Climate Change and Poverty in India

Why in News?

A recent study conducted by National Institute of Science Education and Research (NISER) highlights how climate variability is reshaping poverty patterns across India.

What does the study reveal?

• Changing nature of poverty in India – India has made notable progress in poverty reduction over the past decades.
• The poverty headcount ratio has declined significantly, and poverty intensity has also reduced.
• However, these gains remain fragile.
• Effect of climate change – Climate change has introduced new vulnerabilities, especially for populations dependent on natural resources.
• Environmental stressors – The NISER study shows that environmental stressors—such as erratic rainfall, rising temperatures, floods, and droughts—interact with existing socio-economic inequalities to exacerbate poverty.
• Unending risk – This creates a dynamic where households that have escaped poverty risk slipping back due to climate shocks.
• Validation of the study – Based on an analysis of 593 districts across 21 states, the study demonstrates that poverty is no longer merely an economic issue but increasingly a climate-linked phenomenon.
• This necessitates a paradigm shift in policy thinking—from uniform national approaches to localized, climate-sensitive strategies.

What are the climate variables and their impact on poverty?

• Temperature – Among climatic factors, variability in maximum temperature emerges as the most critical determinant.
• A rise in temperature fluctuations significantly increases the probability of a district being classified as poor.
• Extreme heat affects agricultural productivity, labor efficiency, and health outcomes, thereby undermining livelihoods.
• Floods and erratic precipitation – Flood-prone districts experience repeated damage to crops, infrastructure, and housing.
• Irregular rainfall disrupts sowing cycles, reduces yields, and creates water scarcity.
• These findings underline that climate change is not a distant environmental issue but a direct driver of economic distress.

The study employs a logistic regression model to assess the impact of climatic, economic, and social variables on poverty.

• The Drought-Dependence Trap – One of the most significant insights of the study is the compounded vulnerability of districts that are both drought-prone and heavily dependent on agriculture.
• Such districts are 83% more likely to experience high poverty levels.
• The interaction between drought conditions and primary sector dependence creates a vicious cycle of low productivity, income instability, and indebtedness.
• Repeated crop failures force farmers into distress borrowing, while the lack of non-farm employment opportunities restricts income diversification.
• This “drought-dependence trap” highlights the structural nature of rural poverty in India.
• Social dimensions – The study also brings out the role of social factors, particularly the concentration of Scheduled Tribe (ST) populations.
• Districts with higher tribal populations show a greater likelihood of poverty.
• These communities often reside in ecologically fragile regions such as forests, hills, and drought-prone areas.
• Historical marginalisation, limited access to infrastructure, and dependence on natural resources increase their exposure to climate shocks.
• As a result, climate-induced poverty disproportionately affects these vulnerable groups, raising concerns about equity and social justice.
• Economic structure and resilience – A key finding of the study is the protective role of economic diversification.
• Districts with a higher share of the tertiary sector—such as services, trade, and information technology—exhibit lower poverty rates.
• A stronger service sector reduces dependence on climate-sensitive activities like agriculture.
• Regions with diversified economies also tend to have better infrastructure, higher literacy levels, and improved healthcare systems.
• These factors enhance resilience against climate shocks.

What are the regional disparities & policy limitations in climate-induced poverty?

• Eastern states – States such as Chhattisgarh, Odisha, Jharkhand, Bihar, and West Bengal show higher poverty levels due to greater dependence on agriculture and lower economic diversification.
• Southern and western states – States like Kerala, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Gujarat, and Maharashtra exhibit lower poverty rates owing to stronger tertiary sectors and better infrastructure.
• This divergence reflects broader structural inequalities in India’s development trajectory.
• Regions with higher human capital and institutional capacity are better equipped to cope with climate stress.
• Shortcomings of existing policies – The findings underscore the limitations of one-size-fits-all policy approaches.
• Implementation gaps – While national initiatives such as the National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC), State Action Plans on Climate Change, and the SDG India Index reflect India’s commitment to sustainable development, implementation gaps persist at the district level.

What could be done?

