The Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has formally approved India’s Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) for the 2031–2035 period. This updated framework significantly raises the nation’s climate ambitions under the Paris Agreement, positioning India as a global leader in balancing rapid economic growth with environmental stewardship.
The new targets serve as a critical milestone toward achieving net-zero emissions by 2070. Central to the 2035 goals is a commitment to reduce the emissions intensity of India’s GDP by 47% compared to 2005 levels. Furthermore, the government has increased its target for non-fossil fuel-based energy, aiming for these resources to account for 60% of India’s total installed electric power capacity by 2035.
India’s track record of surpassing previous commitments provided the foundation for this higher ambition. Having already met its original 2030 non-fossil capacity target nine years ahead of schedule, the country reached 52.57% non-fossil capacity in February 2026. The revised NDC also seeks to expand India’s carbon sink, targeting the sequestration of 3.5 to 4.0 billion tonnes of $CO_2$ equivalent through enhanced forest and tree cover by 2035.
The strategy is underpinned by a “whole-of-government” approach, integrating high-tech initiatives such as the Green Hydrogen Mission and Carbon Capture, Utilisation and Storage (CCUS) with people-centric movements like “Lifestyle for Environment” (LiFE). Adaptation remains a core pillar, with specific focus on mangrove restoration through the MISHTI scheme and the implementation of Heat Action Plans across various states.
In shaping these targets, the government considered the principle of “Common but Differentiated Responsibilities” (CBDR-RC) and the outcomes of the first Global Stocktake. The NDC was developed through extensive consultations led by NITI Aayog, involving ten working groups across industry, civil society, and various central ministries to ensure the targets remain ambitious yet grounded in national reality.
