For Prelims: Extreme Weather Events, Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), Monsoon Deficit, Report name, Nodal body, Period covered, Extreme weather days, Human deaths
For Mains: Climate vulnerability, disaster risk reduction, agricultural resilience, livestock sector impact, inter-state disparity in extreme weather impact
Source:
Hindustan
5 facts for one-day exams
SSC, railway, police and teaching exams ask direct questions like these.
- CSE and Down To Earth report 'Climate India 2026' covers January-September 2026.
- 92% of days in Jan-Sep 2026 had extreme weather events.
- 3,220 deaths, 42.5 lakh hectares crop damage, 1,28,334 houses damaged.
- Uttar Pradesh had highest deaths (811); Maharashtra highest crop loss (28.3 lakh ha).
- February 2026 was the driest February since 1901.
Why in the news?
A CSE-Down To Earth report reveals that India faced extreme weather events on 92% of days in the first nine months of 2026, causing 3,220 deaths, damaging 42.5 lakh hectares of crops, and destroying or damaging 1,28,334 houses. Uttar Pradesh recorded the highest human fatalities (811) and Maharashtra the largest crop loss (28.3 lakh hectares). The report also notes that February 2026 was the driest February since 1901 and the fourth hottest in 125 years.
Summary
- CSE and Down To Earth report 'Climate India 2026: An Assessment of Extreme Weather Events' covers January-September 2026.
- 92% of days in this period had at least one extreme weather event (heatwave, cold wave, lightning, storm, heavy rain, flood, landslide).
- 47,244 livestock also died due to extreme weather.
- Over 82% of the total crop damage (2.06 crore hectares) in the five years 2022-2026 occurred between 2024 and 2026.
- February 2026 was the driest February in India since 1901 and fourth hottest in 125 years; monsoon rainfall was 13% below normal.
- A related report by Climate Trends, 'From Risk to Resilience: Climate Change, Ecology and the Future of Indian Agriculture', says extreme heat causes ₹2,661 crore annual loss in milk production (18 lakh tonnes, ~2% of total).
Highlights
92% Days with Extreme Weather
In the first nine months of 2026, extreme weather events struck on 252 out of 273 days, killing 3,220 people and damaging 42.5 lakh hectares of crops.
Crop and Livestock Toll
Maharashtra lost 28.3 lakh hectares of crops (highest), and over 47,000 livestock died; extreme heat alone causes ₹2,661 crore annual milk loss.
Worsening Trend Since 2022
Extreme weather days rose from 86-88% in 2022-23 to 93% in 2024 and 99% in 2025; 82% of five-year crop damage occurred after 2023.
Background
India is increasingly vulnerable to climate change-induced extreme weather. The CSE-Down To Earth report 'Climate India 2026' compiles data from January to September 2026, showing that 92% of days recorded at least one extreme event. This follows a rising trend: 86-88% in 2022-23, 93% in 2024, and 99% in 2025. The report also highlights that February 2026 was the driest since 1901 and fourth hottest in 125 years, and the monsoon was 13% below normal.
Key Analysis and Impact
The human and economic toll is severe: 3,220 deaths, 42.5 lakh hectares of crops damaged, 1,28,334 houses destroyed or damaged, and 47,244 livestock dead. Uttar Pradesh suffered the most deaths (811), followed by Maharashtra (286) and Bihar (245). Maharashtra lost the most crop area (28.3 lakh hectares). The northwest region had the highest number of extreme weather days (235). A separate Climate Trends report adds that extreme heat costs India ₹2,661 crore annually in lost milk production (18 lakh tonnes, 2% of total), and 40% of livestock and 45% of cropland face high flood risk.
Way Forward
India needs to strengthen its early warning systems, climate-resilient agriculture, and disaster preparedness, especially in states like Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, and Bihar. Heat action plans, flood-proofing of croplands, and livestock shelter programs are urgent. The rising frequency of extreme weather calls for integrating climate adaptation into all development planning, with specific focus on the northwest and eastern regions.
Extreme weather days trend (2022-2026)
| Year | Extreme weather days (%) | Key feature |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 86% | Baseline year |
| 2023 | 88% | Slight increase |
| 2024 | 93% | Above 90% |
| 2025 | 99% | Nearly every day |
| 2026 (Jan-Sep) | 92% | Driest Feb since 1901 |
Uttar Pradesh connection
Matters for these Uttar Pradesh exams:UPPSC 8/10
Matters for these Bihar exams:BPSC 7/10
Background GK
Textbook concepts you need to understand this news
- Extreme Weather Events
- Unusual, severe, or unseasonal weather phenomena such as heatwaves, cold waves, heavy rainfall, floods, landslides, and cyclones that cause significant damage to life, property, and agriculture.
