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.

The post India Records Highest-Ever Power Demand as Heatwave Grips North — IMD Issues Orange Alert for Delhi on June 11 appeared first on Daily Tips.

Monsoon’s March Across India

The Southwest Monsoon, which set in over Kerala on June 4, 2026, has advanced rapidly in its initial phase. By June 8, it had progressed into Kerala, Karnataka, Goa, parts of Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, the northeastern states including Manipur, Nagaland, and Mizoram, and parts of the west-central and east-central Arabian Sea.

The IMD’s latest bulletin confirmed that the monsoon has covered significant portions of the western coastline and is expected to advance further into central Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh, and Odisha over the next 48 to 72 hours. The monsoon’s progress has been aided by favorable wind patterns, including the strengthening of the cross-equatorial flow and the formation of cyclonic circulations in the Bay of Bengal.

“The monsoon’s onset and initial progress have been largely in line with our forecasts,” said Dr. Mrutyunjay Mohapatra, Director General of the IMD. “We expect the monsoon to cover most of the country by the end of June, which would be consistent with the normal timeline.”

Red Alert for Coastal Karnataka

The IMD has issued a red alert — its highest warning level — for coastal Karnataka, where extremely heavy rainfall exceeding 200 mm in 24 hours is expected over the next two days. Districts including Dakshina Kannada, Udupi, and Uttara Kannada have been placed on high alert, with authorities instructed to prepare for potential flooding, landslides, and disruptions to transportation.

The Karnataka State Disaster Management Authority (KSDMA) has activated its emergency response mechanisms, deploying National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) teams to vulnerable areas and setting up relief camps in flood-prone zones. Fishermen have been warned against venturing into the Arabian Sea, where wind speeds could reach 55-65 km/h.

Similar warnings have been issued for parts of Kerala and Goa, where heavy rainfall is expected to continue through the week. The Goa government has directed schools in coastal areas to shift to online classes as a precautionary measure.

North India’s Heatwave Agony

In a dramatic contrast to the monsoon-fed rainfall in the south, large parts of northern India continue to endure extreme heatwave conditions. Delhi, Punjab, Haryana, and Rajasthan have recorded temperatures exceeding 45°C in several locations, with the IMD issuing orange and yellow heat warnings for these regions.

Delhi, which recorded a maximum temperature of 46.2°C at the Mungeshpur weather station, is experiencing one of its most prolonged heat spells in recent memory. The national capital’s power demand has surged to record levels, straining the electricity grid and causing intermittent outages in several areas.

“The heatwave in northern India is being sustained by a combination of dry westerly winds and the absence of moisture influx from the monsoon, which is still several days away from reaching this region,” explained a senior IMD scientist.

Monsoon and Agricultural Implications

For India’s agricultural sector, which employs nearly half the country’s workforce and depends heavily on monsoon rainfall, the progress of the 2026 monsoon is being watched with intense interest. The timely onset in Kerala and rapid initial progress have been positive signs, but the crucial factor will be the monsoon’s coverage and distribution over the coming weeks.

Farmers in Maharashtra have begun sowing operations for the kharif season, with soybean, cotton, and pulses being the primary crops. However, agricultural experts caution that the current dry conditions in central and northern India have delayed sowing in many areas, and a timely advance of the monsoon into these regions is critical for crop health.

“The first two weeks of June are crucial for kharif sowing decisions. If the monsoon reaches central India by June 15 and northern India by June 20-25, we can expect a normal agricultural season,” said Dr. Ashok Dalwai, agricultural policy expert.

El Niño Concerns

Adding a layer of complexity to the monsoon outlook is the emerging El Niño condition in the Pacific Ocean. El Niño, characterised by warming of sea surface temperatures in the central and eastern Pacific, has historically been associated with below-normal monsoon rainfall in India.

The IMD has acknowledged the El Niño signal but maintained its forecast for a “normal” monsoon season overall, with total rainfall expected to be within 4 percent of the long-period average. However, the distribution of rainfall — both spatial and temporal — could be significantly affected by El Niño, potentially leading to extended dry spells interspersed with heavy rainfall events.