• Climate-resilient agriculture – Promotion of drought-resistant crop varieties.
• Expansion of efficient irrigation systems such as drip and sprinkler irrigation.
• Adoption of climate-smart agricultural practices.
• Diversification of livelihoods – Development of non-farm employment opportunities in rural areas.
• Skill development programs to enable transition to the service sector.
• Encouragement of small and medium enterprises.
• Strengthening disaster management – Improved early warning systems for floods and extreme weather events.
• Investment in resilient infrastructure.
• Community-based disaster preparedness programs.
• Focus on vulnerable communities – Targeted interventions for Scheduled Tribes and other marginalized groups.
• Improved access to markets, credit, and institutional support.
• Inclusive development policies to reduce social inequalities.
• Towards integrated policymaking – The study emphasizes that addressing climate change and poverty in isolation is ineffective. Instead, an integrated approach is required that simultaneously tackles environmental, economic, and social dimensions.
• Climate adaptation policies must consider local vulnerabilities and institutional capacities.
• District-level planning should be strengthened to ensure context-specific solutions.
• Collaboration between government, research institutions, and local communities is essential.

What lies ahead?

• The NISER study provides compelling evidence that climate change is reshaping the geography of poverty in India.
• As climate shocks intensify, they threaten to reverse developmental gains and deepen existing inequalities.
• India’s path towards achieving Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)—particularly those related to poverty eradication, zero hunger, and climate action—depends on its ability to integrate climate resilience into development planning.
• A regionally tailored, multi-pronged strategy that promotes economic diversification, strengthens institutions, and prioritizes vulnerable communities is essential.
• In a warming world, poverty alleviation cannot be divorced from climate policy.
• The future of inclusive development in India lies in recognizing and addressing this critical intersection.

Reference

Business Standards| Climate Change and Poverty in India

Climate Change and Poverty in India

Why in News?

A recent study conducted by National Institute of Science Education and Research (NISER) highlights how climate variability is reshaping poverty patterns across India.

What does the study reveal?

• Changing nature of poverty in India – India has made notable progress in poverty reduction over the past decades.
• The poverty headcount ratio has declined significantly, and poverty intensity has also reduced.
• However, these gains remain fragile.
• Effect of climate change – Climate change has introduced new vulnerabilities, especially for populations dependent on natural resources.
• Environmental stressors – The NISER study shows that environmental stressors—such as erratic rainfall, rising temperatures, floods, and droughts—interact with existing socio-economic inequalities to exacerbate poverty.
• Unending risk – This creates a dynamic where households that have escaped poverty risk slipping back due to climate shocks.
• Validation of the study – Based on an analysis of 593 districts across 21 states, the study demonstrates that poverty is no longer merely an economic issue but increasingly a climate-linked phenomenon.
• This necessitates a paradigm shift in policy thinking—from uniform national approaches to localized, climate-sensitive strategies.

What are the climate variables and their impact on poverty?

• Temperature – Among climatic factors, variability in maximum temperature emerges as the most critical determinant.
• A rise in temperature fluctuations significantly increases the probability of a district being classified as poor.
• Extreme heat affects agricultural productivity, labor efficiency, and health outcomes, thereby undermining livelihoods.
• Floods and erratic precipitation – Flood-prone districts experience repeated damage to crops, infrastructure, and housing.
• Irregular rainfall disrupts sowing cycles, reduces yields, and creates water scarcity.
• These findings underline that climate change is not a distant environmental issue but a direct driver of economic distress.

The study employs a logistic regression model to assess the impact of climatic, economic, and social variables on poverty.

• The Drought-Dependence Trap – One of the most significant insights of the study is the compounded vulnerability of districts that are both drought-prone and heavily dependent on agriculture.
• Such districts are 83% more likely to experience high poverty levels.
• The interaction between drought conditions and primary sector dependence creates a vicious cycle of low productivity, income instability, and indebtedness.
• Repeated crop failures force farmers into distress borrowing, while the lack of non-farm employment opportunities restricts income diversification.
• This “drought-dependence trap” highlights the structural nature of rural poverty in India.
• Social dimensions – The study also brings out the role of social factors, particularly the concentration of Scheduled Tribe (ST) populations.
• Districts with higher tribal populations show a greater likelihood of poverty.
• These communities often reside in ecologically fragile regions such as forests, hills, and drought-prone areas.
• Historical marginalisation, limited access to infrastructure, and dependence on natural resources increase their exposure to climate shocks.
• As a result, climate-induced poverty disproportionately affects these vulnerable groups, raising concerns about equity and social justice.
• Economic structure and resilience – A key finding of the study is the protective role of economic diversification.
• Districts with a higher share of the tertiary sector—such as services, trade, and information technology—exhibit lower poverty rates.
• A stronger service sector reduces dependence on climate-sensitive activities like agriculture.
• Regions with diversified economies also tend to have better infrastructure, higher literacy levels, and improved healthcare systems.
• These factors enhance resilience against climate shocks.

