India plays a significant role in global climate policy formulation and deliberations, owing to its unique position as a rapidly developing economy with a large population and considerable vulnerability to climate change. The country's approach to climate diplomacy has evolved over the years from a defensive posture emphasizing equity and historical responsibility to a more proactive stance aligning with sustainable development, renewable energy adoption, and international cooperation. India’s engagement in climate policy is rooted in its development priorities, such as poverty eradication, energy access, and economic growth, while also addressing environmental sustainability. This balance has shaped its contributions in multilateral negotiations under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), as well as its domestic climate actions. In the early years of global climate negotiations, India emphasized the principle of "common but differentiated responsibilities and respective capabilities" (CBDR-RC). India argued that developed countries, which had historically contributed most to greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, should take the lead in mitigation efforts. This principle, enshrined in the UNFCCC, became central to India’s climate diplomacy. India maintained that developing countries like itself needed space for growth and development, and that climate obligations must not compromise poverty alleviation and economic progress. India’s participation in the Kyoto Protocol (1997), which did not impose binding emission reduction targets on developing countries, reflected this stance. India actively supported the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) under Kyoto, which enabled it to host numerous carbon offset projects, bringing