**Executive Summary**
This document summarises the Indian government's response to a parliamentary question regarding the national strategy to mitigate extreme heat in high-footfall public areas. The response outlines various initiatives, guidelines, and financial assistance programs implemented in coordination with State Governments and UT Administrations. The actions taken are guided by the National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC) and State Action Plans on Climate Change (SAPCCs).
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Government Initiatives:**
* The Government of India has undertaken various initiatives to mitigate the impacts of extreme heat in urban spaces, in coordination with State Governments/ UT Administrations.
* **NDMA Guidelines:**
* The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) issued national guidelines on heatwave management in 2016, revised in 2019.
* The guidelines facilitate States/UTs to prepare Heat Action Plans, focusing on short-term, medium-term, and long-term measures for heat wave risk reduction.
* **National Action Plans:**
* India’s climate action is guided by the National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC) and State Action Plans on Climate Change (SAPCCs).
* Over 250 cities and districts across 23 heat-prone states have implemented Heat Action Plans, supported by the NDMA through advisories, technical guidance, and institutional mechanisms.
* **Comprehensive Approach:**
* India follows a whole-of-government and whole-of-society approach, engaging multiple sectors to strengthen preparedness and response to extreme heat.
* **Promoting Heat Resilience:**
* Heat resilience is promoted through national policies and schemes like the India Cooling Action Plan, Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT)/AMRUT 2.0, and energy efficiency codes.
* These initiatives encourage cool roofing, urban greening, climate-responsive building design, and reduction of urban heat island effects.
* **Financial Support:**
* Financial support for heat-mitigation infrastructure is provided through urban programs like AMRUT and AMRUT 2.0, which fund development of urban parks and rejuvenation of water bodies.
* **Climate Smart Cities Assessment Framework:**
* The Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs' Climate Smart Cities Assessment Framework (CSCAF) assesses and incentivizes city-level climate preparedness.
**Impact Analysis**
**State Governments/UT Administrations**
* *Impact:*
They are key partners in implementing the national strategy to mitigate extreme heat. They are responsible for coordinating with the government and participating in national initiatives.
* *Action Required:*
They are expected to prepare their Heat Action Plans, in line with the NDMA guidelines, and implement various measures to mitigate heatwave risks in their respective regions.
**Cities and Urban Local Bodies**
* *Impact:*
They are tasked with implementing Heat Action Plans at the local level.
* *Action Required:*
They need to implement measures, such as promoting green cover, water management, energy efficiency, and climate adaptation, to reduce the impact of extreme heat in their cities.
**Citizens/Public**
* *Impact:*
The public is impacted by extreme heat, and the government is taking steps to mitigate these effects in public areas.
* *Action Required:*
Citizens should cooperate with local authorities and adhere to safety guidelines during extreme heat events. They can benefit from initiatives promoting climate resilience in urban areas.
Key Entities Referenced
National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC): An overarching framework guiding India's climate action, including addressing heat stress.
State Action Plans on Climate Change (SAPCCs): State-level plans providing a framework for addressing climate risks including heat stress.
National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA): The agency that issued national guidelines on heatwave management and supports the Heat Action Plans.
Heat Action Plans: Plans implemented by cities and districts in heat-prone states to deal with extreme heat wave situations.
Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT/AMRUT 2.0): A scheme that provides financial support for heat-mitigation infrastructure through urban programs.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 391
TO BE ANSWERED ON 02.02.2026
National Strategy to Mitigate Extreme Heat in High-Footfall Public Areas
391. SHRI KONDA VISHWESHWAR REDDY:
Will the Minister of ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE be pleased to
state:
(a) whether the Government has formulated a comprehensive national strategy to mitigate
extreme heat in high-footfall public spaces such as markets, railway stations, bus
terminals and pedestrian zones during the forthcoming summer, as part of climate
adaptation measures, if so, the details thereof;
(b) whether international best practices in temperature control and heat-resilient public
infrastructure such as shaded walkways, cool and reflective roofing, misting systems,
urban greening and climate-responsive design have been examined for adoption in
domestic conditions, if so, the details thereof;
(c) the details of advisories, guidelines and financial assistance issued under the National
Action Plan on Climate Change, Heat Action Plans and allied schemes for
implementation by States and urban local bodies; and
(d) whether any pilot projects have been undertaken or proposed in major cities and, if so,
the timeline and roadmap for scaling up such interventions nationwide?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND
CLIMATE CHANGE
(SHRI KIRTI VARDHAN SINGH)
(a) to (d) The Government of India has undertaken a range of initiatives, in coordination with
State Governments/ UT Administrations, to mitigate the impacts of extreme heat, including in
urban spaces. The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) issued national
guidelines on heatwave management in 2016, which were revised in 2019. The guidelines,
inter-alia, facilitates the heat wave prone States/ UTs to prepare their Heat Action Plans
including for cities/towns to deal with the extreme heat wave situation. The guidelines focus
on short-term, medium term and long-term measures for heat wave risk reduction.
India’s climate action is guided by the National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC) and
State Action Plans on Climate Change (SAPCCs), which provide an overarching framework
for addressing climate risks including heat stress. Over 250 cities and districts across 23 heat-
prone states have implemented Heat Action Plans, supported by the NDMA through advisories,
technical guidance, and institutional mechanisms. India follows a whole-of-government and
whole-of-society approach, engaging multiple sectors such as health, agriculture, urban
development, labour, power, water, education, and infrastructure to strengthen preparedness
and response to extreme heat.Heat resilience is further promoted through national policies and schemes including the India
Cooling Action Plan, Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation
(AMRUT)/AMRUT 2.0, and energy efficiency codes of the Bureau of Energy Efficiency.
These initiatives encourage measures such as cool and reflective roofing, urban greening,
climate-responsive building design, and reduction of urban heat island effects. Financial
support for heat-mitigation infrastructure is provided through urban programs, such as
AMRUT and AMRUT 2.0, which fund development of urban parks and rejuvenation of water
bodies. Additionally, the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs’ Climate Smart Cities
Assessment Framework (CSCAF) assesses and incentivizes city-level climate preparedness,
including green cover, water management, energy efficiency, and climate adaptation.
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