UPSC Prelims 2016 · GS Paper I

Question 6: Environment and Ecology

The term ‘Intended Nationally Determined Contributions’ is sometimes seen in the news in the context of

apledges made by the European countries to rehabilitate refugees from the war-affected Middle East

bplan of action outlined by the countries of the world to combat climate change

ccapital contributed by the member countries in the establishment of Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank

dplan of action outlined by the countries of the world regarding Sustainable Development Goals

AnswerUPSC’s answer is (b).

Before the Paris climate conference of December 2015, the UNFCCC asked every country to publish its own post-2020 plan for limiting greenhouse gas emissions. These national pledges were called Intended Nationally Determined Contributions. They concern climate action, not refugees, AIIB capital or the Sustainable Development Goals. India's INDC included cutting the emissions intensity of its GDP by 33 to 35 percent by 2030 from 2005 levels.

Why each option is right or wrong

(a) Refugee pledges have nothing to do with INDCs.
(b) Right: INDCs are countries' own plans of action against climate change.
(c) AIIB capital subscriptions are unrelated to INDCs.
(d) INDCs belong to the UNFCCC climate process, not the SDGs.

Worth knowing: Once a country joins the Paris Agreement its INDC becomes its Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC), so the word 'Intended' is no longer used.

Answer: UPSC’s key. Explanation: written by UPSC Grade, not by UPSC.

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Source: UPSC, Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination 2016, General Studies Paper I, Series A. The paper on upsc.gov.in.