According to data from the Central Electricity Authority (CEA), India’s peak power demand touched 260 GW on June 10 — surpassing the previous record of 250 GW set in May 2025. The surge, driven primarily by the massive increase in air conditioning, cooler, and refrigeration usage across the Hindi heartland, forced grid operators to activate emergency protocols, including the import of power from surplus states and the restart of mothballed thermal power plants.

The Heatwave Situation

The current heatwave, which has been building since late May, is among the most severe India has experienced in recent years. The IMD classifies a heatwave when the maximum temperature exceeds 40°C in plains areas and departs from normal by 4.5°C or more. Large swathes of Rajasthan, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, and the national capital region have been under heatwave conditions for over a week.

Delhi, which recorded a temperature of 48.4°C in parts of the city in June 2024 — one of the highest ever recorded in the capital — is again bracing for extreme heat. The IMD’s orange alert for June 11 warns of maximum temperatures reaching 45-47°C in south and west Delhi, with the “real feel” temperature — factoring in humidity — potentially exceeding 50°C. The alert advises residents to avoid outdoor activity between 11 AM and 4 PM, stay hydrated, and watch for signs of heat stroke.

Other cities reporting dangerously high temperatures include Phalodi in Rajasthan (49.2°C), Churu (48.5°C), Banda in Uttar Pradesh (47.8°C), and Bhopal (46.3°C). The extreme heat has claimed at least 23 lives across northern India in the past week, according to state health department reports, with hundreds more hospitalised for heat-related illnesses.

Power Grid Under Pressure

The record power demand has exposed vulnerabilities in India’s electricity infrastructure. While the country has made significant progress in expanding generation capacity — including a rapid buildout of solar and wind energy — the grid’s ability to manage peak demand during extreme weather events remains a challenge.

The Power Ministry reported that some states, including Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, and Jharkhand, experienced power cuts lasting 2-4 hours during peak afternoon and evening hours as demand outstripped local supply. Industrial consumers in several states were asked to reduce consumption during peak hours to prevent grid failures.

The situation is compounded by the global energy crisis triggered by the US-Iran war. Coal, which still accounts for approximately 55% of India’s electricity generation, has seen prices rise due to disrupted global supply chains. Natural gas prices have also spiked, making gas-fired power plants more expensive to operate. The rising cost of fossil fuels is pushing up the overall cost of power generation, squeezing state electricity boards that are already financially strained.

The Urbanisation Factor

Experts point out that India’s record power demand is not solely a weather phenomenon — it is also driven by rapid urbanisation and rising living standards. As more Indians move to cities, buy air conditioners, and shift to energy-intensive lifestyles, the baseline electricity demand is growing structurally. The penetration of air conditioning in India has risen from 7% of households in 2019 to an estimated 15% in 2026, and is projected to reach 40% by 2040.

“India is going through the same transition that China went through 15-20 years ago,” said Ajay Shankar, former Secretary of the Department of Industrial Policy. “When hundreds of millions of people switch on air conditioners for the first time, the impact on the power grid is enormous. We need to plan for this structural shift, not just manage crisis-to-crisis.”

The government has responded with both short-term and long-term measures. In the short term, the Power Ministry has directed all thermal power plants to operate at maximum capacity, extended coal import contracts, and activated interstate power trading mechanisms to transfer surplus from southern and eastern states to the deficit north and west.

Long-Term Solutions

In the longer term, India’s strategy centres on expanding renewable energy capacity, improving energy efficiency, and upgrading the grid to handle variable demand. The country has set a target of 500 GW of non-fossil fuel electricity capacity by 2030, with solar energy playing the dominant role. Battery storage systems, which can store solar power generated during the day for use during evening peak hours, are being deployed at an accelerating pace.

Smart grid technologies, demand-side management programmes, and energy-efficient building codes are also part of the solution. The Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE) has mandated star ratings for air conditioners and is promoting inverter technology, which can reduce AC power consumption by 30-50% compared to conventional units.

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But for the millions of Indians suffering through today’s heatwave — especially the urban poor who lack access to air conditioning, and outdoor workers who cannot avoid the sun — long-term solutions offer little comfort. The immediate need is for effective heat action plans, public cooling centres, and emergency medical services to prevent the deadly toll that extreme heat exacts on vulnerable populations every summer.

