This analysis attempts to address a pressing problem at the heart of India’s plans to combat extreme heat: finance. Indian Heat Action Plans (HAPs) contain a welcome diversity of adaptation solutions spanning many sectors, but generally fail to identify viable sources of public and private finance to implement these solutions. In a previous study published in March 2023, we found that only two of the 37 state, district and city heat action plans reviewed had cited specific sources of finance for at least some of their interventions.
In this analysis, we map heat-resilience solutions proposed across 37 Indian HAPs against interventions in India’s Centrally Sponsored Schemes (CSSs), Central-Sector Schemes (CSs), and an Act, all implemented by states with significant financial support from the Union government. These cover areas as diverse as the creation of low-cost affordable housing, the construction of artificial water bodies, urban greening, and changing the way settlements are built, among others.
CSSs carry a lot of financial firepower and if creatively utilised, could help solve some of India’s climate finance shortfalls. In Financial Year 2023-2024 (FY 2023-24), CSSs were allocated ₹ 4,76,104.59 crores or 10.57% of the total Union budget (₹ 45,03,097 crores).
We reviewed a total of 72 schemes which includes 67 CSSs, one CS, one Act and three national missions/action plans related to heat action and with budgetary allocations for FY 2023-24. We found that a quarter (18 schemes) contained interventions that directly correspond to heat resilience solutions identified in the HAPs. Overall, these 18 schemes (16 CSSs, an Act and a CS) could potentially support the implementation of 16 different types of heat solutions.
An example of how these synergetic solutions look:
Suggested citation: Shekhar, S., T. Dalal, S. Santhosh, A. V. Pillai & B. Krishna. 2023. “Finding the finance: A guide on identifying Centrally Sponsored Schemes to fund heat resilience solutions.” Working Paper. Initiative on Climate, Energy and Environment, Centre for Policy Research, New Delhi, December 2023.
