Consider the following statements with reference to India’s response to climate change: I. India’s Long-Term Low Emission Development Strategy (LT-LEDS) is a crucial tool for achieving net-zero emissions by 2070. II. India’s 4th Biennial Update Report (BUR-4) submitted in December, 2024 recorded around 8% decrease in Greenhouse gas emissions in 2020 over 2019. III. Climate-resilient development necessarily depends on quick and short-term achievement of emission reduction targets. Which of the following relationships among the above statements is/are correct? 1. Statement I is empirically supported by statement II. 2. Statement III contradicts the approach implicit in statement I. 3. Statement I and statement III together establish the premise of long-term sustainability.

Answer: (b) 1 and 2

BUR-4’s recorded fall (−7.93% in 2020) supports the strategy in I; III’s “quick and short-term” approach contradicts I’s long-term approach.

The idea

Read it as a logic question. Statement I is about a long-term path (to 2070). Statement II is data showing emissions can fall. Statement III says resilience depends on quick, short-term cuts. Data supports a strategy; “short-term only” opposes “long-term”; and two opposing ideas cannot together form one premise.

I + II: data backs the strategy → relationship 1 holds → I versus III: long-term versus short-term → relationship 2 holds → I + III contradict → cannot build one premise → relationship 3 fails

Why the others are wrong

(c) III contradicts I, so they cannot jointly establish long-term sustainability.

The trap

The 2020 fall was partly COVID — but UPSC only asks whether II supports I, not why the fall happened.

Also know

India submitted its Long-Term Low Emission Development Strategy at COP27 (2022). It covers electricity, transport, cities, industry, carbon removal, forests and finance. The fourth Biennial Update Report also said the emissions intensity of GDP fell by 36% between 2005 and 2020. Under the Paris Agreement these reports are now replaced by Biennial Transparency Reports.