Frequently asked questions

India's current NDC, for 2031-2035, aims to cut the emissions intensity of GDP by 47% by 2035 from the 2005 level, reach about 60% of installed electricity capacity from non-fossil sources by 2035, and create a carbon sink of 3.5 to 4.0 billion tonnes CO2e through forest and tree cover. It was approved by the Union Cabinet on 25 March 2026 and is published on the UNFCCC website.

NDC stands for Nationally Determined Contribution, which in Hindi is राष्ट्रीय स्तर पर निर्धारित योगदान. It is the climate plan each country sends to the UNFCCC under the Paris Agreement, and it is expected to be updated every five years.

Panchamrit is the name for five climate pledges Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced at COP26 in Glasgow on 1 November 2021. They are 500 GW of non-fossil energy capacity by 2030, 50% of energy needs from renewables by 2030, one billion tonnes less projected emissions to 2030, a 45% cut in carbon intensity by 2030, and net zero by 2070.

The government says 2070 reflects India's development needs, low per person emissions and the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities under the UNFCCC. India's NDC documents point out that its per person emissions are about one-third of the world average and that its share of historical CO2 emissions is under 4%.

India has met its 2030 clean power capacity target early, with non-fossil sources at 52.57% of installed capacity on 28 February 2026, against a target of about 50%. Emissions intensity fell 36% between 2005 and 2020 against a 45% target for 2030, and an additional 2.29 billion tonnes CO2e of forest sink was created between 2005 and 2021, according to the 2026 NDC.

Emissions intensity is emissions per unit of GDP, while total emissions is the full amount released in a year. If the economy grows faster than emissions, intensity falls even though total emissions rise, which is why India's intensity targets can be met while its total emissions are still growing.

Mission LiFE (Lifestyle for Environment) is an India-led mass movement that encourages everyday choices such as saving energy and water and reducing waste. It was launched on 20 October 2022 at Ekta Nagar, Gujarat, and is one of the goals in both India's 2022 NDC and its 2031-2035 NDC.

India's NDC targets are national and do not, on their own, set a legal limit for any single company. Companies are affected through specific laws and schemes, such as the Carbon Credit Trading Scheme for covered energy-intensive sectors, SEBI's BRSR disclosures for large listed companies, and, for exporters, the EU's CBAM.