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The situation shows no signs of abating. IMD has warned that intense heat conditions are likely to continue for at least another four to five days across a vast swathe of the country, including Delhi, Rajasthan, Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Vidarbha, Chhattisgarh, Bihar, and Telangana. Maximum temperatures have been frequently exceeding 45°C in many areas, with Banda in Uttar Pradesh and Brahmpuri in Maharashtra’s Vidarbha region recording the country’s highest maximum temperature at a scorching 47.6°C on Monday.

Night-Time Heat: A Growing Health Concern

While daytime temperatures above 45°C grab headlines, experts say it is the persistently high night-time temperatures that pose the greatest health risk. When minimum temperatures remain above 30°C, the human body gets little opportunity to cool down during sleep, leading to heat stress, dehydration, and in extreme cases, heat stroke and organ failure.

“The minimum temperature not dropping below 32 degrees is extremely worrying from a public health perspective,” said Dr. Poornima Prabhakaran, Director of the Centre for Environmental Health at the Public Health Foundation of India. “The body needs a recovery period at night. When that doesn’t happen, the cumulative heat stress can be fatal, particularly for the elderly, outdoor workers, and those without access to cooling.”

Delhi’s previous record for the warmest May night was 33.2°C, recorded on May 22, 2012. While Sunday’s reading didn’t break that absolute record, it is the highest nighttime temperature recorded in the city since then, and meteorologists warn that the current conditions could push readings even higher in the coming days.

Daytime Extremes Across the Country

The daytime situation is equally alarming. Delhi’s Safdarjung weather station recorded a maximum of 43.6°C on May 24 — making it the hottest May day in the city in two years. But Delhi’s temperatures pale in comparison to what other parts of the country have been experiencing:

• Uttar Pradesh: Banda recorded 47.6°C, with several other cities including Jhansi (47.2°C), Prayagraj (46.8°C), and Varanasi (46.4°C) experiencing extreme heat.
• Maharashtra: Brahmpuri in Vidarbha matched Banda at 47.6°C, while Akola, Chandrapur, and Nagpur all crossed 46°C.
• Rajasthan: Churu (47.1°C), Ganganagar (46.9°C), and Bikaner (46.5°C) continued to bake under the desert sun.
• Madhya Pradesh: Khajuraho (46.3°C), Nowgong (46.1°C), and Gwalior (45.8°C) reported temperatures well above normal.

Power Grid Under Unprecedented Strain

The relentless heat has driven India’s power consumption to record levels. Peak electricity demand has repeatedly broken records throughout May, driven not only by daytime cooling needs but increasingly by nighttime air conditioning usage as temperatures refuse to drop. India set a new all-time peak power demand record earlier this month, and grid operators have warned of potential shortfalls if conditions persist.

“Higher heat means increased power consumption, and India has seen demand driven to repeated records, not only during the day but at night, resulting in occasional shortfalls,” noted a report from Business Standard. The situation has been exacerbated by the Iran conflict’s impact on global energy prices, which has raised the cost of imported coal and natural gas used in power generation.

Several states have reported power cuts ranging from two to six hours daily, with rural areas bearing the brunt of load shedding. In Uttar Pradesh, where temperatures have been among the highest in the country, farmer unions have demanded uninterrupted power supply for irrigation, warning that the heat could devastate the kharif sowing season if crops don’t receive adequate water.

El Niño and Climate Change: The Underlying Drivers

Climate scientists point to a combination of El Niño conditions and long-term climate change as the primary drivers behind this year’s exceptional heat. While the current El Niño event is weakening, its residual warming effect on sea surface temperatures continues to amplify heat extremes over the Indian subcontinent.

“What we’re seeing is consistent with climate projections for South Asia,” said Dr. Roxy Mathew Koll, a senior scientist at the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology. “Heatwaves are becoming more frequent, more intense, and longer-lasting. The combination of El Niño and background warming from greenhouse gas emissions is creating conditions that would have been considered extraordinary just a decade ago.”

A recent study published in Nature Climate Change found that heatwave events in India have increased in frequency by 30% over the past two decades, with the average duration of each event also rising. The study warned that without significant greenhouse gas emission reductions, such extreme heat events could become the norm rather than the exception by mid-century.

Impact on Agriculture and Livelihoods

The heatwave’s impact extends far beyond personal discomfort. Maharashtra’s famed Alphonso mango trade has been devastated, with officials reporting that hotter weather has ruined this year’s crop of the variety known as the “King of Mangoes.” The combined effect of heat, El Niño, and the disruption caused by the Iran war has battered the mango trade across the state.

