Over the past three decades, India’s trajectory in global climate governance has embodied the quintessential dilemmas of the Global South: the constant negotiation between the right to development and the responsibility to mitigate climate change. As an emerging power with over 1.4 billion people, an expanding industrial base, and growing energy demand, India has become an indispensable actor in shaping the future of the planet’s climate regime. Its position has never been static. Rather, it has evolved dynamically in response to shifting geopolitical contexts, domestic imperatives, and scientific awareness. Understanding India’s climate politics therefore offers not only an insight into one nation’s policy evolution, but also a window into the broader transformation of developing countries’ engagement with global environmental governance.