This paper examines how extreme heat is reshaping lives, livelihoods, and infrastructure across India, arguing that heat can no longer be treated as a seasonal inconvenience or a narrow climate issue. Bringing together perspectives from climate science, public health, labour, agriculture, urban design, and finance, the report highlights how rising temperatures disproportionately affect outdoor workers, low-income communities, women, and vulnerable populations. It critiques current heat adaptation approaches for being fragmented and overly reliant on short-term emergency responses, while calling for more inclusive, locally grounded, and accountable strategies. The paper also explores the intersections between heat, urbanisation, housing, energy demand, and economic productivity, emphasizing the need for systemic action across sectors. By combining interdisciplinary research with practical policy insights, the report offers a critical roadmap for rethinking heat resilience in India—one that prioritizes equity, community realities, and long-term climate adaptation in an increasingly warming world.