Wheat procurement in Punjab and Haryana has also been affected, with early maturation due to heat reducing grain quality and yields. Animal husbandry experts have warned of increased mortality among livestock, particularly in Rajasthan and Gujarat, where water sources are rapidly drying up.

Government Response and Advisories

The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) has issued heat action plans across affected states, urging citizens to stay indoors between 11 AM and 4 PM, maintain hydration, and avoid strenuous outdoor activity. Several state governments have modified school timings, with classes beginning and ending earlier to avoid peak heat hours.

Delhi Chief Minister has announced the opening of 500 additional “cooling shelters” across the city, equipped with water coolers and fans, to provide relief for the homeless and outdoor workers. Similar measures have been announced in Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, and Madhya Pradesh.

As India braces for several more days of punishing heat, the current crisis serves as a stark reminder of the country’s vulnerability to climate extremes — and the urgent need for long-term adaptation strategies that go beyond short-term crisis management.

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At least 32 people have been killed across Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, and Karnataka over the past 48 hours as severe storms, heavy rainfall, and lightning strikes battered large parts of India. The deaths — caused primarily by falling trees, building collapses, lightning, and drowning in flash floods — come at a time when the country is experiencing an unusual weather pattern that has brought destructive storms to northern and southern India while simultaneously pushing temperatures above 44 degrees Celsius in Rajasthan and Maharashtra.

The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued red alerts for 62 districts across multiple states, warning of continued strong winds and lightning in the coming 24 to 48 hours. The storms are part of a larger weather disturbance that has also brought unseasonable rainfall to Delhi, where the capital recorded its highest April rainfall in 18 years.

State-by-State Breakdown of Deaths and Damage

Uttar Pradesh has been the worst-affected state, accounting for approximately half of the fatalities. Thunderstorms accompanied by winds exceeding 60 kilometres per hour struck multiple districts in the state, uprooting trees, damaging power lines, and destroying temporary structures. Districts in the eastern UP belt, including Varanasi, Prayagraj, and Gorakhpur, reported the highest concentration of casualties. Several deaths were caused by lightning strikes in open fields, where farmers and labourers were working when the storms hit without warning.

Bihar reported multiple deaths from what locals described as nor’wester storms — known as Kal Baisakhi in the region — that swept through several districts with devastating force. These storms, which are common during the pre-monsoon season, packed wind speeds of approximately 65 kilometres per hour and caused widespread destruction of huts, standing crops, and rural infrastructure. Thousands of hectares of wheat and maize crops have reportedly been damaged, adding to the economic distress of farmers who are already dealing with the impact of a prolonged dry spell earlier in the year.

Karnataka recorded several deaths in its northern and southern interior regions, where thunderstorms accompanied by hail battered districts including Mandya, Mysuru, Hassan, Chamarajanagara, and Ramanagara. The IMD’s Bengaluru office issued specific warnings for these districts, forecasting heavy rain with hail and gusty winds of 40 to 60 kilometres per hour. Bidar in North Interior Karnataka recorded a maximum temperature of 43.8 degrees Celsius even as the storms raged, illustrating the extreme weather variability across the state.

Delhi Records Highest April Rainfall in 18 Years

While not reporting fatalities on the same scale as the three worst-affected states, Delhi experienced its most significant April rainfall event since 2008. The heatwave conditions that had gripped the capital for much of April were temporarily broken by heavy showers accompanied by strong winds, leading to a sharp drop in temperatures. The Safdarjung weather station, which provides Delhi’s official readings, recorded rainfall that exceeded the April average by a significant margin.

The unseasonal rain caused waterlogging in several parts of the capital, disrupted traffic on major arterial roads, and brought down trees in multiple neighbourhoods. Delhi’s drainage infrastructure, which is designed primarily for monsoon-season rainfall, was overwhelmed by the intensity of the downpour. The IMD has attributed the unusual weather pattern to the interaction of a western disturbance with moisture-laden winds from the Arabian Sea.

Heatwave Persists in Rajasthan and Maharashtra

In stark contrast to the storm-ravaged northern and southern states, Rajasthan and Maharashtra continued to experience scorching heatwave conditions, with temperatures crossing 44 degrees Celsius in multiple locations. Cities in western Rajasthan, including Barmer, Jaisalmer, and Bikaner, have been recording temperatures well above normal for this time of year, and the IMD has maintained heat warnings for these regions.

