Indian summers are getting hotter, but have we lost the ability to adapt?, Pg7

Key Highlights:

• Cumulative heat wave days in India rose from 177 (2010) to 536 (2024) — an increase of over 200%.
• Official data underreports heat-related deaths; many occur at home, farms, or worksites and lack certification.
• Traditional architecture and routines once helped Indians adapt passively to extreme heat, but have declined.
• Economic impacts: 2022 heatwave reduced wheat yields by 4.5% and raised electricity demand to 207 GW.
• Heat-related productivity losses may cut India’s GDP by 2.5–4.5% by 2030 (McKinsey estimate).
• Urban heat action plans exist but lack mandates, budgets, or rural equivalents.

Detailed Insights:

• India’s vulnerability to intensifying heat waves stems from a mismatch between traditional climate wisdom and modern, heat-insensitive development.
• Practices like mud housing, jaali screens, and work-rest cycles were effective but gave way to concrete buildings and fixed job hours.
• Excess mortality analysis, such as the Global Burden of Disease study, estimated ~1.55 lakh heat-related deaths in 2021, far exceeding official numbers.
• Ahmedabad’s Heat Action Plan (2014) remains a rare success, averting ~1,190 deaths annually; other cities lag in institutionalising such frameworks.
• Rural areas face greater exposure but are unsupported by planning tools, heat-specific public schemes, or cooling infrastructure.
• The disconnect between temperature perception and physiological impact, such as "feels like" temperature, undermines risk awareness.
• Inclusive, non-digital, regional language-based communication and alert systems are critical for vulnerable populations.

Scientific/Technical Concepts Involved:

• Heat Wave (IMD Definition): Heat wave is declared when the temperature reaches at least 40 degrees Celsius in the plains or 30 degrees Celsius in the hills, with a deviation of 4.5 degrees Celsius or more above normal for at least two consecutive days.
• Excess Mortality Analysis: Statistical comparison of observed deaths during an event with historical averages.
• Passive Cooling: Architectural strategies like natural ventilation, shaded courtyards, and thermal mass to reduce indoor heat.
• "Feels Like" Temperature: Index considering humidity, solar radiation, and wind—used to assess actual physiological impact.

Mains Mock Question:

India is experiencing more frequent and intense heat waves, yet heat-related fatalities remain underreported and adaptation uneven. Critically examine the challenges in India’s heat governance and suggest measures to integrate traditional knowledge with modern public policy.