- Centre for Science and Environment (CSE)
- A New Delhi-based public interest research and advocacy organisation focused on environment and development issues. It publishes the magazine Down To Earth.
- Monsoon Deficit
- The percentage by which actual rainfall during the monsoon season falls short of the long-period average (LPA). A deficit of 13% indicates a below-normal monsoon.
Facts to remember
Tap a card to see the answer. Try to recall it first.
How exams will ask this
- Data: 3,220 deaths, 42.5 lakh hectares crop damage, 1,28,334 houses damaged/destroyed (Jan-Sep 2026)
- Data: 92% days with extreme weather in Jan-Sep 2026
- Data: Uttar Pradesh (811 deaths) and Maharashtra (28.3 lakh ha crop loss) worst affected
- Data: February 2026 driest since 1901 and fourth hottest in 125 years
Don't make this mistake!
Examiners may swap the state with the highest deaths (Uttar Pradesh, 811) with the state with the highest crop loss (Maharashtra, 28.3 lakh ha). They may also confuse the percentage of extreme weather days (92% for Jan-Sep 2026) with the 2025 figure (99%) or the 2022-23 figures (86-88%).
Write these in mains answers
- Climate vulnerability, disaster risk reduction, agricultural resilience, livestock sector impact, inter-state disparity in extreme weather impact
Stuck? Get it in one tap
A report by CSE and Down To Earth shows that in the first nine months of 2026, India faced extreme weather on 92 out of every 100 days. This killed 3,220 people, ruined crops on 42.5 lakh hectares of land, and damaged over 1.28 lakh houses. Uttar Pradesh saw the most deaths, while Maharashtra lost the most crops. The report also says February 2026 was the driest February in over a century.
- CSE and Down To Earth report 'Climate India 2026' covers January-September 2026.
- 92% of days in Jan-Sep 2026 had extreme weather events.
- 3,220 deaths, 42.5 lakh hectares crop damage, 1,28,334 houses damaged.
- Uttar Pradesh had highest deaths (811); Maharashtra highest crop loss (28.3 lakh ha).
- February 2026 was the driest February since 1901.
- Environment: Climate change and extreme weather events
- Geography: Indian monsoon and weather patterns
Related concepts: Extreme Weather Events, Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), Monsoon Deficit
Practice questions
Pick an answer, then read the explanation.
- Q1Easy
Which organisation released the report 'Climate India 2026: An Assessment of Extreme Weather Events'?
Explanation: The report was released by the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) along with its magazine Down To Earth. IMD issues weather forecasts, NDMA handles disaster response, and the Environment Ministry frames policy, but none of these authored the specific report mentioned.
- Q2Hard
Consider the following statements regarding the CSE-Down To Earth report on extreme weather in India (Jan-Sep 2026):
- 1.Uttar Pradesh recorded the highest number of human deaths due to extreme weather.
- 2.Maharashtra recorded the highest area of crop damage.
- 3.February 2026 was the hottest February in India since 1901.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Explanation: Statement 1 is correct: Uttar Pradesh had 811 deaths, the highest. Statement 2 is correct: Maharashtra had 28.3 lakh hectares of crop damage, the highest. Statement 3 is incorrect: February 2026 was the driest since 1901, not the hottest; it was the fourth hottest in 125 years.
- Q3Medium
What percentage of days in the first nine months of 2026 recorded at least one extreme weather event in India, according to the CSE report?
Explanation: The report states that 92% of days (252 out of 273) in January-September 2026 experienced extreme weather. 86% and 88% were the figures for 2022 and 2023, while 99% was the figure for the full year 2025.
- Q4Medium
What is the primary implication of the finding that 82% of crop damage in the five years 2022-2026 occurred between 2024 and 2026?
Explanation: The concentration of crop damage in the last three years indicates a rapid worsening of extreme weather impacts, consistent with the rising trend of extreme weather days (86-88% in 2022-23 to 99% in 2025). Option A is wrong because damage is increasing, not decreasing. Option C is too narrow as many factors beyond monsoon deficit cause damage. Option D is not supported by data in the report.
Frequently asked questions
1. How many people died due to extreme weather in India in the first nine months of 2026?
3,220 people died due to extreme weather events in India from January to September 2026.
2. Which state recorded the highest number of extreme weather deaths in 2026?
Uttar Pradesh recorded the highest number of deaths at 811, followed by Maharashtra (286) and Bihar (245).
3. Which state suffered the highest crop damage from extreme weather in 2026?
Maharashtra suffered the highest crop damage, with 28.3 lakh hectares of crops affected.
4. What was unique about February 2026 according to the CSE report?
February 2026 was the driest February in India since 1901 and the fourth hottest in 125 years.
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- Original4 November 2026 · Read story
