Climate Change (Environment & Ecology).
Syllabus: UPSC Pre GS1: Environmental Ecology, Biodiversity & Climate Change; Mains GS3
Paris Agreement for UPSC: 1.5 and 2 degree goals, NDCs, Article 6 markets, global stocktake, finance goal, India's updated NDC and Panchamrit,…
Montreal Protocol for UPSC: how the ozone hole formed, Vienna Convention, phase-out schedules, Kigali Amendment on HFCs, India Cooling Action Plan and…
Green hydrogen for UPSC: grey, blue and green hydrogen, electrolysers, National Green Hydrogen Mission and SIGHT, India's standard, uses, costs and PYQs.
Climate change for UPSC: greenhouse effect, IPCC AR6 findings, impacts on India, UNFCCC, Kyoto and Paris, NDCs, net zero 2070, NAPCC, loss…
At the Pre-COP31 meeting in Nadi, Fiji, India's Environment Minister asked for flexibility, pragmatism and mutual respect so that COP31 gives an ambitious and balanced result. India said higher ambition must come with climate finance, technology and capacity building, and that each country's path must be respected. COP31 is in Antalya, Türkiye, in November.
UPSC angle: Prelims: COP venues, Paris articles. · Mains GS-III: climate change; GS-II: international agreements.
8 Oct 2026
India and Japan launched the Operational Manual for their Joint Crediting Mechanism in New Delhi on 30 September 2026. Under Article 6.2 of the Paris Agreement, the mechanism lets Japanese low-carbon technology be deployed in India and the resulting emission cuts be issued as credits. The manual sets the full project cycle, from idea note to credit issuance.
UPSC angle: Prelims: Article 6 sub-parts. · Mains GS-III: carbon markets.
5 Oct 2026
On 30 September 2026 the Ministry of Power notified new Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) norms for passenger vehicles, in force from 1 April 2027 to 31 March 2032. The fuel-use benchmark tightens from 3.996 to 3.3273 litres per 100 km, an improvement of about 16.7 per cent, and the reference weight rises to 1,229 kg.
UPSC angle: Prelims: CAFE notifying ministry (Power, under the Energy Conservation Act). · Mains: Fleet-average standards as a nudge to EVs and hybrids.
30 Sep 2026
At the 28th session of the FAO Committee on Forestry in Rome (28 September to 2 October 2026), India said its forest and tree cover is 82.74 million hectares, or 25.17 per cent of its area. FAO's Global Forest Resources Assessment 2025 ranks India 9th in forest area and 3rd in net annual forest gain.
UPSC angle: Prelims: forest cover %, FRA ranks. · Mains: Quality vs quantity of forest cover.
28 Sep 2026
On 26 September 2026 the foundation stone was laid for India's first port-based e-methanol plant at Deendayal Port Authority, Kandla, Gujarat. The 150-tonne-per-day, ₹2,300 crore plant, a venture of DPA and Assam Petro-Chemicals, will make green methanol from renewable power, water and biogenic CO2 to fuel ships.
UPSC angle: Prelims: what e-methanol is made from; Kandla = Deendayal Port. · Mains: Decarbonising shipping: role of ports as green-fuel hubs.
26 Sep 2026
On 20 September 2026 President Droupadi Murmu spoke at the valedictory session of the International Conference on "The Future of Environment and Climate Dynamics", organised by the National Green Tribunal in New Delhi. She called for people-centric, community-based climate adaptation rooted in traditional knowledge, and for afforestation that restores whole ecosystems.
UPSC angle: Mains: Role of traditional knowledge in climate adaptation.
20 Sep 2026