India Records 0.9°C Temperature Rise in Past Decade

A new multi-institutional climate study reports that India’s average temperature rose by nearly 0.9°C between 2015 and 2024. The findings highlight a sharp increase in warm days and a surge in regionally varied extreme weather events, underscoring the urgency for climate adaptation strategies nationwide.

Significant Warming Trends Across Regions

The study notes that the hottest day of the year has warmed by 1.5–2°C in western and northeast India since the 1950s. Researchers observe clear escalation in heatwaves, with warm days increasing by 5–10 days per decade. Mountain regions, coastal belts and plains each show distinct climate stress patterns, driven by rising temperatures and altered rainfall behaviour.

Regional Climate Impacts Intensify

The Hindukush Himalayas are experiencing accelerated warming and glacier retreat, while the Indo-Gangetic plains report heightened heat stress and declining monsoon-season rainfall. Northwest and western India show an increase in warm days, warm nights and extreme rainfall. Coastal zones, particularly the western coast, face rising sea levels and more severe tropical cyclones.

Growing Threat of Compound Extremes

Researchers warn of rising “compound extremes”, where simultaneous or sequential hazards—such as concurrent heatwaves and droughts—amplify socio-economic impacts. These events strain agriculture, water systems and public health, often overwhelming existing response capacities. Climate projections suggest that the frequency and intensity of such extremes will escalate further as global temperatures rise.

Exam Oriented Facts

• India’s average temperature rose by about 0.9°C during 2015–2024.
• Warm days have increased by 5–10 days per decade across many regions.
• The tropical Indian Ocean is warming at 0.12°C per decade, one of the fastest rates globally.
• Marine heatwaves may reach nearly 200 days per year by 2050.

Ocean Warming and Extreme Sea-Level Events

The tropical Indian Ocean’s rapid warming is triggering more frequent marine heatwaves, threatening coral reefs and fisheries crucial to coastal livelihoods. The Arabian Sea has become a hotspot for intense cyclones, with pre-monsoon cyclone intensity rising by 40 per cent in recent decades. Extreme sea-level events historically seen once in a century are projected to occur annually by mid-century, prompting calls for region-specific adaptation, resilient infrastructure and improved early warning systems.