New research shows that rising temperatures and forecasts of more hot days in 2026 are expected to put pressure on India's electricity and water systems, highlighting how extreme heat is increasingly straining the country's infrastructure.
Researchers at the Council on Energy, Environment and Water said intensifying heat was already driving spikes in electricity demand for cooling while also increasing pressure on urban water supplies.
The rising demand for electricity comes at a time when India is already struggling to meet its energy needs due to the Iran war.
Peak electricity demand could rise to around 260 gigawatts this summer due to unusually warm weather, said Disha Agrawal, senior programme lead at CEEW.
India has about 500 gigawatts of installed power generation capacity, roughly half from non-fossil sources, led by solar and wind, with also hydro and nuclear power.
Extreme heat is also intensifying pressure on India's water systems, particularly in cities where freshwater supplies are limited.
India could reuse more than 31,000 million cubic metres of treated wastewater annually by 2047 if supported by investment and policy reforms, said Nitin Bassi, fellow at CEEW.