Maharashtra’s Vidarbha region, which is traditionally one of the hottest parts of India during the pre-monsoon period, has seen several stations record temperatures above 43 degrees. The juxtaposition of extreme heat in the west and destructive storms in the north and south has been described by meteorologists as a manifestation of the increasing weather variability that has become a hallmark of India’s pre-monsoon season in recent years.

The forest fires in Uttarakhand, which have been burning since November with over 160 incidents recorded, are another dimension of the extreme weather conditions. Hot, dry conditions have fuelled the fires, while the storms in neighbouring states have brought no relief to the fire-affected regions.

Early Monsoon Signals and the Weather Outlook

The severe weather events of the past 48 hours are occurring against the backdrop of forecasts suggesting an early onset of the southwest monsoon this year. The European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF) has projected that the monsoon could reach the Andaman and Nicobar Islands by 18 to 25 May, earlier than the normal date of around 20 May, and could advance to the Kerala coast ahead of the usual 1 June onset.

Strong winds from the southwest are already building over the southern Bay of Bengal, and models show rainfall 30 to 60 millimetres above normal for the Andaman Islands in the coming weeks. There is also a moderate 20 to 40 per cent chance of a tropical system forming north of the Andamans, which could act as a catalyst to accelerate the monsoon’s progression toward the Indian mainland.

For the immediate term, the IMD has warned that the stormy conditions will persist across northern and central India over the weekend, with further thunderstorms expected in Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, West Bengal, and Madhya Pradesh. Farmers have been advised not to keep harvested crops in the open, and residents in affected areas have been urged to stay indoors during storms and avoid sheltering under trees or near power lines.

Government Response and Relief Measures

State governments in all three affected states have announced ex-gratia compensation for the families of those killed. The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) has deployed teams in the worst-affected districts, and the State Disaster Response Forces (SDRF) are conducting relief operations in areas where infrastructure damage has disrupted normal life.

Power restoration efforts are ongoing in districts where electricity supply was knocked out by fallen trees and damaged lines. Uttar Pradesh and Bihar have reported that power supply has been restored to most affected areas, though isolated pockets remain without electricity. Crop damage assessments are being conducted by agricultural officers, and insurance claims under the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana are expected to be processed in the coming weeks.

As India enters what promises to be a volatile pre-monsoon season, the tragic loss of 32 lives is a reminder of the country’s vulnerability to extreme weather events and the urgent need for improved early warning systems, disaster-resilient infrastructure, and public awareness about storm safety protocols.

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The Numbers Behind the Record: Solar and Wind Lead the Charge

The FY26 figures reveal the scale of India’s renewable expansion. Solar installations reached approximately 44.6 GW — an 87.2 per cent increase compared to the previous year. Within this, ground-mounted utility-scale solar contributed around 34.8 GW, marking a staggering 106 per cent year-on-year increase. This surge is attributed primarily to the completion of projects initiated under the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy’s ambitious 50 GW annual bidding trajectory that began in 2023.

Wind energy, long the quieter sibling of solar in India’s renewable family, also posted strong numbers. Approximately 6 GW of new wind capacity was installed in FY26, representing a 45.6 per cent increase over FY25. This brings India’s cumulative wind capacity to approximately 55 GW. The remaining additions came from small hydro, biomass, and waste-to-energy projects. Renewable energy’s share in India’s total installed power capacity continues to climb and now represents a meaningful portion of the country’s energy mix, though coal still dominates actual electricity generation due to intermittency and storage challenges.

PM Surya Ghar Scheme Drives Rooftop Solar Revolution

One of the most encouraging developments in FY26 was the explosive growth in rooftop solar, driven largely by the PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana — the government’s flagship programme that provides subsidies to residential households for installing rooftop solar panels. Approximately 8.7 GW of rooftop solar was installed in FY26, a 69 per cent year-on-year increase. The scheme, which aims to cover one crore households with rooftop solar by 2027, has been instrumental in bringing solar energy to individual homes rather than just large commercial and industrial consumers.

Under the scheme, households receive a subsidy of up to Rs 78,000 for systems up to 3 kW, with the promise of 300 units of free electricity per month. As of April 2026, over 32 lakh applications have been approved, and the programme is operational across all states. The scheme has been particularly successful in Gujarat, Rajasthan, Maharashtra, and Karnataka, where state-level top-ups and streamlined approvals have accelerated adoption. The growth in rooftop solar also aligns with broader trends in India’s climate action strategy, which emphasises decentralised energy production alongside utility-scale projects.

