Why in News?

• At an international conference on “The Future of Environment and Climate Dynamics”, organised by the National Green Tribunal (NGT), the Indian PM highlighted the unequal distribution of global carbon emissions.
• Reaffirming India’s commitment to climate action, his remarks come ahead of COP31, scheduled to be held in Antalya, Türkiye.
• India’s position centres on climate equity, historical responsibility and differentiated obligations, while emphasising that development and environmental protection must advance together.

What’s in Today’s Article?

• Unequal Carbon Responsibility
• India’s Climate Action
• Development and Environmental Protection
• India’s Position Ahead of COP31
• Conclusion

Unequal Carbon Responsibility:

• The Indian PM questioned the narrative that places disproportionate responsibility for global emissions on developing countries.
• India’s per capita carbon emissions are about 2.2 tonnes annually, less than half the global average of 4.7 tonnes.
• Developed countries have per capita emissions roughly six times higher than India’s. For example, per capita emissions of the US (14.2 tonnes) and Russia (14 tonnes) are substantially higher than India’s.
• India’s cumulative contribution to global carbon emissions during 1751–2024 is about 3.5%, compared with 23.5% for the US, 15.4% for China, 6.6% for Russia, 5.1% for Germany and 4.3% for the UK.
• India argues that developed countries bear greater historical responsibility, having achieved development through extensive fossil-fuel consumption over the past two centuries.
• At the same time, India maintains that it has not evaded its climate responsibilities and has implemented its commitments under the Paris Agreement.

India’s Climate Action:

• India is the only G20 country to have fulfilled all its COP21 Paris commitments ahead of schedule, particularly in areas such as non-fossil-fuel capacity, renewable energy and emissions reduction.
• India’s climate initiatives highlighted at the conference include -
  • Solar energy capacity: Increased from around 2 GW in 2012 to 160 GW.
  • PM-KUSUM: Around 30 lakh farmers have received solar pumps.
  • One Nation One Grid: It has helped prevent an estimated 200 million tonnes of carbon emissions.
  • Expansion of wind and hydropower.
  • Promotion of rooftop and decentralised solar power.
  • Electric vehicles: Annual sales increased from around 3,000 in 2014 to 25 lakh in the previous year.
  • Metro rail: Expanded from less than 250 km across five cities before 2014 to over 1,000 km across 20 cities.
  • 100% railway electrification.
  • Expansion of inland waterways.
  • Around 3,000 km of Dedicated Freight Corridors (DFCs), reducing fuel consumption.
• India has also promoted international initiatives such as the International Solar Alliance, Global Biofuel Alliance and International Big Cat Alliance.

Development and Environmental Protection:

• The conference emphasised that environmental protection should not be viewed as inherently opposed to economic development.
• CJI Surya Kant observed that the judicial question is increasingly shifting from “conservation versus development” to how both can be harmonised and sustained.
  • He also highlighted the transition from conventional environmental rights to climate-related rights, recognising the environment as central to human well-being.
• The Union Environment Minister similarly argued that the real choice is not between development and environment, but between sustainable development and unsustainable development.
• India’s conservation efforts also include protection of wildlife and endangered species, with emphasis on tigers, elephants, lions, the Great Indian Bustard and vultures.

India’s Position Ahead of COP31:

• India is expected to continue advocating climate action based on -
  • Equity and climate justice
  • Historical responsibility
  • Implementation of existing commitments
  • Greater attention to the needs of vulnerable developing countries
  • Balancing developmental needs with climate action
• The issue has acquired greater significance as vulnerable countries seek support through mechanisms such as the Loss and Damage Fund (LDF) for climate-induced disasters.

Conclusion:

• India’s climate diplomacy seeks to reconcile developmental aspirations, climate justice and global environmental responsibility.
• Its position stresses that present-day emission obligations must be considered alongside historical emissions, per capita disparities and the developmental needs of poorer countries.
• This position simultaneously demonstrates domestic progress in renewable energy, clean mobility, electrification and biodiversity conservation.

