India has recorded 2024 as its hottest year since 1901, according to official records. This achievement is accompanied by a chain of environmental and human crises. Extreme weather events occurred on 88 percent of the country's days last year, resulting in displacements that reached an estimated 5.4 million people. Nearly half of these came from Assam, mainly due to climate change disasters, as concluded by an extensive annual report.
On June 4, the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) and the Down To Earth (DTE) magazine published their annual compendium of information and statistics, titled "State of India's Environment in Figures 2025," which reported a worrisome situation of environmental health and development in India. The report, published on the eve of World Environment Day, is a data-based examination of some of the biggest environmental issues.
India's summer weather is in the headlines again—but this time, not necessarily a story of unremitting heat. Following the record-setting, deadly heatwaves of 2024, 2025 brought its own new kind of uncertainty, with rapid flashes between preceding severe heat and unanticipated cool snaps, raising legitimate concern about climate resilience, public health, and the future of Indian summers.
2024: An unprecedented year of heat and human loss
Last year established a dire benchmark: according to the report, 2024 became officially India's hottest year ever. Churu in Rajasthan recorded 50.5°C, while Mungeshpur and Najafgarh in Delhi reached a scorching 53°C. At least 37 cities had temperatures above 45°C, and the nation faced its longest heatwave since 2010. The effects were dire:
- More than 44,000 heatstroke cases and over 700 heat-related fatalities were recorded from March to June.
- 5.4 million individuals were displaced internally, almost half of them from Assam, when devastating weather events hit on 88% of days.
- Agriculture, water resources, and power systems were strained to the limit, while public health systems were overwhelmed.
2025: early heat warnings, then an abrupt change
This year started on a worrying note: by March 2025, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) had already sounded heatwave warnings over North India, with Delhi and other urban centers registering March temperatures close to 40°C—levels normally observed during peak summer. April witnessed another spurt, with some areas of Rajasthan recording 45.6°C and Delhi reaching 40.2°C.
Scientific data indicate that this April's heatwaves were by as much as 4°C hotter than the corresponding events of the late 20th century, an unmistakable indicator of climate change's strengthening hold.
But just as the country braced for another brutal summer, weather patterns shifted. Unseasonal rains and thunderstorms swept in, cooling many regions and cutting short what would typically be the hottest part of the year. Meteorologists attribute this to changes in atmospheric circulation, which not only delayed the peak heat but also set the stage for a potentially wetter-than-normal monsoon.
The science and the stakes
Through the interim relief, the long-term trend is unmistakable: summers in India are getting hotter, longer, and more unpredictable. The heat island effect of urban areas—where the concentrated cityscape traps and magnifies heat—remains to render Indian cities particularly susceptible. Even nighttime temperatures are on the rise, providing little relief for millions, especially the urban poor who have no access to air conditioning and parks.
The economic and health risks are huge. According to the Council on Energy, Environment, and Water (CEEW), heat stress has the potential to lose India 35 million full-time jobs and 4.5% of GDP by 2030 if present trends hold. At-risk populations—children, the elderly, and workers—continue to be at increased risk, and pressure on agriculture and water can exacerbate food and water insecurity.
Ahead to the future: changing to a new normal
This year's forecastable summer is a stark reminder that climate extremes are fast becoming the new normal for India. The IMD predicts longer heatwaves and more frequent floods in the coming months, even as some parts receive temporary cool spells. Experts warn that India should not be lulled into complacency by a single warmer season. Rather, the experiences of 2024 and shocks of 2025 must lead to immediate investment in strong heat action plans, early warning systems, green city initiatives, and climate-resilient infrastructure.
Altogether, India is in a flux of climate. Last year's record-breaking heat made health crises and displacement; this year's erratic weather offers only a short respite. As the country faces a future of more frequent and extreme weather events, proactive adaptation and resilient planning are already essential in protecting lives, livelihoods, and the nation's economic stability.