High Heat in India: Heatwaves, Causes, Heat Action Plans & Climate Risks

24 Apr 2026

India is currently facing a severe heat crisis, with temperatures exceeding 40°C in at least eight states. This has led to a significant loss of livelihoods, particularly for outdoor workers, resulting in an estimated 247 billion working hours lost in 2024.

UPSC Online Courses

What is a Heatwave? (IMD Definitions)

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) defines heatwaves based on geographical regions:

Plains: When the maximum temperature reaches 40°C and is 4.5°C to 6.4°C above normal. If it exceeds 6.4°C above normal (totaling over 46.5°C), it is a severe heatwave.
Coastal Regions: When temperatures exceed 37°C.
Hilly Areas: When temperatures exceed 30°C.

Conditions and Causes Five primary factors are driving the current extreme heat:

El Niño Effect: Warming in the Pacific Ocean weakens the Indian monsoon, leading to higher temperatures.
Weak Western Disturbances: The absence of winter and spring rainfall (Maowat) has removed a natural cooling effect.
Weak Convective Currents: A lack of local air rising and condensing into clouds has prevented natural afternoon cooling.
Urban Heat Islands: Concrete and asphalt in cities trap heat during the day and fail to release it at night, keeping urban areas hotter than surroundings.
Wet Bulb Temperature: A deadly combination of high heat and high humidity that prevents sweat from evaporating, making even 35°C lethal.

About Heat Action Plans (HAPs)

Currently, Heat Action Plans in India are primarily localized and implemented at the state or district level rather than through a standardized national approach.

Challenges

Reactive Approach: Efforts usually begin only after a heat event occurs rather than being proactive.
Funding Shortages: There is a lack of long-term, permanent funding for heat mitigation.
Informal Sector Vulnerability: Workers in the informal sector face the brunt of health risks and income loss with little protection.
Lack of Urban Regreening: Cities continue to expand without sufficient green spaces to counter the heat island effect.

Way Forward

Proactive Planning: Implementing measures before the crisis hits.
Permanent Infrastructure: Establishing mobile health units and heat safety legislation to protect workers.
Urban Greening: Actively planting trees and restoring local ecology in cities.
International Collaboration: Joining groups like the Columbia Coalition to access climate finance and technology for moving away from fossil fuels.

Click to Know UPSC OnlyIAS Coaching Centres

Conclusion

India’s heatwave crisis reflects a deepening climate vulnerability with serious implications for health, livelihoods, and food security. Current responses, largely reactive and underfunded, fail to address structural causes. Without long-term investment, proactive governance, and global cooperation, parts of India may approach human survivability limits.