India Becomes Third-Largest Solar Market Globally

With 150 GW of installed solar capacity, India has now overtaken several major economies to become the third-largest country by solar photovoltaic capacity, behind only China and the United States. This is a remarkable achievement for a country that had less than 3 GW of solar capacity as recently as 2014. The acceleration has been driven by falling module prices, competitive auctions that have brought solar tariffs to record lows, and strong government policy support including production-linked incentive schemes for domestic solar module manufacturing.

India’s solar manufacturing ecosystem is also maturing. The government’s PLI scheme for solar modules has attracted investments from companies like Adani Solar, Tata Power Solar, Vikram Solar, and Waaree Energies. Domestic module manufacturing capacity is expected to reach 60 GW by 2027, reducing dependence on Chinese imports which currently account for approximately 80 per cent of modules used in Indian projects. The connection between India’s renewable energy ambitions and its broader manufacturing push is evident — the same companies driving India’s electric vehicle revolution are also investing in clean energy supply chains.

Challenges Remain: Storage, Grid Integration, and the 2030 Target

Despite the record installations, significant challenges remain in India’s path to 500 GW by 2030. Grid integration of variable renewable energy sources requires substantial investment in battery energy storage systems, which are currently being tendered at scale but face cost and supply chain constraints. India has tendered approximately 15 GWh of battery storage in FY26, but actual commissioning has been slower than planned.

Transmission infrastructure is another bottleneck. Many of India’s best solar and wind resource zones are in remote areas — Rajasthan, Gujarat, and Ladakh for solar; Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, and Gujarat for wind — and connecting these to demand centres requires new high-voltage transmission corridors. The Green Energy Corridor programme is expanding but faces land acquisition and right-of-way challenges.

Curtailment is an emerging concern in states with high renewable penetration. During peak solar hours, some states now have more renewable energy generation than demand, leading to the paradoxical situation of solar plants being asked to reduce output. This underscores the urgent need for storage and demand-side management solutions. Financial health of distribution companies remains a concern as well, though the Revamped Distribution Sector Scheme has made progress in reducing aggregate technical and commercial losses.

Looking Ahead: Can India Hit 500 GW by 2030?

To reach its 500 GW non-fossil fuel target by 2030, India needs to add approximately 56 GW per year for the next four years. The FY26 figure of 51 GW suggests this is achievable but leaves little room for shortfalls. The pipeline is robust — over 120 GW of solar and wind projects are under various stages of development — but execution risks remain around land availability, financing, and supply chain disruptions. The favourable interest rate environment is helping project financing, but global factors such as polysilicon price fluctuations and shipping costs can impact project economics.

What is beyond doubt is that FY26 has established a new baseline for India’s renewable ambitions. A country that installed 51 GW in a single year has demonstrated that it possesses the policy framework, institutional capacity, and market appetite to sustain this pace. The 150 GW solar milestone, in particular, represents a transformation of India’s energy identity — from one of the world’s largest fossil fuel consumers to a genuine clean energy superpower in the making.

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Everest 2026: North Side Closed

In an unprecedented decision, the China Tibet Mountaineering Association (CTMA) announced in March 2026 that the north-side route (from Tibet) to Everest will be completely closed for the spring season. The closure is attributed to ongoing environmental remediation work near Advanced Base Camp and the Chinese government’s broader effort to limit overcrowding on the mountain. The north side has historically attracted climbers seeking to avoid Nepal’s permit fees and the dangers of the Khumbu Icefall on the south-side approach.

With the northern route shut, all commercial traffic this spring is funnelling through Nepal — and Nepal is ready. The Icefall Doctors, the elite Sherpa team responsible for fixing ropes and ladders through the treacherous Khumbu Icefall, arrived at Base Camp in late March and began preparing the route to Camp 2 in the Western Cwm. The Nepali government has issued over 400 permits for the spring season, each costing $11,000 per climber — a record number that reflects both the mountain’s enduring allure and the concentration effect of the northern closure.

New Nepal Regulations

Nepal has introduced several new rules for the 2026 season in response to years of criticism about safety, littering, and the deaths of inadequately prepared climbers:

• Mandatory GPS Tracking: Every climber must carry a satellite-linked GPS device that transmits their location in real time. This allows rescue coordinators to deploy helicopters more quickly in emergencies and gives families live updates on their loved ones’ progress.
• Garbage Deposit: Each expedition must deposit $4,000 per member, refundable only when they bring down a specified weight of waste. Previous seasons saw tonnes of oxygen bottles, tents, and food packaging left on the mountain.
• Health Certificate: Climbers must provide a medical fitness certificate from an approved physician, including a cardiac stress test and a pulmonary function evaluation. The rule is aimed at reducing deaths among under-prepared trekkers who sign up with budget operators.

