The issue brief unpacks the Global Stocktake (GST) process and analyses the emerging themes in country submissions. It recommends key deliverables of the GST for making it relevant for India and the Global South. The GST lies at the heart of the Paris Agreement. It aims to support countries in periodically reviewing their collective progress towards the Agreement’s long-term goals of limiting the global temperature rise to well below 2°C. Established under Article 14 of the Paris Agreement, it is expected to help countries course-correct, set more ambitious goals for their Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC), and spur international cooperation. The GST is a two-year-long process, and the culmination of the first GST will be at the 28th Conference of Parties (COP28) in Dubai. Over the last three decades, climate pledges have increased. Yet climate action on the ground remains limited due to delivery gaps in action and support, misuse of accounting provisions, non-alignment of commitments with science, and easy exit or non-participation of countries without any punitive measures. In light of the existing geopolitical challenges, structural impediments, unfulfilled pledges, and the rising incidence of climate disasters, it is crucial that the GST process results in strong, actionable outcomes for Parties.