The report was released by Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Guwahati, in collaboration with IIT Mandi and the Centre for Study of Science, Technology, and Policy (CSTEP), Bengaluru.

• It uses the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) framework, and identifies the dual challenges posed by floods and droughts and highlights their disproportionate impact on vulnerable populations.

Key Findings of the report

• Flood risk assessment: Fifty-one districts fall into the ‘Very High’ flood risk category, and another 118 districts fall into the ‘High’ flood risk category. 
  • These are primarily in Assam, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, Gujarat, Odisha, and Jammu and Kashmir.
• Drought Risk Assessment: Ninety-one districts fall in the ‘Very High’ drought risk category and another 188 districts in the ‘High’ drought risk category.
  • These are primarily in Bihar, Assam, Jharkhand, Odisha, and Maharashtra.
• Dual Risk of Flood and Drought: 11 districts are at ‘Very High’ risk of both flood and drought.

Way Forward

• Multi-Scale and Sectoral Approach: to assess risks for various sectors and at various levels.
• Risk Assessment under Climate Change Scenarios: Incorporate future climate scenarios in risk assessment.
• Capacity Building: Continuously improve the skills of state and district administrators.
• Emerging Risks: Update frameworks to include new threats like landslides, heat stress, and compound events.