State of India’s Environment in Figures 2025

Context

The State of India’s Environment in Figures 2025 report, released by the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) on the eve of World Environment Day 2025, presents a comprehensive and data-driven analysis of India’s environmental, agricultural, public health, and developmental status. The report, based on 48 indicators across 36 states and Union Territories, warns of worsening climate impacts, declining health, and stalled development, painting a grim picture for the nation’s future.

Environmental Management: Mixed Performances

• Top Performers: Andhra Pradesh leads in environmental management due to its forest and biodiversity conservation efforts. Sikkim excels in sustainable agriculture practices like organic farming, while Goa ranks highest in public health and infrastructure.
• Challenges: Despite these strengths, no state performs consistently well across all sectors. Andhra Pradesh struggles with sewage treatment and river pollution; Sikkim lags in farmer welfare; Goa faces hospital bed shortages and low female labor participation.
• Forest Diversion and Wildlife Conflicts: Forest land diversion hit a decade-high in 2024, disrupting wildlife corridors and increasing human-animal conflicts. Elephant-related human deaths rose by 36%, and tiger attacks caused 82 fatalities, the second-highest toll since 2020.

Climate and Extreme Weather: A Year of Records and Risks

• 2024—A Watershed Year: India experienced its warmest year on record with 25 states witnessing record-breaking rainfall. Extreme weather events occurred on 88% of days, causing floods, landslides, and significant loss of life and property.
• Displacement: These events triggered 5.4 million internal displacements, with Assam bearing nearly half the burden. Floods accounted for two-thirds of these displacements, marking the highest climate-linked migration since 2013.
• Rising Emissions: India’s greenhouse gas emissions reached 7.8% of global emissions in 2023, the highest since 1970, with an accelerated growth rate between 2020 and 2023. This trend threatens India’s climate commitments and sustainability goals.

Water and Waste Management: Alarming Trends

• Groundwater Depletion: Over-extraction is critical, with 135 districts drawing groundwater from depths exceeding 40 meters, nearly double the number in 2014.
• Pollution: Toxic heavy metals were detected in almost half of monitored river sites in 2022, indicating severe water contamination.
• Waste Surge: E-waste increased by 147% in seven years, and plastic waste reached a record 4.14 million tonnes in 2022-23 despite partial bans. Legacy waste remediation remains incomplete, with only half addressed by the 2026 deadline.

Public Health Crisis: Air Pollution and Health Care Deficits

• Air Quality: Residents in 13 Indian capitals, including Delhi, face unsafe air quality one in every three days. Air pollution has reduced life expectancy by nearly eight years in Delhi and over six years in Lucknow.
• Healthcare Infrastructure: India faces an 80% shortfall in medical specialists and a 36% shortage of community health centres. Out-of-pocket health expenditures exceed 45% of total health spending, disproportionately burdening states like Uttar Pradesh, Kerala, and West Bengal.
• Pandemic After Effects: The COVID-19 pandemic’s legacy includes 3.06 million excess deaths in 2020-21, six times the official toll, highlighting gaps in public health preparedness.

Socio-Economic and Developmental Concerns

• Population Vulnerability: Large states with nearly half the country’s population—Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Bihar, and West Bengal—rank poorly across all indicators, exposing vast populations to environmental and health risks.
• Economic Strain: Real incomes have declined since 2017, with over 73% of the workforce in informal employment lacking social protections. Gender disparities persist, with low female labor force participation.

Conclusion: Urgent Need for Integrated Action

The State of India’s Environment in Figures 2025 report underscores the urgent need for comprehensive policy interventions and enhanced data transparency. It calls for strengthening environmental governance, improving healthcare infrastructure, addressing climate change impacts, and ensuring sustainable development to safeguard India’s future.

Source: DTE

UPSC Mains Practice Question

Q. Critically examine the link between environmental degradation and developmental challenges in India in light of the State of India’s Environment 2025 report

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