What are the regional disparities & policy limitations in climate-induced poverty?

• Eastern states – States such as Chhattisgarh, Odisha, Jharkhand, Bihar, and West Bengal show higher poverty levels due to greater dependence on agriculture and lower economic diversification.
• Southern and western states – States like Kerala, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Gujarat, and Maharashtra exhibit lower poverty rates owing to stronger tertiary sectors and better infrastructure.
• This divergence reflects broader structural inequalities in India’s development trajectory.
• Regions with higher human capital and institutional capacity are better equipped to cope with climate stress.
• Shortcomings of existing policies – The findings underscore the limitations of one-size-fits-all policy approaches.
• Implementation gaps – While national initiatives such as the National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC), State Action Plans on Climate Change, and the SDG India Index reflect India’s commitment to sustainable development, implementation gaps persist at the district level.

What could be done?

• Climate-resilient agriculture – Promotion of drought-resistant crop varieties.
• Expansion of efficient irrigation systems such as drip and sprinkler irrigation.
• Adoption of climate-smart agricultural practices.
• Diversification of livelihoods – Development of non-farm employment opportunities in rural areas.
• Skill development programs to enable transition to the service sector.
• Encouragement of small and medium enterprises.
• Strengthening disaster management – Improved early warning systems for floods and extreme weather events.
• Investment in resilient infrastructure.
• Community-based disaster preparedness programs.
• Focus on vulnerable communities – Targeted interventions for Scheduled Tribes and other marginalized groups.
• Improved access to markets, credit, and institutional support.
• Inclusive development policies to reduce social inequalities.
• Towards integrated policymaking – The study emphasizes that addressing climate change and poverty in isolation is ineffective. Instead, an integrated approach is required that simultaneously tackles environmental, economic, and social dimensions.
• Climate adaptation policies must consider local vulnerabilities and institutional capacities.
• District-level planning should be strengthened to ensure context-specific solutions.
• Collaboration between government, research institutions, and local communities is essential.

What lies ahead?

• The NISER study provides compelling evidence that climate change is reshaping the geography of poverty in India.
• As climate shocks intensify, they threaten to reverse developmental gains and deepen existing inequalities.
• India’s path towards achieving Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)—particularly those related to poverty eradication, zero hunger, and climate action—depends on its ability to integrate climate resilience into development planning.
• A regionally tailored, multi-pronged strategy that promotes economic diversification, strengthens institutions, and prioritizes vulnerable communities is essential.
• In a warming world, poverty alleviation cannot be divorced from climate policy.
• The future of inclusive development in India lies in recognizing and addressing this critical intersection.

Reference

Business Standards| Climate Change and Poverty in India

Mahatma Jyotirao Phule

Why in News?

Recently, national leaders paid floral tributes on the 200^th birth anniversary of Mahatma Jyotirao Phule at Prerna Sthal, Parliament House Complex.

Key Contributions

• He is known as Father of Indian Social Revolution.
• Social Reform – Radical critique of Brahmanical hegemony; described caste as institutionalised slavery.
• Education as Emancipation – Along with Savitribai Phule, he pioneered education for Shudras, Ati-Shudras (Dalits), and women.
• Famous dictum – “Vidhye-vina mati geli” (Without education, wisdom is lost).
• Agrarian Reforms – In Shetkaryacha Asud (The Cultivator’s Whipcord), exposed exploitation of farmers by British bureaucracy and moneylenders.
• Anti-Caste Ideology – Used the symbol of Raja Bali to provide cultural identity for oppressed classes.
• He was one of the first leaders to use the term "Dalit" for oppressed castes and famously opened a water tank in his own home for untouchables in 1868.
• Satya Shodhak Samaj (1873) – Rejected priestly mediation, promoted social service and equality.
• Publications –
  • Gulamgiri (1873) – Dedicated to the American abolitionist movement.
  • Tritiya Ratna (1855) – Play exposing priestly exploitation.
  • Sarvajanik Satya Dharma Pustak – Posthumous work advocating rationalism and universal religion of truth.
• Newspaper – Deenbandhu – Voice of the Satyashodhak movement.

