UPSC DAW Mains Answer Writing 14th July 2025

UPSC DAW Mains Answer Writing 14th July 2025

Question

Q) ‘Climate migration in India is not merely a consequence of environmental degradation but a multidimensional crisis with deep socio-economic implications.’ In light of this statement, examine the causes and impacts of climate-induced migration in India. Also, suggest policy measures to address this emerging challenge. (15 marks, 250 words) 

Model Answer

Paper  

GS III 

Subject 

Environment 

Topic 

Climate migration 

Syllabus As Per Notification 

Conservation, Environmental Pollution and Degradation, Environmental Impact Assessment. 

 Introduction:  

  • Climate migration refers to people being forced to leave their homes due to climate-related stressors like droughts, floods, and sea-level rise. According to the Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre (2022), climate events displace over 20 million people globally each year. In India, climate-induced migration is an emerging crisis with far-reaching socio-economic consequences beyond just environmental degradation. 

 Causes of Climate-Induced Migration in India: 

  • Drought and Agricultural Failure:  

  • Prolonged droughts reduce crop productivity and water availability, forcing rural populations to abandon agriculture-based livelihoods. 

  • E.g. Between 1998 and 2009, Datia (MP) faced 9 droughts, triggering large-scale migration of farmers. (India Meteorological Department data) 

  • Floods and Riverbank Erosion: 

  • Flooding and erosion destroy homes and farmland, making regions uninhabitable and pushing people toward permanent relocation. 

  • E.g. In Charpauli (Bangladesh border), the Jamuna River eroded land at a rate of 52 m/year on one bank (1990–2020), displacing thousands. (DUET Satellite Study, 2023; Dhaka Tribune, May 2022) 

  • Erratic Rainfall Patterns: 

  • Climate change has increased rainfall unpredictability, leading to long dry spells between heavy rain days, which disrupts farming cycles. 

  • E.g. In Vidarbha and Marathwada, rainfall has become sparse but intense, hurting seasonal agriculture and driving sugarcane migration. (Centre for Sustainable Agriculture; The Hindu, Sept 2024) 

  • Sea-Level Rise in Coastal Areas:  

  • Rising sea levels and saline intrusion threaten coastal ecosystems and habitability, particularly in delta regions. 

  • E.g. The Sundarbans face rising sea levels that have submerged multiple islands like Ghoramara in West Bengal. (IPCC AR6, 2023; National Centre for Coastal Research, 2023) 

  • Extreme Heat Events:  

  • Rising temperatures and heatwaves reduce habitability, strain water systems, and increase disease risk, prompting seasonal migration. 

  • E.g. Satellite data shows temperatures exceeding 50°C in parts of Maharashtra and Rajasthan during May 2024 (IMD). 

 Impacts of Climate Migration:  

  • Urban Informal Employment and Living Conditions:  

  • Migrants settle in slums and work in insecure, low-paying informal jobs. 

  • E.g. Migrants from Bundelkhand work as construction labourers in Delhi and Surat, living in unregulated settlements. (BBAU, Lucknow; The Hindu, 2025) 

  • Debt Bondage and Labour Exploitation:  

  • Advance-based contracts for seasonal work led to debt cycles. 

  • E.g. Sugarcane-cutting couples in Western Maharashtra often work to repay advances up to ₹5 lakh under exploitative contracts. (Asar Social Impact Consultancy, 2024). 

  • Gendered Vulnerabilities and Health Risks:  

  • Women left behind bear full household responsibility and face sexual exploitation risks. 

  • E.g. In Mahoba and Lalitpur, women struggle with family management and limited healthcare access after male migration. (BBAU Research Study, 2023). 

  • Impact on Children’s Education and Development:  

  • Displacement affects school attendance and learning continuity. 

  • E.g. Children of sugarcane migrants in Beed and Osmanabad often drop out during migration season. (India Today, 2024; Maharashtra Human Rights Commission Report, 2023) 

  • Breakdown of Rural Social Fabric:  

  • Community disintegration reduces traditional safety nets and village resilience. 

  • E.g. In Panna (MP), village populations have declined due to out-migration, weakening local institutions. (IMD Reports, 2023; Jatav Study, BBAU) 

 Policy Measures needed: 

  • Integrate Climate Migration into Planning: State Action Plans on Climate Change (SAPCCs) should incorporate climate mobility projections (NITI Aayog, 2021). 

  • Strengthen Rural Resilience: Expand MGNREGA, promote drought-resistant crops, and invest in water management (Economic Survey 2021–22). 

  • Ensure Migrant Welfare: Implement One Nation, One Ration Card, portable healthcare (Ayushman Bharat), and rental housing for migrants (Ministry of Labour & Employment, 2023). 

  • Regulate Informal Labour Contracts: Set up local oversight on advance payments and wage enforcement for seasonal workers (Labour Code on Wages, 2020). 

  • Early Warning and Data Infrastructure: Improve weather forecasting and climate risk mapping via IMD and NDMA to anticipate climate stress and reduce forced migration (NDMA Guidelines, 2022). 

 Conclusion:  

  • Climate migration is no longer a future threat but a present crisis. While some migration may serve as adaptation, much of it in India is distress-driven, involuntary, and marked by exploitation. A rights-based, climate-resilient, and development-focused policy response is necessary to protect vulnerable communities and manage migration sustainably.