In a rare departure, the survey report outlined and explained an element of India's international policy detailing why it had to place equity at the heart of its stance to ensure atmospheric space for growth even as it took on a substantial financial burden domestically to meet its voluntary commitments like the Solar Mission. The economic as well as scientific logic underpinning the principles was sketched out in the survey.

The 20-page chapter on climate change left no doubt that the alternative view floating inside the government for the past some years of showing flexibility on these basic principles has now been effectively shelved.

The Economic Survey also ripped into the stance taken by the small island countries such as Grenada and Tuvalu - who play the 'victim card' to the hilt at the negotiations while aligning with developed country blocs such as the EU on critical junctures. It noted how several of these countries had much greater income, energy and emission levels than India while India had a substantially larger population at risk from climate change. The survey was also critical of a recent report commissioned by the UN secretary-general on climate finance for being silent on several critical issues and being contrary to the provisions of the existing UN climate convention.

The survey noted that despite many developed countries reneging on their existing obligations on emission reduction, finance and technology transfer, India had undertaken voluntary actions to reduce energy intensity of its economy at considerable economic cost even as it spent a high amount on adaptation. It recognised that more was needed to help shift the energy sources and distribution to a more equitable level domestically.