References 

1. PIB | Jyotirao Phule
2. PIB | Jyotirao Phule

Kuno National Park & Cheetah Conservation

Why in News?

An Indian-born female cheetah “KGP-12” (daughter of Gamini) at Kuno National Park, has given birth to four cubs in the wild, total population reaches 57.

Kuno National Park

Project Cheetah (Flagship Initiative)

• Launched in – 2022.
• Selection of Kuno – Low human density, adequate prey base.
• World First – First intercontinental translocation of a large wild carnivore.
• Nodal Agency – National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA), in collaboration with the Wildlife Institute of India (WII) under Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change.
• Objective – Restore cheetah (extinct in India since 1952) as a flagship species for grassland and semi-arid ecosystem conservation.
• Species Sourced – African Cheetahs from Namibia (2022), South Africa (2023), Botswana (2026).
• First Release Site – Kuno National Park, Madhya Pradesh.
• Significance – First intercontinental translocation of a large carnivore.
• Breeding Milestone – Gamini’s cubs (2026) are the first Indian-born cheetahs to reproduce naturally in the wild.

References

1. PIB | Kuno National Park
2. The Hindu | Kuno National Park

Barabanki–Bahraich Highway

Why in News?

The Union Cabinet has approved construction of the four‑lane, access‑controlled Barabanki–Bahraich section of national highway.

• Project Name – Barabanki–Bahraich Highway Project (NH‑927 Section).
• Nodal Ministry – Ministry of Road Transport & Highways (MoRTH).
• Length – 101.5 Kms.
• Mode of Construction - Hybrid Annuity Mode (HAM).
• Connecting areas – This stretch will directly connect Barabanki to Bahraich in Uttar Pradesh.
• Trade Connectivity – It serve as a critical trade lifeline to Nepal via the Rupaidiha Land Port and Nepalgunj.
• Travel Time Reduction – From 150 minutes to 75 minutes (50%).
• Speed Increase – 40 kmph to 80 kmph.
• Strategic Role – Facilitates India–Nepal trade (India is 60% of Nepal’s trade volume).
• Key Goods– Rice, wheat, vegetables, dairy, medicines, consumer goods.

• Significance - Faster transport reduces spoilage of perishable goods, improves farmer incomes, and reduces post‑harvest losses.
• This project strengthens India–Nepal corridor; like Kaladan Multimodal (India–Myanmar).

India accounts for over 60% of Nepal’s trade volume.

• Rupaidiha–Nepalgunj is one of the busiest India–Nepal trade points, which handles majority of exports from India to Nepal.

References

1. PIB | Barabanki – Bahraich Highway
2. AIR | Barabanki – Bahraich Highway

Women in IT/ITeS Contractual Roles, FY26

Why in News?

Recently a report highlighted that women’s placements in contractual/flexible roles reached 40% in FY26.

Key Facts –

Tier 2 cities are emerging urban centres that rank just below major metropolitan hubs (Tier 1).

Career Span Data

• Early Career (<2 years) – 30%
  • Fresh graduates and entry‑level professionals form a large share.
  • Indicates strong inflow of women into IT/ITeS flexi roles.
• Mid-Career (5–8 years) – 31%
  • Peak participation, showing women consolidating skills and experience.
  • Reflects stability and growth in professional engagement.
• Senior Career (9–14 years) – 13%
  • Noticeable drop, pointing to challenges in retention and career progression.
  • Possible factors: work–life balance, lack of mentorship, glass ceiling effects.
• Leadership/Advanced (>14 years) – 4%
  • Very low representation at top levels.
  • Highlights systemic gaps in advancement and leadership opportunities.

Reference

Business Standard | Women's Employment