**Executive Summary**
This document is the answer from the Minister of Earth Sciences to a parliamentary question regarding the mapping of heatwaves in India, to be answered on Wednesday, December 3rd, 2025. The response outlines the Indian government's current efforts and future plans to improve heatwave mapping, forecasting, and mitigation through technological advancements and region-specific approaches. The IMD continues to develop tools and disseminate tailored alerts to various stakeholders.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Heatwave Mapping and Technology:**
* IMD utilizes geospatial technology and field-based assessments for heatwave mapping, including granular scale heat vulnerability and hotspot mapping.
* IMD has developed a web-based GIS heatwave portal displaying current conditions and 5-day forecasts at district and sub-city scales.
* A Climate Hazards and Vulnerability Atlas of India is available on a GIS-based platform, providing district-level hazard and vulnerability maps.
* **Heatwave Forecasting and Alerts:**
* IMD issues impact heat wave forecasts and warnings in a color-coded format, considering meteorological parameters.
* Heat wave alerts are tailored to geographic characteristics (plain, hilly, coastal).
* Heat wave and temperature outlooks are provided on multiple temporal scales.
* A dedicated heat wave bulletin is issued specifically for Indian Railways.
* **Heat Action Plans and Thresholds:**
* Heat action plans and thresholds are developed under the aegis of the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA).
* Heat wave and temperature information is disseminated via a web-based GIS system for customized use by various sectors.
* Heat wave bulletins include generalized impact assessments and recommended actions aligned with NDMA guidelines.
**Impact Analysis**
**National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) and other concerned disaster management authorities**
* **Impact**
* The IMD's heatwave forecasts, warnings, and data are used to inform heat action plans and mitigation strategies.
* **Action Required**
* Continue to work with IMD to develop and implement locally-defined temperature thresholds in heat action plans.
**Public**
* **Impact**
* The public is impacted by heatwave forecasts and warnings, enabling them to take precautions to mitigate the effects of heatwaves.
* **Action Required**
* Monitor heatwave forecasts and warnings issued by IMD and take appropriate measures to protect themselves.
**Indian Railways**
* **Impact**
* The Indian Railways receive a dedicated heat wave bulletin to ensure operational preparedness.
* **Action Required**
* Use the information provided in the dedicated heat wave bulletin to take necessary precautions and ensure the safe operation of trains.
**Sectoral Stakeholders (e.g., health, agriculture, energy)**
* **Impact**
* Sectoral stakeholders can access customized heat wave information via the web-based GIS system.
* **Action Required**
* Utilize the available data to develop sector-specific heat thresholds and mitigation strategies, providing detailed impact data to IMD.
Key Entities Referenced
India Meteorological Department (IMD): The primary agency responsible for providing heatwave forecasts and warnings.
National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA): The authority under whose aegis heat action plans and thresholds are developed.
Ministry of Earth Sciences: The government ministry responsible for answering questions about heatwave mapping.
GIS (Geographic Information System) heatwave portal: Web-based platform developed by IMD to display current heatwave conditions and forecasts.
Climate Hazards and Vulnerability Atlas of India: An IMD developed Atlas that maps hazard occurrence and vulnerability at the district level.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF EARTH SCIENCES
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 461
TO BE ANSWERED ON WEDNESDAY, 3RD DECEMBER, 2025
MAPPING OF HEATWAVES
461. SHRI Y S AVINASH REDDY:
Will the Minister of EARTH SCIENCES be pleased to state:
(a) whether the Government is planning to invest in latest advancements in geospatial
technology and field-based assessments to provide effective mapping of heatwaves, such as
granular scale heat vulnerability and hotspot mapping and if so, the details thereof;
(b) whether the Government is also planning to mandate establishment of locally-defined
temperature thresholds in all heat action plans taking into account the local risk multipliers
while declaring a heatwave to provide a more region-specific approach and if so, the details
thereof; and
(c) whether the Government is also contemplating to reform forecast models to region-specific
thresholds for energy and water demand, crop and health impacts to enable impact-based
heat forecast alerts in order to help policy-makers plan in advance about predicted heatwave
events and if so, the details thereof?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) FOR
MINISTRY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
AND EARTH SCIENCES
(DR. JITENDRA SINGH)
(a) Yes. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has been providing heatwave forecasts
and warnings at multiple spatial and temporal scales and shares them with the public and
disaster management authorities for mitigation and preparedness. For this, IMD has
developed a web-based GIS (Geographic Information System) heatwave portal, where
current heatwave conditions and 5-day forecasts are displayed at the district and sub-city
scales on interactive maps. IMD has also developed a Climate Hazards and Vulnerability
Atlas of India for 13 major meteorological hazards, including heatwaves. This Atlas, hosted
on a GIS-based web platform, provides district-level maps of hazard occurrence and
vulnerability for each month and annually, and identifies hotspots with high hazard potential
and higher vulnerability for heatwaves.
(b) IMD issues impact heat wave forecasts and warnings in a colour-coded format, considering
different meteorological parameters like maximum temperature, minimum temperature,
relative humidity, winds, and their co-existence & persistence. The heat action plan & any
thresholds within it are developed under the aegis of the National Disaster Management
Authority (NDMA) and other concerned disaster management authorities.(c) IMD issues heat wave alerts tailored to geographic characteristics—plain, hilly, or coastal
stations—to better capture region-wise temperature extremes. Heat wave and temperature
outlooks are provided on multiple temporal scales (from seasonal to monthly, followed by
extended range and medium to short range) to facilitate both anticipatory and immediate
response measures. IMD issues a dedicated heat wave bulletin specifically for Indian
Railways, ensuring operational preparedness for this critical sector. Heat wave and
temperature information is disseminated via a web-based GIS system, making the data
accessible to various sectoral stakeholders for customised use. The heat wave bulletins
include generalised impact assessments and recommended actions aligned with NDMA
guidelines. The generation of sector-wise heat thresholds (e.g., for health, agriculture,
energy) is possible, contingent on the availability of detailed impact data from those sectors.
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