Indian Climbers on Everest

India has a strong and growing presence in high-altitude mountaineering. Among the Indian climbers attempting Everest this spring is Saanika Shah, a young mountaineer from Mumbai who announced her expedition in February 2026 and has been documenting her training, mindset, and preparation on YouTube. Shah’s expedition is notable not just for her personal ambition but for the visibility it brings to female mountaineering in India — a space still dominated by men.

Several Indian Army and ITBP (Indo-Tibetan Border Police) teams are also on the mountain this season, continuing a tradition that dates back to the first Indian ascent in 1965 by Nawang Gombu. India’s National Mountaineering Foundation reports that the number of Indian Everest applicants has tripled since 2019, driven by social media inspiration, improved economic conditions, and a cultural shift that values experiential achievement alongside traditional career success. This dovetails with the broader Himalayan adventure tourism boom that is transforming mountain economies across Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, and Sikkim.

Rhododendron Season: Spring’s Other Mountain Spectacle

While Everest dominates headlines, the more accessible story for most Indian mountain enthusiasts is the rhododendron bloom. Spring in the Himalayas — March through April — paints the hillsides in electric reds, pinks, and whites as rhododendron forests burst into flower at elevations between 2,500 and 4,000 metres. The Sino-Indian Himalayas are home to the world’s greatest diversity of rhododendron species, and trekking through them is one of the most visually spectacular experiences the Indian outdoors can offer.

Popular rhododendron treks include the Ranthan Kharak trek in Uttarakhand, the Barsey Rhododendron Sanctuary trek in Sikkim, and the Chopta-Tungnath trail that passes through dense rhododendron forests en route to the world’s highest Shiva temple. Indiahikes, one of the country’s largest trek-organising platforms, reports that spring 2026 bookings are up 35 per cent over the previous year.

Hill Station Overcrowding: A Growing Crisis

India’s hill stations — Shimla, Manali, Mussoorie, Nainital — are buckling under the weight of tourist numbers that far exceed their carrying capacity. Traffic jams stretching kilometres, water shortages, and garbage-strewn trails have become annual summer features. Uttarakhand officials have noted that since mid-March, close to 1.9 lakh tourists have already visited Mussoorie alone, placing enormous strain on the town’s century-old water system and narrow roads.

The problem is structural: India’s mountain destinations were designed as small-scale colonial retreats for a few thousand visitors. They now receive millions annually. Proposals for visitor caps, congestion pricing, and shuttle systems (modelled on European mountain resorts) have been discussed for years but face political resistance — tourism is the economic lifeblood of these communities. The Char Dham Yatra corridor, which opened this week for the 2026 pilgrimage season, will add significant additional traffic to Uttarakhand’s already strained infrastructure.

Climate Change and the Mountains

Underpinning all of these developments is the accelerating impact of climate change on the Himalayas. Glacial retreat, erratic snowfall, and increasingly frequent extreme weather events (cloudbursts, flash floods, landslides) are altering the mountain landscape in real time. The Everest region itself has seen measurable thinning of the Khumbu Glacier, and mountain guides report that crevasse patterns are changing in ways that make established routes less predictable.

For India, which depends on Himalayan glacial meltwater for rivers that sustain 600 million people, the stakes could not be higher. The intersection of adventure tourism and environmental sustainability is no longer a niche concern — it is central to the future of India’s mountains.

Planning Your Mountain Adventure

Whether you are eyeing Everest or a weekend rhododendron trek, spring 2026 is a remarkable time to be in the mountains. Plan early, respect the environment, and support local communities — the mountains give us everything, and they ask only that we tread lightly in return.

Find trekking guides, destination reviews, and adventure news on Mountains at Daily Tips.

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Carbon Capture Gets Landmark Funding

The $2.2 billion CCUS allocation is designed to support pilot projects across India’s heavy industrial sectors, including steel, cement and petrochemicals. These industries account for nearly 30 per cent of India’s total carbon emissions and have limited alternatives for deep decarbonisation without capture technologies.

The funding will be distributed through a competitive grant mechanism, with preference given to projects that demonstrate commercial viability within five years. NITI Aayog will oversee implementation in coordination with the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change.

