Warming Trends in India
Post-AR6 Climate Change Update for India: India has already warmed by 0.89°C during 2015–24 compared to the 1901–30 baseline. Projections indicate +1.2–1.3°C additional warming by mid-century.
Warming is more severe across the Hindu Kush Himalayas, making it a critical regional hotspot.
Static GK fact: India is the 7th largest country globally by land area, which contributes to diverse climate zones and region-specific warming rates.
Ocean Warming and Marine Extremes
The Indian Ocean is warming at 0.12°C per decade since 1950, projected to rise to 0.17°C per decade by 2100.
Marine heatwave days are expected to increase dramatically — from ~20 to ~200 days/year by mid-century.
Sea levels in the north Indian Ocean rose 3.3 mm/year (1993–2017), increasing coastal flood vulnerability.
Static GK fact: India has over 7,500 km of coastline, with major ports like Mumbai, Chennai and Kolkata.
Monsoon Variability and Rainfall Extremes
The mean Southwest Monsoon rainfall declined in the Indo-Gangetic plains and Northeast India.
Meanwhile, extreme precipitation events have become more intense, especially across Western and Central India.
All-India mean rainfall may rise 6–8% by mid-century but with high spatial variability, making agriculture more climate-sensitive.
Cryosphere Stress and Glacier Melt
The Hindu Kush Himalayas are warming rapidly at 0.28°C per decade (1950–2020).
Projected 30–50% glacier volume loss by 2100 under 1.5–2°C warming threatens water security in major river basins.
Static GK fact: Himalayan glaciers feed rivers like Ganga and Brahmaputra, serving nearly 40% of India’s population.
Cyclone Risk Intensification
Pre-monsoon Arabian Sea cyclone intensity increased by 40% during 1982–2019.
Extreme sea-level events that previously occurred once in 100 years may become annual along the western coastline by mid-century.
Static GK fact: The Arabian Sea and Bay of Bengal are part of the greater Indian Ocean cyclone basin.
Regional Hotspots Across India
Recent observations highlight hotspot-specific climate threats:
- Northwest India: More warm days and warm nights
- Indo-Gangetic Plains: Heat stress and declining monsoon rainfall
- Northeast India: Reduced rainfall and compound hot-dry extremes
- Western India: Increase in extreme rainfall
- Central India: Sharp rise in heavy rain events
- Southeast India: Hot-dry extremes and monsoon variability
- Western Coast & Arabian Sea: Severe tropical cyclones and higher sea levels
- Sundarbans: Sea-level rise and increased hot nights
These impacts clearly demonstrate the rise of compound climate risks, especially heat-drought and heat-humidity combinations.
Adaptation Imperatives for India
India needs region-specific, data-driven climate planning.
Key priorities include strengthening urban climate resilience, improving agro-adaptation, deploying early warning systems, and designing coastal protections.
Static Usthadian Current Affairs Table
Post-AR6 Climate Change Update for India:
| Topic | Detail |
| Observed warming in India | 0.89°C rise (2015–24 vs 1901–30) |
| Projected warming | +1.2–1.3°C by mid-century |
| Indian Ocean warming rate | 0.12°C/decade; projected 0.17°C/decade by 2100 |
| Marine heatwaves | Increasing from ~20 to ~200 days/year by mid-century |
| Sea-level rise | 3.3 mm/year in north Indian Ocean (1993–2017) |
| Monsoon trend | Decline in Indo-Gangetic & Northeast; rise in extremes |
| Glacier projections | 30–50% volume loss by 2100 |
| Cyclone intensity | +40% in Arabian Sea pre-monsoon systems |
| Hotspot regions | Himalayas, coasts, plains, Northeast, Central India |
| Adaptation need | Region-specific resilience and early warning systems |
