Critical
The climate crisis could means India’s economy may literally overheat—let’s secure the workforce
India’s development ambition faces a grave threat from rising wet-bulb heat, jeopardizing productivity among 490 million informal workers. This "metabolism tax" demands immediate intervention. The author proposes re-clocking work hours, incentivizing heat-resilient infrastructure via MDBs and tax breaks, and instituting sensor-triggered welfare payments for vulnerable workers. A critical shift in institutional focus is imperative; climate resilience, not just fiscal consolidation, must become central to loan negotiations, protecting human capital and ensuring India's long-term economic potential.
LiveMint · Ejaz Ghani · May 24, 2026 at 7:30 AM