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Heatwaves in India
Heatwaves impacting the country’s labour productivity?
Context: India has seen an early arrival of the monsoon in 2025, providing a much-needed break from one of the most intense heatwaves in recent years.
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- Heatwave conditions were reported as early as late February and intensified across the country by April.
- While the early rains bring temporary relief, the long-term impacts of heatwaves on public health, livelihoods, agriculture, and the economy are growing more serious every year.
Heatwaves Are Becoming More Frequent and Dangerous
- Occurrence: Heatwaves — periods of abnormally high temperatures — typically occur between March and June, peaking in May.
- But in recent years, these extreme heat events have started earlier and become more severe.
- According to a Council on Energy, Environment and Water (CEEW) study, heat extremes in India have risen linearly from 1981 to 2022, leading to landmark heatwaves in 2013, 2016, 2019, 2022, and 2024.
- Coverage: Today, 57% of Indian districts, accounting for 76% of the population, face high to very high heat risks.
- States like Delhi, Maharashtra, Kerala, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, and Andhra Pradesh are among the most vulnerable.
Urbanisation and the Urban Heat Island Effect
- Urban Heat Island: Concrete-heavy cities retain heat during the day, delaying night-time cooling. This leads to warmer nights.
- Cities like Pune, Guwahati, Kolhapur, and Thoothukudi have seen a massive expansion of built-up areas, intensifying heat risks in Tier II and Tier III cities.
- Impacts: Without access to cooling mechanisms, this leads to sleep disturbances, reduced productivity, and health risks.
Heatwaves Hurt India’s Informal Workers and Economy
- A 2024 report by the International Labour Organization (ILO) warned that over 70% of workers globally are exposed to extreme heat, with India among the hardest-hit.
- The country lost an estimated $100 billion due to heat-induced productivity losses, with small businesses and informal workers—construction workers, street vendors, delivery agents, and farmers—bearing the brunt.
- A 2022 World Bank study projected that India will account for 34 million of the expected 80 million global job losses due to heat-related productivity decline.
- Around 75% of India’s workforce—over 380 million people—depend on heat-exposed labor.
- In the manufacturing sector, a 1°C rise in temperature has been linked to a 2% drop in output, driven by reduced productivity and increased absenteeism.
Impact on Agriculture and Rural Livelihoods
- Extreme heat is also threatening India’s food security. Studies show that every 1°C rise in temperature can reduce wheat yields by 5.2%.
- Heat stress late in the rice-growing season also damages crops.
- Livestock and farm animals face direct heat-related risks as well.
- In rural India, the peak summer months are lean periods for farming, so many rural workers take up non-farm jobs like construction or road-building — sectors that expose them directly to the sun.
India’s Heatwave Action Plans and Government Response
- Recognising the growing threat, the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), in collaboration with the Union Ministry of Home Affairs, has issued guidelines to protect India’s workforce from extreme heat.
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These include:
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- Heat education and awareness campaigns
- Adjusting work schedules
- Providing access to water, medical aid, and cooling
- Ensuring appropriate clothing for outdoor workers
- However, the current focus is largely urban-centric, despite the fact that rural India, with weaker healthcare infrastructure, is equally vulnerable.
With more than 23 States now heatwave-prone and both daytime and nighttime temperatures rising, India must act swiftly. A coordinated strategy involving climate-resilient urban planning, rural health infrastructure upgrades, and worker protections is critical.
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The Source’s Authority and Ownership of the Article is Claimed By THE STUDY IAS BY MANIKANT SINGH
