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Predicted Questions with Model Answers
Q1. [5 marks — 50 words] What is HDI? State its three components and India's current rank.
Model Answer: The Human Development Index (HDI), developed by Mahbub ul Haq and UNDP in 1990, measures development across three dimensions: (1) health — life expectancy at birth; (2) education — mean and expected years of schooling; (3) living standard — GNI per capita (PPP). India ranks 134th (out of 193) with HDI value 0.644 (2023), classified as "Medium Human Development."
Q2. [5 marks — 50 words] Distinguish between economic growth and economic development.
Model Answer: Economic growth is a quantitative increase in GDP/GNP — measuring output expansion. Economic development is broader, encompassing structural transformation, poverty reduction, improved health, education, and human capabilities. Growth is a necessary but insufficient condition for development. Amartya Sen defines development as "expansion of substantive freedoms," not just income rise.
Q3. [5 marks — 50 words] What is sustainable development? Name any three of the 17 SDGs.
Model Answer: Sustainable development, defined by the Brundtland Commission (1987), means "meeting present needs without compromising future generations' ability to meet theirs." It balances economic, social, and environmental goals. India adopted all 17 SDGs (Agenda 2030) in 2015. Three key SDGs: SDG 1 (No Poverty), SDG 13 (Climate Action), SDG 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy).
Q4. [10 marks — 150 words] Explain India's NDC submitted to UNFCCC. What are India's climate commitments and their significance?
Model Answer: India's Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) is India's voluntary climate action pledge under the Paris Agreement (2015). India updated its NDC in August 2022 with three enhanced commitments:
Target 1: Reduce GDP emissions intensity by 45% by 2030 (from 2005 baseline) — upgraded from the original 33–35%.
Target 2: Achieve 50% cumulative electric power capacity from non-fossil fuel sources by 2030 — upgraded from 40%. As of April 2025, India's renewable energy capacity exceeds 220 GW, with solar alone at 89.9 GW.
Target 3: Create additional carbon sink of 2.5–3 billion tonnes CO₂ equivalent through enhanced forest and tree cover by 2030.
India also committed to achieving net-zero emissions by 2070, announced by PM Modi at COP26 (Glasgow, 2021). India's position is grounded in climate justice — India's per capita emissions (1.9 tonnes) remain far below global average (4.7 tonnes) and USA (14.9 tonnes). The National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC, 2008) with 8 National Missions provides the policy framework. These commitments are significant because India, as the world's third-largest emitter, shapes global climate trajectories.
Q5. [10 marks — 150 words] Discuss the problem of environmental degradation in India. What policy measures has India taken to address it?
Model Answer: India faces severe environmental degradation across multiple domains. Air pollution: 14 of the world's 20 most polluted cities are Indian (IQAir 2023); the National Clean Air Programme (2019) targets 40% reduction in PM concentrations in 132 cities by 2026. Land degradation: 32% of India's land (96 million hectares) is degraded due to deforestation, overgrazing, and soil erosion (ISRO-SAC 2021). Water stress: India extracts 251 km³ groundwater annually — world's highest — depleting aquifers in 1,144 over-exploited units. Deforestation: forest cover at 21.76% remains below the 33% constitutional target (State of Forest Report 2023).
Policy responses include: Namami Gange Programme (Rs 20,000 crore for Ganga rejuvenation); National Green Tribunal (2010) for environmental justice; Environment Impact Assessment notifications; Biological Diversity Act 2002; Project Tiger (54 reserves; tiger population 3,682 in 2022 census); Carbon Credit Trading Scheme (2023) for domestic carbon markets. Internationally, India leads through NAPCC, updated NDC, and Mission LiFE initiative promoting sustainable consumption.
Q6. [5 marks — 50 words] What is Mission LiFE? How is it relevant to India's climate goals?
Model Answer: Mission LiFE (Lifestyle for Environment), launched by PM Modi at COP26 in November 2021, is a global movement promoting mindful and deliberate consumption to combat climate change. It calls for "pro-planet" individual behaviour — reducing waste, conserving energy, choosing sustainable products. It complements India's NDC targets by addressing demand-side emissions and was formally launched as a programme in October 2022.