCM): 1. The Paris Agreement, which contains Article 6, was adopted at CoP21 in 2015. 2. The Article 6 Rulebook, including guidance on cooperative approaches under Article 6.2, was finalised at CoP26 in Glasgow (2021) through Decision 2/CMA.3. 3. CoP30 was hosted by Brazil at Belém in 2025. 4. Article 6.2 of the Paris Agreement establishes a centralised UNFCCC-supervised crediting mechanism that issues units called A6.4ERs. Which of the statements given above is/are NOT correct?

1. The Paris Agreement, which contains Article 6, was adopted at CoP21 in 2015.
2. The Article 6 Rulebook, including guidance on cooperative approaches under Article 6.2, was finalised at CoP26 in Glasgow (2021) through Decision 2/CMA.3.
3. CoP30 was hosted by Brazil at Belém in 2025.
4. Article 6.2 of the Paris Agreement establishes a centralised UNFCCC-supervised crediting mechanism that issues units called A6.4ERs.

• A. 1 and 2
• B. 2 and 3
• C. 1, 3 and 4
• D. 4 only

Q9. With reference to India's climate commitments under the Paris Agreement, consider the following statements: 1. India's original Intended Nationally Determined Contribution (INDC) of 2015 committed to reducing the emissions intensity of its GDP by 33–35 percent by 2030 from 2005 levels, which was raised to 45 percent by 2030 in the 2022 Updated NDC. 2. The 2022 Updated NDC raised India's target for cumulative electric power installed capacity from non-fossil fuel-based energy sources to about 50 percent by 2030, up from about 40 percent in the 2015 INDC. 3. The 2022 Updated NDC formally incorporated all five elements of the 'Panchamrit' announced at COP26 into India's NDC communicated to the UNFCCC. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

1. India's original Intended Nationally Determined Contribution (INDC) of 2015 committed to reducing the emissions intensity of its GDP by 33–35 percent by 2030 from 2005 levels, which was raised to 45 percent by 2030 in the 2022 Updated NDC.
2. The 2022 Updated NDC raised India's target for cumulative electric power installed capacity from non-fossil fuel-based energy sources to about 50 percent by 2030, up from about 40 percent in the 2015 INDC.
3. The 2022 Updated NDC formally incorporated all five elements of the 'Panchamrit' announced at COP26 into India's NDC communicated to the UNFCCC.

• A. 1 and 2 only
• B. 2 and 3 only
• C. 1 and 3 only
• D. 1, 2 and 3

Q10. Which one of the following is the sole nodal ministry of the Government of India responsible for formulating and communicating India's Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC)?

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

Q11. With reference to India's Carbon Credit Trading Scheme (CCTS), 2023, the term 'Obligated Entity' refers to which one of the following?

• A. An emission-intensive industrial unit notified under the Compliance Mechanism that is required to meet an assigned Greenhouse Gas Emission Intensity target
• B. A project developer that voluntarily registers a mitigation project under the Offset Mechanism to earn Carbon Credit Certificates
• C. A distribution licensee required to procure a minimum share of electricity from renewable sources under the Renewable Purchase Obligation
• D. A designated consumer covered under the Perform, Achieve and Trade (PAT) scheme that must surrender Energy Savings Certificates to the Bureau of Energy Efficiency

Q12. With reference to the 'Rule of Implementation' of the India–Japan Joint Crediting Mechanism (JCM) adopted in 2026 under Article 6.2 of the Paris Agreement, which one of the following is the nodal implementing Ministry on the Indian side?

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

Q13. Which one of the following correctly describes the current highest designation of the India–Japan bilateral relationship, under which the 2025 Joint Vision ('Eight Directions') and the 2026 JCM Rule of Implementation have been operationalised?

• A. Global Partnership
• B. Strategic and Global Partnership
• C. Comprehensive Strategic Partnership
• D. Special Strategic and Global Partnership