Critical Minerals and Rare Earth Corridors

The budget also established “critical mineral corridors” to boost domestic mining and processing of lithium, cobalt and rare earth elements essential for electric vehicles, batteries and renewable energy infrastructure. India currently imports over 90 per cent of its critical mineral requirements, a dependency the government aims to reduce to 50 per cent by 2030.

Import duty exemptions on nuclear power equipment were another notable inclusion. India plans to triple its nuclear energy capacity to 22 GW by 2035, complementing its renewable energy targets. The budget supports both established nuclear technology and next-generation small modular reactors.

Renewable Energy Push Continues

Rooftop solar received dedicated support through expanded subsidies under the PM Surya Ghar scheme. The programme has already enrolled 10 million households since its 2024 launch and targets 30 million rooftop installations by 2027. India’s total installed renewable capacity crossed 200 GW in March 2026, with solar contributing over 100 GW.

The environmental policy landscape in India is evolving rapidly. Green hydrogen production, which received a separate Rs 19,744 crore allocation under the National Green Hydrogen Mission, is attracting significant private investment from Reliance Industries, Adani Green and NTPC.

Heatwave Concerns Underscore Climate Urgency

The budget’s climate investments arrive against a backdrop of intensifying extreme weather. IMD has warned of extended heatwave conditions across 15 states from April to June 2026, with above-normal temperatures expected to affect agriculture, public health and energy demand.

Delhi-NCR continues to face severe air quality challenges. The live AQI at IIT Delhi’s monitoring station recorded readings in the “Severe” and “Very Poor” categories through January 2026, with biomass burning contributing over 60 per cent of PM2.5 pollution. Urban transport and industrial emissions remain significant secondary sources.

What Is Missing

Climate adaptation measures were notably absent from the 2026 budget, a gap flagged by environmental organisations. Unlike previous years, there was no dedicated allocation for flood resilience, drought management or coastal protection. Carbon Brief’s analysis noted this omission could leave vulnerable communities exposed as extreme weather events intensify.

India’s climate strategy now sits at a crossroads. The government is betting heavily on mitigation technologies like CCUS and renewables, while the broader scientific community calls for a balanced approach that addresses both the causes and consequences of climate change.

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Launched on 30 July 2025 aboard a GSLV-F16 rocket, NISAR (NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar) is designed to measure changes in Earth’s surface — ice sheets, forests, wetlands, agricultural land, and tectonic plates — with a precision that no previous satellite has achieved. The spacecraft carries two SAR instruments: NASA’s L-band radar and ISRO’s S-band radar, together capable of mapping the entire globe every 12 days regardless of weather or lighting conditions.

First Images Showcase Game-Changing Capabilities

The Pacific Northwest images, released on 27 March 2026, were captured on 10 November 2025 during one of the cloudiest periods on record for Seattle and Portland. NISAR’s L-band radar sliced through the cloud cover to reveal detailed surface topography of Mount Rainier and Mount St. Helens, two of the most closely monitored volcanoes in the United States. An earlier image of the Mississippi River Delta, released in January, showed varying surface types in the Louisiana wetlands with a level of detail that could help scientists track coastal erosion and land subsidence in real time.

The mission sits at the heart of ISRO’s expanding space science portfolio. The satellite’s data is expected to be crucial for monitoring natural disasters, tracking deforestation, measuring groundwater depletion, and understanding how climate change is reshaping landscapes. For India specifically, NISAR’s capabilities could help monitor Himalayan glacier retreat, agricultural land use changes, and urban expansion — all critical concerns for a country with 1.4 billion people and rapidly changing geography. The science and space community has called the mission one of the most important Earth observation projects of the decade.

India’s Space Ambitions Accelerate

NISAR’s success comes as ISRO is simultaneously advancing multiple ambitious programmes. The Gaganyaan crew module recently completed its final abort test, bringing India closer to its first crewed space mission. ISRO also signed a landmark MoU with AIIMS for space medicine research, while its latest satellite launch, EOS-N1 aboard PSLV-C62 in January 2026, extended India’s unbroken streak of successful missions.

NASA established its NISAR DART (Data, Applications, Research, and Technology) team in February 2026 to replace traditional science teams, reflecting a new approach to managing Earth science missions. The DART structure is designed to ensure that NISAR’s data reaches scientists, policymakers, and disaster response agencies quickly. India’s own research output hit record highs in 2026 as the Anusandhan National Research Foundation began funding, and NISAR data is expected to further boost India’s contributions to global Earth science.

