**Executive Summary**
This document presents the response of the Minister of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change to a parliamentary question regarding climate vulnerability assessments in Punjab, conducted under the National Mission on Strategic Knowledge for Climate Change (NMSKCC). The response identifies districts in Punjab categorized by their vulnerability to climate change, specifically flood exposure and drought sensitivity. It also outlines support for State Action Plan on Climate Change (SAPCC) for the State of Punjab and the availability of disaster relief funding through State and National Disaster Response Funds. The question was to be answered on 15.12.2025.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Climate Vulnerability Assessment:**
* The Department of Science and Technology supported a project on climate vulnerability and risk assessments under NMSKCC.
* 698 districts across the country, including those in Punjab, were assessed using an IPCC-aligned climate risk framework.
* The assessment identifies districts vulnerable to climate change, focusing on flood exposure and drought sensitivity.
* Districts were categorized into 'Relatively High Vulnerable', 'Relatively Moderate Vulnerable', and 'Relatively Low Vulnerable'.
* **District Categorization:**
* **Relatively High Vulnerable:** Tarn Taran, Moga, and Gurdaspur.
* **Relatively Moderate Vulnerable:** Barnala, Mansa, Ferozepur, Sangrur, Bathinda, Kapurthala, Sri Muktsar Sahib, Faridkot, Fazilka, Patiala, Jalandhar, Pathankot, Amritsar, and SBS Nagar.
* **Relatively Low Vulnerable:** Rupnagar, Hoshiarpur, Fatehgarh Sahib, SAS Nagar, and Ludhiana.
* **Assessment Indicators:**
* Hazard (Flood & Drought Exposure): Projected flood inundation, drought severity index, historical flood frequency, rainfall variability.
* Exposure: Population density, agricultural dependence, built-up areas.
* Sensitivity: Cropland intensity, groundwater dependence, irrigation structure density.
* **State Action Plan on Climate Change (SAPCC):**
* The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change has supported the preparation of SAPCC for Punjab.
* The SAPCC incorporates mitigation and adaptation measures, including Disaster Resilient Infrastructures, flood management, flood forecasting, strengthening embankments, building check dams, establishing flood protection structures, and implementation of flood protection and drainage projects.
* **Disaster Management & Funding:**
* The primary responsibility for disaster management rests with State Governments.
* State Governments can utilize the State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF) for relief measures.
* The Central Government supplements State efforts with logistics and financial support.
* Additional financial assistance is available from the National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF).
**Impact Analysis**
**Stakeholder:** Districts of Punjab
* **Impact:** Districts receive a climate vulnerability classification, influencing resource allocation and disaster preparedness strategies.
* **Action Required:** Utilize the vulnerability assessments to inform local planning, disaster management, and resource allocation for adaptation and mitigation efforts.
**Stakeholder:** State Government of Punjab
* **Impact:** The State Government is responsible for disaster management and receives support from the Central Government.
* **Action Required:** Implement the State Action Plan on Climate Change (SAPCC), utilize SDRF for relief measures, and coordinate with the Central Government for additional support from NDRF.
**Stakeholder:** Central Government (Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change)
* **Impact:** The Central Government provides financial and logistical support for disaster management and climate change initiatives.
* **Action Required:** Continue supporting the State Government of Punjab with SAPCC implementation and provide necessary financial and logistical assistance through SDRF and NDRF.
Key Entities Referenced
National Mission on Strategic Knowledge for Climate Change (NMSKCC): A national mission under which climate vulnerability and risk assessments are being conducted, including the assessment of districts in Punjab.
Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change: The central ministry responsible for addressing the parliamentary question and for supporting climate change initiatives, including State Action Plans on Climate Change.
State Action Plan on Climate Change (SAPCC): A plan supported by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, developed for the State of Punjab to address climate change mitigation and adaptation.
Punjab: Indian State where the climate vulnerability of districts is being assessed.
National Policy on Disaster Management (NPDM): Policy that outlines the responsibility of state governments for disaster management.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2458
TO BE ANSWERED ON 15.12.2025
National Mission on Strategic Knowledge for Climate Change
2458. SMT. HARSIMRAT KAUR BADAL:
Will the Minister of ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE be pleased to
state:
(a) whether any districts of Punjab have been identified as climate-vulnerable under the
National Mission on Strategic Knowledge for Climate Change;
(b) if so, the names of such districts and parameters used for their identification; and
(c) whether the Central Government proposes to extend adaptation funding to other flood
prone districts in the State?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND
CLIMATE CHANGE
(SHRI KIRTI VARDHAN SINGH)
(a) to (b) The Department of Science and Technology has supported a project on ‘Climate
vulnerability and risk assessments’ under the National Mission on Strategic Knowledge for
Climate Change (NMSKCC). Under this project, 698 Districts of the country, including from
Punjab have been assessed using the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC)-
aligned climate risk framework. The report, which emerged from this study, identifies multiple
districts in Punjab as climate-vulnerable, particularly in terms of flood exposure and drought
sensitivity. The report has categorised the districts as ‘Relatively High Vulnerable’, Relatively
Moderate Vulnerable’ and ‘Relatively Low Vulnerable’. Tarn Taran, Moga and Gurdaspur
districts fall into the category of ‘Relatively High Vulnerable’. Barnala, Mansa, Ferozepur,
Sangrur, Bathinda, Kapurthala, Sri Muktsar Sahib, Faridkot, Fazilka, Patiala, Jalandhar,
Pathankot, Amritsar and SBS Nagar districts fall into the category of ‘Relatively Moderate
Vulnerable’. Rupnagar, Hoshiarpur, Fatehgarh Sahib, SAS Nagar and Ludhiana districts fall
into the category of ‘Relatively Low Vulnerable’. The assessment follows an IPCC-based risk
framework, using three main components and their indicators are: -
i. Hazard (Flood & Drought Exposure)- Projected flood inundation, drought severity
index, historical flood frequency, rainfall variability
ii. Exposure Population density, agricultural dependence, built-up areas
iii. Sensitivity Cropland intensity, groundwater dependence, irrigation structure density.
(c) The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change has supported preparation of
State Action Plan on Climate Change (SAPCC) for the State of Punjab. The SAPCC
incorporates mitigation as well as adaptation measures, including initiatives of Disaster
Resilient Infrastructures, inter-alia, providing for measures for flood management,
1development of a flood forecasting project; strengthening embankments along rivers Beas and
Sutlej; building check dams; establishing flood protection structures; and implementation of
flood protection and drainage projects by the State.
As per the National Policy on Disaster Management (NPDM), the primary responsibility for
disaster management, including disbursal of relief assistance on ground level, rests with the
State Governments concerned. The State Governments undertake relief measures in the wake
of natural calamities including floods and landslide, from the State Disaster Response Fund
(SDRF) already placed at their disposal, in accordance with Government of India approved
items and norms. The Central Government supplements the efforts of the State Governments
and provides requisite logistics and financial support. Additional financial assistance is
provided from the National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF), as per laid down procedure.
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