Question

Number of institutions in the Indian Network on Climate Change Assessment (INCCA):
A. 79
B. 100
C. 120
D. 127

Answer 1

The Indian Network on Climate Change Assessment (INCCA) is a proposed network of scientists in India to be set up to publish peer-reviewed findings on climate change in India. It was announced on 7 October 2009.

Complete Answer:
- It was re-announced on 25 January 2012 by an official of the climate change division within the Environment Ministry after a plan meeting chaired by Joint Secretary (Climate) J.M. Mausker, which also addressed the framing of India's National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC).
- On 4 February 2010 India's environment minister Jairam Ramesh announced that this would be able to compile 250 scientists from 125 Indian research institutions and collaborate with international organizations. Its first assessment of greenhouse emission was released on May 11, 2010 and then, the second climate assessment published in November 2010 included reports on the Himalayas, the coastline of India, the Western Ghat highlands and the north-eastern region of India.
- He said it would operate as a “sort of Indian IPCC", but won’t rival the UN’s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). A total of 127 institutions come under The Indian Network on Climate Change Assessment (INCCA).
- Jairam Ramesh also announced the initiation of an Indian National Institute of Himalayan Glaciology. He said that although he respected the IPCC, it was unequal to the task and its weakness was that it didn’t conduct its own research. Ramesh also indicated its biases made it insensitive to regional realities, and instead relied on compiling assessments of other reports, which led to "goof-ups" on the Amazon forests, Himalayan glaciers, and ice caps.

Hence, the correct option is D.

Note: INCCA has been visualized as a network of institutions countrywide and is designed to undertake a wide range of activities in the area of climate change, e.g. science, impacts, vulnerability, mitigation and adaptation. It contemplates other initiatives which could serve as a basis to respond to concerns of climate change.