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India's climate policy: NDCs, net zero and adaptation
India's own climate commitments and plans: its Nationally Determined Contribution and net zero target, the national and State action plans, adaptation from the city to the village, and the forest carbon sink. Prelims has asked about Intended Nationally Determined Contributions.
Showing 2 of 5 subjects, those that changed from 16 to 31 July 2026.Show all
India's Nationally Determined Contribution
Copy link to India's Nationally Determined ContributionPrelims and Mains
India's climate pledge comes down to three numbers, and they are not travelling together.
- India's Nationally Determined Contribution sets three targets: one for emission intensity, one for the share of non-fossil electricity capacity, and one for the carbon sink.
- The pledge filed in 2015 asked for intensity down 33 to 35 per cent and 40 per cent non-fossil capacity; the 2022 update raised these to 45 and about 50 per cent and left the sink target untouched.
- The 50 per cent non-fossil milestone was reached in June 2025, five years early.
- Non-fossil capacity counts what is installed, not what is generated, so the share of electricity actually supplied is lower.
- India reports its progress to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in a Biennial Transparency Report, and sent its first in April 2026.
2030 target
- Emission intensity of gross domestic product (GDP) down 45 per cent from 2005
- 50 per cent of installed power capacity non-fossil
- Additional carbon sink of 2.5 to 3.0 billion tonnes CO₂ equivalent
Where India stands
- Emission intensity down 37.38 per cent by 2022
- Non-fossil capacity 54.18 per cent on 30 June 2026
- Additional sink of 2.44 billion tonnes CO₂ equivalent, 2005 to 2022
2035 target
- Emission intensity down 47 per cent from 2005
- 60 per cent of installed power capacity non-fossil
- Carbon sink of 3.5 to 4.0 billion tonnes CO₂ equivalent
What changed
13 Aug 2026
PIB, 13 Aug 2026: NDC progress and the enhanced 2035 targets (opens in a new tab)
27 Jul 2026Update
- The enhanced targets for 2035 are a 47 per cent cut in the emissions intensity of GDP from the 2005 level, 60 per cent of installed electricity capacity from non fossil sources, and an additional carbon sink of 3.5 to 4.0 billion tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent.
- The non fossil share of installed capacity crossed 50 per cent in June 2025, five years early, and stood at 54.18 per cent on 30 June 2026.
- Implementation runs through the nine missions of the National Action Plan on Climate Change, and progress is reported through Biennial Transparency Reports under Article 13 of the Paris Agreement.
PIB, 27 Jul 2026: PARLIAMENT QUESTION: INDIA’s NDC TARGETS (opens in a new tab) · The Indian Express, 6 Jul 2026: Gram panchayats remain outside climate planning even as India's revised climate targets need local delivery (opens in a new tab)
UPSC has asked
- Prelims 2016: Intended Nationally Determined Contributions
Mission LiFE abroad
Copy link to Mission LiFE abroadPrelims
Mission LiFE, Lifestyle for Environment, is India's programme for sustainable consumption, which it has carried into international bodies through resolutions and through the 10 Year Framework of Programmes on Sustainable Consumption and Production.
What changed
23 Jul 2026New subjectalso in news
- India's resolution on sustainable lifestyles was adopted by the UN Environment Assembly in 2024 and by the 15th Ramsar Conference in Zimbabwe in 2025, and India jointly chairs the board of the 10 Year Framework of Programmes on Sustainable Consumption and Production for 2026 to 2028.
PIB, 23 Jul 2026: PARLIAMENT QUESTION: PROGRESS OF LIFE MOVEMENT (opens in a new tab)