“El Niño doesn’t necessarily mean a drought. What it typically does is alter the distribution pattern, creating more variability — some areas get excess rain while others face deficits,” explained Dr. Raghu Murtugudde, a climate scientist at the Indian Institute of Technology, Bombay.

Delhi Airport Disruption

In a related development, sudden strong winds and a brief but intense thunderstorm at Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport on Sunday evening caused significant disruptions. Three Air India aircraft suffered damage from the storm, and flight operations were suspended for approximately 90 minutes. The storm, a pre-monsoon thundershower driven by converging wind systems, brought wind speeds exceeding 70 km/h to parts of the national capital.

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As India navigates this complex weather pattern — monsoon in the south, heatwave in the north, and the looming shadow of El Niño — the IMD has urged all state governments to maintain a state of preparedness for extreme weather events. The monsoon season, while essential for India’s water security and agriculture, also brings annual challenges of flooding, landslides, and infrastructure damage that test the country’s disaster management capabilities.

The post Southwest Monsoon 2026 Advances Into 12 States — IMD Issues Red Alert for Coastal Karnataka, Heatwave Grips North India appeared first on Daily Tips.

The cumulative impact of recent CNG revisions has been substantial. Following a Rs 2 per kg hike on May 15, a Rs 1 per kg increase on May 17, and another Rs 1 per kg rise on May 23, today’s Rs 2 per kg jump means CNG prices have risen by a total of Rs 6 per kg in just 11 days. For context, CNG in Delhi was priced at around Rs 77 per kg at the beginning of May — a nearly 8% increase in less than a month.

NCR Cities Hit Even Harder

While Delhi residents are feeling the pinch, CNG consumers in neighbouring NCR cities are paying even more. The latest revision has pushed prices in Noida, Greater Noida, and Ghaziabad to Rs 91.70 per kg — nearly Rs 9 higher than in Delhi. In Gurugram, CNG now costs Rs 86.12 per kg, while Faridabad consumers pay Rs 89.30 per kg. Mumbai, India’s other major CNG market, has seen prices rise to Rs 81 per kg, though the city has been somewhat insulated by its proximity to domestic gas supply infrastructure.

Why Are CNG Prices Rising So Fast?

The primary driver behind the relentless CNG price increases is the ongoing US-Iran conflict, which began in February 2026 and has severely disrupted global energy supply chains. The closure of the Strait of Hormuz — through which approximately 20% of the world’s oil and a significant portion of liquefied natural gas (LNG) passes — has choked supply and sent international gas prices spiralling.

India imports approximately 50% of its natural gas requirements, and the LNG spot market has seen prices surge from around $10-12 per million British thermal units (mmBtu) at the start of the year to over $18-20 per mmBtu in recent weeks. This dramatic increase has forced city gas distributors like IGL, Mahanagar Gas Limited (MGL), and Adani Total Gas to raise retail prices to avoid mounting losses.

“The city gas distribution companies have been absorbing a significant portion of the cost increase, but the gap between procurement costs and retail prices has become unsustainable,” said K. Ravichandran, Senior Vice President at ICRA. “We expect further price adjustments in the coming weeks unless there is a material easing in international gas prices.”

Impact on Public Transport and Daily Commuters

The CNG price hikes are having a cascading effect on public transport costs in Delhi-NCR. Auto-rickshaws, which are the lifeline of short-distance commuting for millions, run almost exclusively on CNG. The Delhi government’s current auto fare structure was set when CNG prices were significantly lower, and drivers have been demanding a fare revision for months.

“Every rupee increase in CNG costs us Rs 400-500 extra per month,” said Rajendra Kumar, an auto-rickshaw driver in South Delhi who has been operating for 15 years. “With Rs 6 increase in just 11 days, our monthly fuel bill has gone up by Rs 2,500-3,000. We can’t keep absorbing this — passengers need to pay more or the government needs to step in.”

