India appears to be progressing towards a situation in which heatwaves become more of a regular and serious phenomenon for the country, rather than a temporary climatic occurrence. The recent projections made by the India Meteorological Department reveal that certain regions in North and Central India can expect to face more severe and sustained heatwaves in the near future. It is not only the health of the people that is put at stake, but also the safety, livelihoods, and economic productivity of millions.

This problem becomes even more alarming when considered from a global perspective. One scientific report by the University of Oxford indicates that 23% of the global population is currently exposed to the risks associated with extreme heat waves, while the number may climb up to 41% by 2050, which would affect about 3.8 billion people, especially those in South Asia, including India. With the Earth warming to 1.5-2C above pre-industrial levels, heat waves may become more common, prolonged, and intense according to IPCC.
Heatwaves as a Governance and Health Issue

As far as governance and public health are concerned, a more organised approach is evolving in India. The India Meteorological Department has started issuing more localised and impact-based heatwave forecasts, which are shared with the relevant agencies, such as the health department, disaster management authority, and municipal governments. This helps take preventive actions before any disaster strikes.

According to the information shared by the government, on the policy front, the National Disaster Management Authority is partnering with the Indian states to implement Heat Action Plans that include raising public awareness, setting up cooling centres, rescheduling work shifts, and ensuring medical readiness for treating heat strokes and dehydration cases.

There are long-term strategies as well. Adaptation measures, such as cool roofs, additional green cover, and rejuvenation of water bodies, have been proposed to mitigate the urban heat island effect. In addition, the broader climate change policies of India, including the National Action Plan on Climate Change and International Solar Alliance, aim to mitigate through sustainable energy sources.

Climate Stress and Democratic Systems

However, the impacts of heatwaves are no longer confined to environmental and health domains, they are now affecting democratic processes themselves.

A recent analysis reported by India Today, based on findings from International IDEA, highlights a growing global concern: climate change is increasingly disrupting elections. In 2024 alone, at least 23 elections across 18 countries were affected by extreme weather events, including heatwaves, floods, and storms. These disruptions impacted polling logistics, voter turnout, and the safety of election staff.

India was among the most affected democracies. During the 2024 general elections, temperatures crossed 45C in several regions, leading to heat-related illnesses and even fatalities among voters and polling personnel. Such conditions exposed a critical vulnerability: electoral systems are not yet fully designed to operate under extreme climate stress.

This raises a deeper institutional issue. As climate volatility increases, democratic systems may need to rethink how elections are planned and executed, especially in terms of scheduling, infrastructure resilience, coordination between election authorities and disaster management bodies, and safeguards for voter and staff safety. In other words, climate change is beginning to test not only physical systems but also the functioning of democratic governance itself.

Looking Ahead

The country has initiated mechanisms for coping with heatwaves, but based on the rate at which climate change is happening, this could prove to be futile. Integration of climate change science with other disciplines such as health care, urban management, and governance would be critical going forward. The main issue is not only to consider how hot India will become, but also how its institutions will withstand it.
← Back to Articles