Lok Sabha Question No. 2458 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-12-15
Subject: National Mission on Strategic Knowledge for Climate Change
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: Smt. Harsimrat Kaur Badal

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2458

TO BE ANSWERED ON 15.12.2025

## National Mission on Strategic Knowledge for Climate Change

## 2458.   SMT. HARSIMRAT KAUR BADAL:

Will the Minister of ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE be pleased to state:

- (a) whether any  districts  of  Punjab  have  been  identified  as  climate-vulnerable  under  the National Mission on Strategic Knowledge for Climate Change;
- (b) if so, the names of such districts and parameters used for their identification; and
- (c) whether the Central Government proposes to extend adaptation funding to other flood prone districts in the State?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE (SHRI KIRTI VARDHAN SINGH)

(a)  to  (b)  The  Department  of  Science and  Technology has supported a project on 'Climate vulnerability and risk assessments' under the National Mission on Strategic Knowledge for Climate Change (NMSKCC). Under this project, 698 Districts of the country, including from Punjab  have been assessed  using  the  Intergovernmental  Panel  on Climate  Change  (IPCC)aligned climate risk framework. The report, which emerged from this study, identifies multiple districts in Punjab as climate-vulnerable, particularly in terms of flood exposure and drought sensitivity. The report has categorised the districts as 'Relatively High Vulnerable', Relatively Moderate  Vulnerable' and 'Relatively  Low  Vulnerable'.  Tarn  Taran,  Moga  and  Gurdaspur districts fall  into  the  category  of  'Relatively  High  Vulnerable'.  Barnala, Mansa, Ferozepur, Sangrur,  Bathinda,  Kapurthala,  Sri  Muktsar  Sahib,  Faridkot,  Fazilka,  Patiala,  Jalandhar, Pathankot, Amritsar and SBS Nagar districts fall into the category of 'Relatively Moderate Vulnerable'. Rupnagar, Hoshiarpur, Fatehgarh Sahib, SAS Nagar and Ludhiana districts fall into the category of 'Relatively Low Vulnerable'. The assessment follows an IPCC-based risk framework, using three main components and their indicators are: -

- i. Hazard  (Flood  &  Drought  Exposure)-  Projected  flood  inundation,  drought  severity index, historical flood frequency, rainfall variability
- ii. Exposure Population density, agricultural dependence, built-up areas
- iii. Sensitivity Cropland intensity, groundwater dependence, irrigation structure density.

(c)    The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change has supported preparation of State  Action  Plan  on  Climate  Change  (SAPCC)  for  the  State  of  Punjab.  The  SAPCC incorporates  mitigation  as  well  as  adaptation  measures,  including  initiatives  of  Disaster Resilient Infrastructures, inter-alia, providing for measures for flood management,

development of a flood forecasting project; strengthening embankments along rivers Beas and Sutlej; building check dams; establishing flood protection structures; and implementation of flood protection and drainage projects by the State.

As per the National Policy on Disaster Management (NPDM), the primary responsibility for disaster management, including disbursal of relief assistance on ground level, rests with the State Governments concerned. The State Governments undertake relief measures in the wake of natural calamities including floods and landslide, from the State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF) already placed at their disposal, in accordance with Government of India approved items and norms. The Central Government supplements the efforts of the State Governments and  provides  requisite  logistics  and  financial  support.  Additional  financial  assistance  is provided from the National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF), as per laid down procedure.

***