The Delhi Auto-Taxi Transport Congress Union has already submitted a memorandum to the Delhi government demanding an immediate revision of fare meters. Similar demands are being raised in Noida and Gurugram, where auto and cab operators say the current fares don’t cover their operating costs.

The situation is equally challenging for ride-hailing platforms like Ola and Uber, where many driver-partners operate CNG vehicles. Industry sources indicate that both platforms are considering implementing fuel surcharges to offset the increased costs, a move that would directly impact consumer fares.

Petrol and Diesel Also on the Rise

The CNG price hike comes alongside a broader increase in fuel costs across the board. Petrol prices in Delhi have crossed Rs 102 per litre after four hikes in 13 days, while diesel has seen similar increases. Telangana has emerged as the state with the costliest petrol, with BRS Deputy Floor Leader T. Harish Rao writing an open letter to Chief Minister Revanth Reddy demanding an immediate reduction in state VAT on fuel.

The cumulative impact of rising fuel prices — across petrol, diesel, and CNG — is contributing to broader inflationary pressures. Transporters have warned of potential freight rate increases, which would raise the cost of essential commodities including food, FMCG products, and construction materials.

Government Response and Outlook

The central government has so far refrained from direct intervention in CNG pricing, which is largely determined by market forces and the pricing formula set by the Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulatory Board (PNGRB). However, petroleum ministry officials have indicated that the government is “closely monitoring the situation” and could consider temporary excise duty relief if prices continue to rise sharply.

Looking ahead, analysts see limited scope for price relief in the near term. The Iran situation remains volatile, with the US renewing strikes over the weekend even as diplomatic channels remain open. Until there is a meaningful de-escalation and the Strait of Hormuz reopens to commercial shipping, international gas prices are likely to remain elevated.

“We’re in uncharted territory for Indian energy consumers,” said Debasish Mishra, Partner at Deloitte India. “The combination of a major geopolitical disruption, high import dependence, and the onset of peak summer demand has created a perfect storm. Consumers should brace for continued price volatility.”

For the millions of Delhi-NCR residents who switched to CNG as a cleaner and cheaper alternative to petrol and diesel, the rapid price escalation is eroding the economic advantage that made the fuel so popular. Whether the government intervenes to provide relief — or whether consumers simply absorb the higher costs — remains to be seen.

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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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A punishing heatwave tightened its grip on northern and central India this week as the national capital Delhi recorded a maximum temperature of 43.4 degrees Celsius on 19 May 2026, marking the hottest May day in the city in two years. Several parts of Delhi exceeded 44 degrees Celsius on the same day, with the India Meteorological Department issuing yellow, orange, and red heat warnings across multiple states as temperatures climbed well above normal levels for this time of year.

The Safdarjung observatory, which serves as Delhi’s primary weather recording station, registered the 43.4 degree reading that officially confirmed the record. Other monitoring stations across the National Capital Region reported even higher readings, with parts of Najafgarh, Mungeshpur, and Narela approaching the 45-degree mark. The heat index, which combines temperature and humidity to indicate the perceived temperature, made conditions feel significantly worse than the raw thermometer readings suggest.

The heatwave extends far beyond Delhi. States across northern India including Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Maharashtra, and Odisha are all experiencing prolonged periods of extreme heat. The highest maximum temperature recorded anywhere in the country last week was a staggering 46 degrees Celsius in Akola, Maharashtra, a reading that places the city among the hottest locations on the planet during that period. Reports indicate that all 22 of the world’s hottest cities during the peak of the heatwave were in India, an extraordinary statistic that underscores the severity of the crisis.

Power Demand Hits All-Time National Record

The scorching temperatures have driven India’s electricity demand to unprecedented levels as millions of air conditioners, coolers, and fans operate at maximum capacity. The national power grid recorded its highest-ever instantaneous demand, surpassing the previous record set during last year’s summer peak. The Power Ministry reported that all-India peak electricity demand crossed 250 gigawatts, a figure that would have been considered unimaginable just a decade ago.

