Q1(e) · UPSC Civil Services Mains 2021 · PSIR GS 2 · 10 marks · 1 min read

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Discuss the five proposals made by India in the recent COP-26 conference held in Glasgow.

Topic: Recent developments in Indian Foreign policy. Syllabus: Recent developments in Indian Foreign policy: India’s position on the recent crisis in Afghanistan, Iraq and West Asia, growing relations with US and Israel; vision of a new world order. Same official PYQ from year-wise 2021 and Recent developments in Indian Foreign policy.

Revision summary

Panchamrit is India’s five-point Glasgow offer. 500 GW non-fossil capacity and 50 per cent non-fossil installed electricity capacity by 2030 are power-system targets. They are not a 50 per cent share of total energy use. Intensity down 45 per cent from 2005, 1 billion tonnes off projected emissions, and net zero 2070 complete the set. Equity and finance claims sat beside the numbers.

Model answer

Introduction

At Glasgow in November 2021 India presented five nectar elements, Panchamrit, as its climate offer. They are capacity, intensity, an absolute cut in projected emissions, and a long net-zero date. They are not a pledge that half of all energy use will be renewable overnight.

Body

The five proposals

  • Raise non-fossil electricity capacity to 500 GW by 2030.
  • Meet 50 per cent of installed electricity capacity from non-fossil sources by 2030. This is a capacity share, not a claim that half of total energy consumption is already green.
  • Reduce the emissions intensity of GDP by 45 per cent by 2030 from the 2005 level.
  • Reduce projected carbon emissions by 1 billion tonnes in the decade to 2030.
  • Achieve net-zero emissions by 2070.

How to read them

  • The 50 per cent line is about the power system’s installed mix, mainly non-fossil generation capacity. It is not 50 per cent of the entire energy mix of oil, gas, biomass, and heat.
  • 2070 is later than many OECD net-zero dates. India argued equity and remaining carbon space.
  • The package updated earlier NDCs toward non-fossil capacity and a steeper intensity cut.

Diplomacy

  • Panchamrit sat beside calls for climate finance and technology from historical emitters. Ambition was paired with CBDR.

Flow diagram

flowchart TD
  P[Panchamrit COP-26] --> A[500 GW non-fossil]
  P --> B[50 percent installed capacity non-fossil]
  P --> C[45 percent intensity cut]
  P --> D[1 Gt projected cut]
  P --> E[Net zero 2070]

Conclusion

India’s COP-26 five points are 500 GW non-fossil, half of installed electricity capacity from non-fossil by 2030, a 45 per cent intensity cut from 2005, a 1 billion tonne reduction in projected emissions, and net zero in 2070. Wording them as “half the energy mix” is a factual error.

Quick related

Students also ask

  • Explain the philosophical foundations of India's foreign policy.

    Next question on this syllabus topic (2021 · Q5(b)). View answer →

  • Did India promise that half of all energy would be renewable by 2030?

    No. The operational target is about non-fossil installed electricity capacity, plus 500 GW of such capacity.

  • What is the 1 billion tonne figure?

    A cut in total projected carbon emissions by 2030, the fourth Panchamrit element, often cited with the intensity and capacity goals.

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