India’s cities are getting hotter, but the country’s biggest climate challenge is no longer just rising temperatures. A new study by the University of Oxford finds that India has more cities among the world’s 50 highest heat-risk urban centres than any other nation.
The finding is significant because it shifts the conversation away from weather records and towards a deeper question: why are some cities far more vulnerable to extreme heat than others?
The answer lies in the way India’s cities are growing, how people live, and how prepared urban systems are to cope.
Heat Risk Redefined
Unlike traditional rankings that focus only on maximum temperatures, the Oxford researchers evaluated 205 cities with populations exceeding one million using three dimensions: heat exposure, population vulnerability and coping capacity.
In other words, a city’s ranking depends not only on how hot it gets but also on who is exposed, how vulnerable residents are, and whether local infrastructure, healthcare and public services can protect them during prolonged heat events.
The study concludes that more than 95 percent of the world’s highest-risk cities are concentrated in South and Southeast Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa.
India, Pakistan, Nigeria and Ghana account for the largest share of these urban centres, highlighting how rapid urbanisation and socioeconomic challenges are amplifying climate risks.
The findings also underscore an important distinction. A city does not need to record the world’s highest temperatures to become one of its most dangerous places during a heatwave. Vulnerability, not temperature alone, increasingly determines risk.
Why India Ranks Highest
India has 14 cities among the world’s 50 highest heat-risk locations, more than any other country. Nagpur and Madurai feature among the global top ten, while Ahmedabad, Bhopal, Bengaluru, Chennai, Hyderabad, Jaipur, Kanpur, Kolkata, Lucknow, Mumbai, Patna and Pune also appear on the list.
At first glance, the rankings may seem surprising. Cities such as Bengaluru or Mumbai are not India’s hottest. Yet they rank highly because the study considers far more than climate. High population density, shrinking green cover, expanding informal settlements, ageing infrastructure, uneven healthcare access and limited cooling options combine to increase residents’ exposure to extreme heat.
In many neighbourhoods, especially low-income settlements, homes retain heat overnight, tree cover is sparse and access to reliable electricity or air conditioning remains limited. These conditions make prolonged heatwaves considerably more dangerous than temperature figures alone suggest.
Economic Risks Are Growing
The implications extend well beyond public health.
Many of India’s most vulnerable cities are also major economic engines. Bengaluru and Hyderabad anchor the country’s technology ecosystem, Pune is a manufacturing hub, Ahmedabad is a leading industrial centre and Mumbai remains India’s financial capital.
Extreme heat increasingly affects labour productivity, particularly for workers in construction, logistics, manufacturing and the informal economy. It also drives higher electricity demand, strains water supplies and places additional pressure on urban healthcare systems.
For businesses, the risks are becoming harder to ignore. Reuters recently reported that many companies still lack robust systems to measure and manage workplace heat exposure, particularly across complex supply chains in developing economies.
As climate risks intensify, heat resilience is emerging as both an operational and financial challenge rather than simply an environmental concern.
Beyond Air Conditioning
One of the study’s strongest messages is that adaptation cannot rely solely on air conditioning.
While mechanical cooling offers immediate relief, widespread dependence on it increases electricity demand and, if powered by fossil fuels, can contribute to further warming.
The researchers instead advocate a broader mix of solutions, including expanding urban tree cover, preserving open spaces, adopting reflective building materials, improving housing design and strengthening healthcare preparedness during heatwaves.
The study also highlights the importance of city planning. Urban growth that reduces green spaces or concentrates vulnerable populations without adequate infrastructure can significantly increase future heat risks, even if average temperatures remain unchanged.
India has already introduced Heat Action Plans in several cities and national agencies have issued heat preparedness guidelines. However, the Oxford findings suggest that future policies will need to integrate climate resilience into housing, transport, public health and urban development rather than treating heatwaves as isolated emergencies.
A Test Of Urban Resilience
The Oxford study reframes extreme heat as more than a climate issue. It is increasingly an economic, social and governance challenge.
For India, leading the global heat-risk ranking is not simply a warning about hotter summers. It reflects how climate hazards intersect with inequality, infrastructure gaps and rapid urbanisation.
Cities that invest in greener neighbourhoods, resilient infrastructure, accessible healthcare and climate-sensitive planning will be better positioned to protect lives while sustaining economic growth.
As heatwaves become more frequent, resilience may prove just as important to a city’s competitiveness as roads, airports or digital connectivity. The question is no longer whether Indian cities will get hotter. It is whether they can adapt quickly enough to remain liveable, productive and inclusive.
The Logical Indian’s Perspective
Extreme heat is no longer just an environmental concern. It is a question of public health, social equity and urban resilience. As cities continue to expand, climate adaptation must prioritise those most vulnerable, including low-income communities, outdoor workers and the elderly.
Investing in greener neighbourhoods, resilient infrastructure and accessible healthcare is not merely about preparing for hotter summers. It is about ensuring that every citizen, regardless of income or location, has the opportunity to live safely, healthily and with dignity.
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