The strain on the electricity grid has been particularly acute in Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Delhi, where the combination of large populations, limited local generation capacity, and extreme cooling demand has created supply-demand mismatches. While India has significantly expanded its generation capacity in recent years, including a massive build-out of solar and wind installations, the transmission infrastructure required to move power from surplus to deficit regions has not kept pace with demand growth.

Coal-fired power plants across the country are running at maximum capacity, and the government has directed Coal India Limited to prioritise supplies to thermal power stations. Several plants that were scheduled for maintenance shutdowns have been asked to postpone their outages until the heatwave subsides. The Power Ministry has also activated emergency procurement protocols that allow state distribution companies to purchase power on the spot market at higher-than-normal rates to prevent shortfalls from translating into blackouts.

Health Impact and Government Response

Health authorities across affected states have issued advisories urging people to stay indoors during peak afternoon hours, stay hydrated, and avoid strenuous outdoor activities. Hospitals in Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, and Maharashtra have reported increases in heat-related admissions, including cases of heat exhaustion, heatstroke, and dehydration. Vulnerable populations, including outdoor workers, the elderly, young children, and people with pre-existing health conditions, face the greatest risks.

State governments have implemented various emergency measures. Delhi has ordered schools to shift to online-only classes for the remainder of May and restricted construction work during afternoon hours. Uttar Pradesh has deployed additional medical teams to rural areas and set up heat relief camps with drinking water and oral rehydration solutions. Rajasthan has opened public buildings and temples as cooling centres for people without access to air conditioning.

The National Disaster Management Authority has been coordinating a multi-state response, sharing best practices from its Heat Action Plan framework that was developed after the devastating heatwaves of 2015 and 2023. The framework includes colour-coded warning systems, public awareness campaigns, and protocols for hospitals and emergency services. While these measures have helped reduce heat-related mortality compared to the catastrophic events of previous decades, the increasing frequency and intensity of heatwaves poses a growing challenge to public health infrastructure.

Climate Change and India’s Warming Trend

Climate scientists have noted that the current heatwave fits a broader pattern of increasing extreme heat events across South Asia that is consistent with climate change projections. The Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology has documented a statistically significant increase in the frequency, duration, and intensity of heatwaves over the Indian subcontinent during the past three decades. Spring and early summer temperatures have been trending upward, and the onset of extreme heat has been occurring earlier in the year.

Research published by international climate agencies indicates that the probability of heatwaves as intense as the current event has approximately doubled compared to pre-industrial climate conditions. While natural variability plays a role in any individual weather event, the underlying warming trend driven by greenhouse gas emissions is making extreme heat events both more likely and more severe. India, as one of the world’s most climate-vulnerable nations with over 1.4 billion people and vast populations engaged in outdoor agricultural and industrial work, faces disproportionate risks.

The IMD has forecast that the heatwave conditions will persist across northern and central India through at least the end of May, with daily highs remaining in the 40 to 45 degree range across the worst-affected regions. Some relief may arrive with the advance of the southwest monsoon, which typically reaches the southern coast of Kerala by late May or early June and progressively covers the rest of the country through July. However, the monsoon’s arrival date varies year to year, and any delay would extend the heatwave’s duration.

Looking Ahead: Monsoon Relief and Long-Term Adaptation

The immediate focus for government agencies and public health authorities is managing the current crisis and preventing heat-related casualties. But the recurring nature of extreme heatwaves is driving longer-term discussions about urban planning, building standards, green infrastructure, and energy policy. Cities like Delhi, Ahmedabad, and Nagpur are developing urban heat island mitigation strategies that include increasing tree cover, using reflective building materials, and creating cool roof programmes for low-income housing.

Energy planners are also grappling with the implications of rising cooling demand for India’s grid and climate goals. Air conditioning penetration in India remains below 10 per cent, compared to over 90 per cent in countries like the United States and Japan. As incomes rise and heatwaves intensify, the demand for cooling is projected to grow exponentially, creating both an enormous energy challenge and a potential feedback loop where more cooling drives more emissions, which in turn drives more warming. Transitioning to energy-efficient cooling technologies and scaling up renewable energy generation are critical priorities for India’s climate and development agenda.

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