About Bhil Tribe:

• The Bhils are considered one of the oldest tribes in India and are identified as one of the Dravidian racial tribes of Western India and belong to the Australoid group of tribes.
• According to the 2011 census, Bhil is the largest tribal group in India, constituting approximately 38% of the total scheduled tribal population of India.
• The name ‘Bhil’ is derived from the word “villu” or “billu”, which, according to the Dravidian language, is known as Bow.
• Their reference is in old literature, Ramayana and Mahabharata.
• Distribution:
  • They are the most widely distributed tribal groups in India.
  • They mainly reside in Rajasthan, western Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat and northern Maharashtra. Some families have migrated to other states like Tripura for jobs in tea gardens.
  • Bhil populations are concentrated in the southernmost hills of the Aravalli Range, the western uplands of the Vindhya and Satpura ranges, and the northernmost hills of the Western Ghats.
  • Some Bhil groups occupy the nearby river valleys and coastal plains.
• Occupation: Nearly all of the Bhil engage in agriculture, some using the slash-and-burn (jhum) method but most employing the plow.
• Language:
  • They speak Bhili, which is an Indo-Aryan language.
  • Bhili dialects show varying degrees of influence of regional languages such as Rajasthani and Marathi, but they all appear to have their origins in Gujarati.
• Beliefs:
  • Almost all Bhils practice ethnic religions that have been highly influenced by Hinduism.
  • Most of them worship local deities like Khandoba, Kanhoba, Bahiroba, and Sitalmata. Some worship the Tiger God called ‘vaghdev’.
• Festivals:
  • The Baneshwar fair is the main festival celebrated among the Bhils. This fair is held during the period of Shivaratri in the months of January or February.
  • The Hindu festivals of Holi and Dusshera are the other major festivals celebrated among the Bhil Tribes in India.
• Art and Culture:
  • The Ghoomar dance, which is a traditional folk dance symbolising womanhood, is one of the popular aspects of Bhil culture.
  • Bhil painting is characterised by the use of multi-coloured dots as in-filling.

About Next-Generation Missile Vessels (NGMVs):

• The NGMVs are envisaged as high-speed vessels equipped with an array of weapons and sensors, being built for the Indian Navy.
• Six NGMVs are being built by government-run Cochin Shipyard Limited (CSL) at a cost of Rs 9,805 crore.
• Delivery of the vessels is scheduled to commence from March 2027.
• The primary role of the ships would be to provide offensive capability against enemy warships, merchantmen, and land targets.
• The vessels are intended for maritime strike and anti-surface warfare operations and will also provide the Navy with sea-denial capability, particularly around strategically important maritime choke points.
• In defensive operations, the ships are expected to support local naval defence and the protection of offshore development areas.
• Features:
  • The core of the NGMV propulsion system is the LM2500, a marine gas turbine, manufactured by the American engine manufacturer General Electric. LM2500 is engineered to unleash superior power while meeting stealth requirements.
  • Each vessel will have a complement of around 80 personnel and a maximum speed of approximately 33 knots (61 kmph).
  • These corvettes can remain at sea for 10 consecutive days and extend their stay by refueling from tankers.
  • They will be equipped with surface-to-surface missile systems, anti-missile defence systems, air-surveillance radars, and fire-control radars.
  • The NGMVs’ primary weapon will be the BrahMos supersonic cruise missile, capable of striking targets at long ranges.
  • The vessels will also be equipped with advanced integrated platform management systems, propulsion and auxiliary machinery, power generation and distribution systems and damage-control machinery. 

About Sohar Port:

• It is a deep-sea port situated in northern Oman, on the Gulf of Oman.
• It is one of the largest and most strategically located deep-sea ports in the Middle East.
• It lies approximately 160 km south of the Strait of Hormuz, midway between Dubai and Muscat (capital of Oman).
• The port serves as a vital commercial hub connecting the markets of the Gulf region, the Indian subcontinent, and East Africa.
• Sohar Port handles various cargo, including dry, break, and liquid bulk, as well as container shipping.
• The port is managed by Sohar Industrial Port Company (SIPC), a joint venture between the Omani Government and the Port of Rotterdam.
• The Sohar Freezone adjacent to the port supports industrial activities such as petrochemicals, metals, and the energy sectors.