Published: 26 March 2026Business StandardEnvironment
Cabinet Approves Updated NDC Targets: India to Cut Emissions Intensity by 47% by 2035
The Union Cabinet has approved India's updated Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) for the period 2031 to 2035, to be communicated to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). India has set an ambitious target of reducing emissions intensity of GDP by 47 per cent from 2005 levels by 2035.
The updated NDC also raises the target for installed power capacity from non-fossil sources to 60 per cent by 2035, up from the earlier target of 50 per cent by 2030 — which India had already achieved five years ahead of schedule, with non-fossil capacity reaching 52.57 per cent as of February 2026.
Additionally, the carbon sink target has been increased to 3.5-4.0 billion tonnes of CO2 equivalent by 2035 through enhanced forest and tree cover. India had already created a carbon sink of 2.29 billion tonnes of CO2 equivalent by 2021.
The country's emissions intensity has already been reduced by 36 per cent from 2005 levels to 2020, demonstrating significant progress toward its climate commitments and the goal of reaching net zero by 2070.
Mains angle
Q: Evaluate India's updated NDC targets for 2031-2035 in the context of its climate commitments under the Paris Agreement framework.
Answer (50 words):
India's Cabinet approved updated NDC targets to reduce emissions intensity by 47 percent from 2005 levels by 2035, raise non-fossil power capacity to 60 percent, and enhance carbon sinks to 3.5-4.0 billion tonnes CO2 equivalent. India already achieved 36 percent reduction by 2020 and 52.57 percent non-fossil capacity by February 2026.
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Linked questionMedium
What is the total outlay approved by the Cabinet for the Modified UDAN scheme for 2026-2036?
Explanation · Correct answer BThe Union Cabinet approved the Modified UDAN scheme with a total outlay of ₹28,840 crore for ten years from FY 2026-27 to FY 2035-36.
Frequently asked questions
What is India's updated NDC target for emissions intensity reduction by 2035?
India's updated **Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC)** for 2031-2035 sets a target of reducing **emissions intensity of GDP by 47%** from **2005 levels by 2035**. This was approved by the **Union Cabinet** and is to be communicated to the **UNFCCC** (UN Framework Convention on Climate Change).
What is India's new target for non-fossil fuel power capacity under the updated NDC 2035?
The updated NDC raises the target for **installed power capacity from non-fossil sources to 60% by 2035**, up from the earlier **50% by 2030** target. India had already **surpassed the 2030 target five years early**, with non-fossil capacity reaching **52.57% as of February 2026**.
What is India's carbon sink target under the updated NDC for 2035?
India's updated NDC sets a **carbon sink target of 3.5–4.0 billion tonnes of CO2 equivalent by 2035** through enhanced forest and tree cover. India had already created a carbon sink of **2.29 billion tonnes of CO2 equivalent by 2021**, demonstrating significant progress.
By how much has India already reduced its emissions intensity from 2005 to 2020?
India has already reduced its **emissions intensity by 36%** from **2005 levels to 2020**, demonstrating significant progress toward its climate commitments. The new NDC target sets an even more ambitious goal of a **47% reduction by 2035**, with India's **net-zero target set for 2070**.
When will India's updated NDC for 2031-2035 be submitted to UNFCCC and what does it cover?
India's updated **NDC for 2031-2035** was approved by the **Union Cabinet** and will be communicated to the **UNFCCC**. It covers three key commitments: **47% reduction in emissions intensity** of GDP by 2035, **60% non-fossil fuel power capacity** by 2035, and a **carbon sink of 3.5–4.0 billion tonnes** of CO2 equivalent by 2035.
