Context: At COP30 in Belém, India announced that it will submit both its updated Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) for 2035 and its first Biennial Transparency Report (BTR) by December 2025.
Globally, Parties are required to submit:
- First BTRs in 2024
- Third NDC cycle (2031–2035) in 2025
Under the Paris Agreement, there are no punitive penalties for delayed submissions, as the treaty relies on a non-adversarial, facilitative compliance mechanism.
Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs)
NDCs are non-binding national climate action plans submitted by UNFCCC Parties.
They outline mitigation and adaptation commitments as part of global efforts to limit warming.
Legal Basis
- Article 4 of the Paris Agreement mandates Parties to:
- Prepare, communicate, and maintain successive NDCs
- Implement domestic measures to achieve them
- Submit updated NDCs every five years, aligned with the Global Stocktake (GST)
Submission Cycles
- 1st NDC: Submitted in 2015–16 (targets until 2025/2030)
- 2nd NDC: Due in 2020 (India submitted updated 2030 NDC in Aug 2022)
- 3rd NDC: To cover 2031–2035, due in 2025
India’s NDC: Progress & Status
India’s updated 2030 NDC (submitted August 2022) formalised targets announced at COP26.
Nodal Ministry: MoEFCC; Final Approval: Union Cabinet.
| Target | Status |
|---|---|
| Reduce emissions intensity of GDP by 45% from 2005 levels by 2030 | On track (India achieved 36% by 2020) |
| Achieve 50% installed power capacity from non-fossil sources by 2030 | Achieved early (crossed 50% by June 2025) |
| Create 2.5–3 billion tCO₂-eq additional carbon sink by 2030 | On track (2.29 billion tCO₂-eq added between 2005–2021) |
India's performance reflects strong renewable expansion, energy-efficiency gains, and sustained afforestation efforts.
Biennial Transparency Report (BTR)
The Biennial Transparency Report is a mandatory document every Party must submit every two years.
It forms part of the Enhanced Transparency Framework (ETF) and replaces earlier BRs and BURs.
Flexibility
LDCs and SIDS may submit at their discretion.
Purpose
- Build mutual trust among Parties
- Provide transparent, standardised reporting
- Track NDC progress, implementation measures, and climate finance flows
- Supply inputs for the Global Stocktake (GST)
Components of BTR
Mandatory
- National GHG Inventory (NIR)
- National Inventory Arrangements
- Information on Flexibility (for developing countries)
- Tracking NDC progress
- Structured Summary of NDC progress
- Information on Climate Finance & Support (for developed Parties)
- Support Needed & Received
- Technical Expert Review (TER) & improvement areas
Optional
- Loss & Damage
- Adaptation actions and metrics
- Mitigation co-benefits
- Technology/capacity-building support
- Voluntary Article 13.8 information
- Additional policies & measures