Write a review on India’s climate commitments under the Paris Agreement (2015) and mention how these have been further strengthened in COP26 (2021). In this direction, how has the first Nationally Determined Contribution intended by India been updated in 2022?

Introduction: India's climate pledges have steadily deepened — from its first Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) under the 2015 Paris Agreement, through the COP26 Panchamrit announcement, to the formal NDC update of 2022 communicated to the UNFCCC.

Body:

• Paris Agreement (2015): India's first NDC promised to cut the emissions intensity of GDP by 33-35% by 2030 over 2005 levels, reach about 40% of installed power capacity from non-fossil sources by 2030, and create an additional carbon sink of 2.5-3 billion tonnes of CO2-equivalent through extra forest and tree cover.
• Strengthening at COP26 (2021): the Panchamrit raised ambition across five fronts — 500 GW of non-fossil capacity and meeting 50% of energy needs from renewables by 2030, a one-billion-tonne cut in projected emissions, a 45% carbon-intensity cut by 2030 over 2005 levels, and the headline goal of net-zero by 2070.
• Updated NDC (2022): the Union Cabinet formalised two enhanced targets — a 45% cut in emissions intensity of GDP by 2030 (up from 33-35%) and about 50% of cumulative installed power capacity from non-fossil sources by 2030 (up from 40%) — and embedded the Lifestyle for Environment (LIFE) message as a behaviour-change pillar, while keeping the net-zero by 2070 goal as the long-term anchor.

Conclusion: The progression from Paris to the 2022 update shows rising ambition anchored in equity and common but differentiated responsibilities, though delivery hinges on adequate finance and technology support.