India’s failure to submit its updated climate pledge before the conclusion of the United Nations climate summit in Belem, Brazil, has sparked concerns about its role in global climate leadership. As the world’s most populous nation and a key player in combating climate change, India’s delay in presenting its Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) has been interpreted by experts as a sign of dissatisfaction with the slow progress in global climate funding. This hesitation could undermine its influence at the ongoing COP30 talks.