What NISAR Will Reveal Next

As the satellite enters its full science operations phase, researchers expect it to deliver transformative data on ice sheet dynamics in Greenland and Antarctica, forest biomass measurements critical for climate models, and surface deformation data for earthquake-prone regions including the Himalayan arc. With a planned mission life of at least three years, NISAR is poised to become one of the most valuable Earth observation tools ever deployed — and a defining achievement of the NASA-ISRO partnership.

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IMD chief Mrutyunjay Mohapatra stated that while maximum daytime temperatures across many parts of the country are expected to remain normal to below normal during the season, nighttime minimum temperatures will be above normal across most regions. The combination of warm nights and extended heatwave duration in eastern, northeastern, and coastal peninsular India poses significant health risks, particularly for vulnerable populations including outdoor workers, the elderly, and urban residents in heat-island-prone cities.

Which States Face the Highest Risk

The IMD’s forecast identifies the following states as likely to experience above-normal heatwave days between April and June: Rajasthan, Gujarat, Haryana, Punjab, Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, West Bengal, Odisha, Chhattisgarh, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, coastal Tamil Nadu, and northern Karnataka. Delhi-NCR is also flagged, though heatwave conditions are most likely to be concentrated in May and June.

Heatwave conditions are declared when the maximum temperature at a weather station reaches at least 40 degrees Celsius for plains and 30 degrees Celsius for hilly regions. Most parts of the plains normally experience three to five heatwave days during the April to June period, but the IMD’s models suggest this could extend to eight to 12 days in worst-affected regions this year.

A silver lining in the forecast is that April itself may bring above-normal rainfall across many parts of India, including the northwest, due to active western disturbances. This could temporarily moderate temperatures before the more intense heat of May and June sets in. The full picture of India’s climate trajectory is becoming increasingly concerning to researchers.

The Escalating Extreme Weather Crisis

The CSE’s State of India’s Environment 2026 report, released in March, paints a stark picture. In 2025, extreme weather events impacted at least 17.41 million hectares of crop area — a nearly five-fold increase from 3.61 million hectares in 2024. The number of days experiencing some form of extreme weather rose from 88 per cent in 2024 to 99 per cent in 2025.

Himachal Pradesh was the worst-hit state, experiencing extreme weather on 267 days in 2025, followed by Kerala (173 days) and Madhya Pradesh (162 days). The agricultural losses alone — encompassing both kharif and rabi crops — are estimated at over Rs 1.2 lakh crore, though comprehensive figures are yet to be compiled by the agriculture ministry.

Scientists point to rising temperatures already reshaping wildlife behaviour across the country, from shifting tiger movement patterns to disrupted bird migration. The ecological consequences of intensifying heatwaves extend beyond human comfort to threaten biodiversity, water security, and food production systems.

Government Response and Preparedness

The National Disaster Management Authority has activated its Heat Action Plan for 2026 across all states, mandating cool-roof programmes, public hydration stations, and revised working-hour guidelines for outdoor labourers during heatwave periods. The NDMA has also directed municipal bodies in 50 cities to establish early-warning SMS systems for vulnerable communities.

However, critics argue that India’s climate adaptation spending remains inadequate. The CSE report notes that the clean air budget was slashed even as air quality crises worsen, and similar underfunding plagues heat-resilience infrastructure. Urban heat island effects — exacerbated by concrete construction, reduced green cover, and poor urban planning — mean that cities like Delhi, Nagpur, and Ahmedabad experience temperatures 3 to 5 degrees Celsius higher than surrounding rural areas.

Meanwhile, even India’s tourism sector is feeling the impact, with Himalayan tourism operators raising concerns about climate risks affecting trail safety and water availability at high-altitude destinations.

What Lies Ahead

The IMD will release its detailed monsoon forecast in late April, which will indicate whether the southwest monsoon — expected in June — will offer timely relief from the summer heat. Early indications suggest a normal-to-above-normal monsoon, but the gap between the end of western disturbance activity and monsoon onset in May to June is typically when India records its most severe heatwave casualties.

Climate scientists at IIT Delhi’s Centre for Atmospheric Sciences have warned that unless India accelerates its urban greening targets and transitions to heat-resilient building codes, heatwave-related mortality could double by 2030. The 2026 summer season will be a critical test of India’s disaster preparedness systems and its political will to treat climate adaptation as a national priority.

Source: Times of India

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