GS3 · Climate change

Cabinet approves India’s NDC for 2031-35

Battle IAS current affairs title card: Cabinet approves India's NDC for 2031-35 (GS3 · Climate change, 25 March 2026)
Asked by UPSCPrelims 20161 PYQ

UPSC has already asked about this. Read the story with these questions in mind.

What happened

  • The Cabinet approved India’s Nationally Determined Contribution for 2031-35, to be communicated to the UNFCCC [PIB].
  • The emissions-intensity reduction target is now 47% by 2035 over 2005 (36% achieved between 2005 and 2020), and the forest/tree-cover carbon-sink target is now 3.5-4.0 billion tonnes CO2e by 2035 [PIB].

Background

  • Under the Paris Agreement, parties submit successive NDCs every five years, and each must show progression.

Why it matters

  • This sets India’s climate pathway toward its 2070 net-zero goal while staying within CBDR-RC.

How to use this in Mains

GS-III Conservation, environmental pollution and degradation, EIA

  1. As per PIB (2026-03-25): the Cabinet approved India's Nationally Determined Contribution for 2031-35, to be communicated to the UNFCCC.
  2. This sets India's climate pathway toward its 2070 net-zero goal while staying within CBDR-RC.
Quotable data point

The emissions-intensity reduction target is now 47% by 2035 over 2005 (36% achieved between 2005 and 2020), and the forest/tree-cover carbon-sink target is now 3.5-4.0 billion tonnes CO2e by 2035.

PIB: MoEFCC: Cabinet approves NDC 2031-35, 25 Mar 2026

Exam angle

UPSC

Prelims: NDC targets. · Mains: India's climate commitments.

Practice MCQs

Original practice questions (not PYQs).

Practice · UPSC

Emission-intensity target by 2035

Answer (c) & explanation

PIB.

Practice · UPSC

Carbon sink target by 2035

Answer (b) & explanation

PIB.

Practice · UPSC

NDCs are submitted under

Answer (b) & explanation

PIB.

Go deeper

Official source: PIB: MoEFCC: Cabinet approves NDC 2031-35, 25 Mar 2026

facts from cited sources only; faculty review pending