PIB TrackerCooling the cities: heat action plans as India tackles the urban heat island effect
As Indian cities run hotter than their surroundings, the government is supplementing states' urban planning with heat guidance — the NDMA's 2019 heat-wave action-plan guidelines have driven Heat Action Plans in 23 states, 195 districts and 64 cities, with vulnerability assessments and mitigation to counter the urban heat island effect.
What happened
- The government detailed how it is tackling the urban heat island (UHI) effect — cities running hotter than their surroundings.
- Under the 12th Schedule, urban planning is a State/ULB subject; the Centre supplements via schemes, guidelines and support.
- The NDMA's 2019 heat-wave action-plan guidelines drive city Heat Action Plans (HAPs).
- HAPs have been prepared by 23 states, 195 districts and 64 cities, with vulnerability assessments.
- Mitigation spans urban greening, cool roofs, early warning and public-health preparedness.
For Prelims
- Urban Heat Island (UHI): The effect where built-up urban areas are hotter than surrounding rural areas (concrete/asphalt, waste heat, less vegetation).
- Heat Action Plan (HAP): A city/district plan to prepare for and manage heatwaves — early warning, public advisories, health-system readiness and mitigation.
- NDMA: The National Disaster Management Authority — issued the 2019 heat-wave guidelines; heatwaves are managed under disaster-management frameworks.
- 12th Schedule / Art. 243W: Urban planning is a function of ULBs/States; the Centre plays a supplementary, supportive role.
- Mitigation: Urban greening, cool/reflective roofs, blue-green infrastructure and better building design reduce urban heat.
- Why it matters: Heatwaves (worsening with climate change) threaten health (especially the poor, elderly and outdoor workers), water and power demand.
For UPSC: A topical climate-and-urban item — the urban heat island effect and Heat Action Plans. Use it for heatwaves and climate adaptation, disaster management (NDMA/HAPs), urban planning and governance (ULBs, 12th Schedule), and heat-resilient, green cities.
What it is NOT: This is a status/approach note (largely a parliamentary reply), not a new scheme or a binding national heat law. Urban planning and HAP implementation rest with States/ULBs; the Centre supports via guidelines and assistance.
For Mains
Syllabus: GS3.14 · GS3.15 · Linkage L2
Anchor
Heat-resilient cities — planning and mitigation to counter the urban heat island effect and worsening heatwaves.
Substantiation (data)
NDMA's 2019 heat-wave guidelines drive Heat Action Plans (23 states, 195 districts, 64 cities); vulnerability assessments and mitigation; urban planning a State/ULB subject (12th Schedule) with central support.
Exemplification
Cool roofs, urban greening/blue-green infrastructure and early-warning systems in city Heat Action Plans.
Problematisation
Implementation and financing at ULB level, protecting outdoor/informal workers, and rising heat under climate change and urbanisation.
Way-forward
Mainstream heat into urban planning, scale green/cool infrastructure and early warning, and build local capacity and finance.
Position
Adapting cities to extreme heat is a growing public-health and climate-resilience imperative.
Deploys into: Environment — conservation/pollution + disaster management (GS3.14, GS3.15) · the urban heat island effect and Heat Action Plans (NDMA 2019), urban planning (ULBs/12th Schedule), and climate adaptation.
Ministry of Housing & Urban Affairs · 2026-07-20 · PRID 2286772 · PIB source ↗