Key Agencies and Institutions Involved in Climate Change Policy Formulation in India

Climate change is a global challenge, but the responses must often be local, national, and regional. In India, addressing climate change requires a coordinated effort across multiple levels of government and institutions. From the highest constitutional bodies to local panchayats, a complex web of agencies works together to formulate, implement, and monitor climate policies. Understanding these agencies and their roles is essential for anyone interested in how India is tackling one of the most pressing issues of our time.

Constitutional framework for climate policy in India 🔗

India operates under a parliamentary system with a quasi-federal structure. This means that while the country has a strong central government, states retain significant powers in specific areas. Parliament and State Legislative Assemblies serve as the primary forums where policies, including those related to climate change, are debated and developed. Ministers head various departments and remain accountable to the legislature, while administrative executives assist in day-to-day implementation.

The Seventh Schedule of the Indian Constitution divides legislative subjects into three lists: the Union List, the State List, and the Concurrent List. This division ensures clarity about which level of government can legislate on what subject. The Union List contains subjects of national importance such as defence, foreign affairs, and atomic energy-areas where only Parliament can legislate. The State List covers matters of local and regional concern, including police, public health, and agriculture. The Concurrent List includes subjects where both Parliament and State Legislatures can make laws, such as forests, education, and environmental protection.

For climate change, this division is particularly significant. In case of conflict between Central and State law on Concurrent subjects, Parliamentary law prevails. This gives the central government substantial power in shaping overarching climate policies while allowing states to adapt implementation to local conditions.

Division of responsibilities between centre and states 🔗

The constitutional framework creates a shared responsibility for climate action. The central government typically formulates broad policies and sets national targets. These include India’s commitments under international agreements like the Paris Agreement, where the country has pledged to reduce emissions intensity and increase non-fossil fuel capacity.

States, however, play a crucial role in implementation. They develop their own State Action Plans on Climate Change, tailoring national objectives to regional contexts. A state prone to cyclones might prioritise disaster resilience, while another facing water scarcity might focus on conservation measures. This division recognises that India’s vast geographical and climatic diversity requires flexible approaches.

The interplay between central and state governments also involves resource sharing. Climate initiatives often require funding that flows from the centre to states, creating mechanisms for coordination. Major programmes like the National Action Plan on Climate Change require both levels of government to work in tandem, with states submitting implementation reports to central ministries.

Role of local governments in climate action 🔗

The 73rd and 74th Constitutional Amendment Acts of 1992 transformed India’s governance landscape by providing constitutional recognition to rural and urban local bodies. These amendments created what is often referred to as India’s third tier of government, establishing a three-tier system of Panchayati Raj Institutions (gram panchayat, block panchayat, and zila parishad) for rural areas and municipalities for urban centres.

For climate change, local governments are essential because many climate impacts are felt most acutely at the community level. Before 1992, local institutions lacked constitutional status and operated only under state law. The amendments changed this by empowering these bodies to address local needs directly.

Local governments now handle critical climate-related functions including solid waste management, maintenance of water bodies, urban planning, public health, and drainage systems. Municipal corporations in cities manage sewage treatment, urban forestry, and building regulations-all of which have direct climate implications. Rural panchayats oversee agricultural practices, water conservation, and local forest management.

The Eleventh Schedule added by the 73rd Amendment lists 29 subjects for panchayats, including agriculture, land improvement, minor irrigation, and social forestry. Similarly, the Twelfth Schedule under the 74th Amendment assigns urban local bodies functions such as urban planning, regulation of land use, and slum improvement. Both schedules include matters directly relevant to climate adaptation and mitigation.

Prime Minister’s Council on Climate Change 🔗

At the apex of India’s climate governance structure sits the Prime Minister’s Council on Climate Change. Constituted in June 2008, this Council is chaired by the Prime Minister and coordinates national action for assessment, adaptation, and mitigation of climate change.

The Council was reconstituted in 2014 to include key ministers from External Affairs, Finance, Environment, Water Resources, Agriculture, Urban Development, and Science and Technology. Senior officials, climate experts, and representatives from institutions like TERI also serve as members.

The Council’s mandate includes evolving a coordinated response to climate issues at the national level, providing oversight for formulation of action plans in assessment, adaptation, and mitigation, and periodically monitoring key policy decisions. It advises the government on proactive measures and facilitates inter-ministerial coordination to guide policy in relevant areas.

The Council was instrumental in creating the National Action Plan on Climate Change in 2008, which established eight national missions covering solar energy, energy efficiency, sustainable habitat, water, Himalayan ecosystems, green India, sustainable agriculture, and strategic knowledge for climate change. Ministries with lead responsibility for each mission are directed to develop objectives, implementation strategies, timelines, and evaluation criteria.

Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change 🔗

The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) serves as the nodal agency for planning, promotion, coordination, and oversight of India’s environmental and forestry policies. The ministry’s portfolio is currently held by Bhupender Yadav as Union Minister.

The ministry’s responsibilities are extensive. It handles conservation and survey of India’s flora and fauna, management of forests and wilderness areas, prevention and control of pollution, sustainable development of the Himalayan environment, afforestation, and land degradation mitigation. It also administers India’s national parks.

The Climate Change Division within the ministry serves as India’s nodal agency for climate change cooperation and global negotiations. It coordinates the National Action Plan on Climate Change and handles India’s international climate commitments.

The ministry also serves as the nodal agency for several international bodies including the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), South Asia Co-operative Environment Programme (SACEP), and the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD). It handles India’s obligations under multilateral agreements including the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), Convention on Biological Diversity, and the Montreal Protocol.

The ministry operates through numerous subordinate offices and autonomous institutions. These include the Central Pollution Control Board, Forest Survey of India, Botanical Survey of India, Zoological Survey of India, Wildlife Institute of India, and various centres of excellence across the country focused on environmental education and research.

Sector-specific ministries and their climate roles 🔗

Climate change touches virtually every sector of the economy, requiring multiple ministries to contribute to policy formulation and implementation. Each brings domain expertise essential for comprehensive climate action.

Energy sector 🔗

The Ministry of Power, Ministry of New and Renewable Energy, and Ministry of Coal collectively shape India’s energy transition. The National Solar Mission launched in 2010 aims to increase the share of solar energy in India’s energy mix through measures such as increasing research and development, promoting decentralised energy distribution, and encouraging local manufacturing of solar panels. The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy governs this mission and has helped India reach ambitious renewable energy targets.

India has made significant progress in renewable energy capacity installation, ranking fourth globally in 2024 in cumulative capacity. Non-fossil sources supplied the majority of new electricity generation in 2024-25 for the first time, marking a turning point in the power sector.

Transport sector 🔗

The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways works on emission standards and fuel efficiency norms. Policy programmes include passenger vehicle emission standards (Bharat Stage 6) and overall fuel economy standards (CAFÉ Norms). India has set ambitious targets for electric vehicle adoption, with goals for significant EV penetration across commercial vehicles, private cars, buses, and two and three-wheelers by 2030.

Agriculture sector 🔗

The Ministry of Agriculture oversees the National Mission for Sustainable Agriculture, which aims to support climate adaptation in agriculture through development of climate-resilient crops, expansion of weather insurance mechanisms, and promotion of sustainable agricultural practices. Given that agriculture is the second-highest greenhouse gas emitting sector in India after energy, these interventions are critical.

The PM-KUSUM scheme targets installation of solar capacity through small solar power plants and solar-powered agricultural pumps, addressing both energy access and emissions in the agricultural sector.

Buildings and urban development 🔗

The Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs addresses climate concerns in the built environment. The National Mission on Sustainable Habitat promotes energy efficiency as a core component of urban planning through measures such as the Energy Conservation Building Code and strengthening enforcement of automotive fuel economy standards. The mission also emphasises waste management and recycling in urban areas.

Industry 🔗

Industrial emissions fall under multiple ministries depending on the sector. The Bureau of Energy Efficiency runs programmes like the Perform, Achieve, and Trade (PAT) system for energy-intensive industries. The upcoming Carbon Credit Trading Scheme will set emissions intensity targets for industrial sectors, building on earlier efficiency programmes.

Forests and waste 🔗

The National Mission for a Green India works on reviving degraded forest land, increasing forest cover and density, and conserving biodiversity. It aims to enhance carbon sinks in sustainably managed forests and improve resilience of vulnerable ecosystems. Municipal governments handle waste management, with the Swachh Bharat Mission providing frameworks for improved solid waste handling.

Apex Committee for Paris Agreement implementation 🔗

The Apex Committee for Implementation of the Paris Agreement (AIPA) was formed in 2020 to coordinate work toward meeting India’s Nationally Determined Contributions. Chaired by the Secretary of MoEFCC, with 17 members including senior officials from fourteen ministries, AIPA oversees progress in implementing India’s NDC targets.

The committee ensures coordinated response across ministries on climate matters and tracks India’s progress toward commitments such as reducing emissions intensity, increasing non-fossil fuel capacity, and creating additional carbon sinks through forests and tree cover.

Expert and advisory bodies 🔗

Beyond government ministries, India’s climate policy ecosystem includes expert bodies that provide technical guidance and research support.

The Department of Science and Technology coordinates the National Mission on Strategic Knowledge for Climate Change and the National Mission for Sustaining Himalayan Ecosystem. These missions focus on building national scientific and technological capacities for understanding climate impacts and developing responses.

Global Technology Watch Groups have been established in eight technology sectors including solar energy, clean coal technology, energy efficiency, sustainable habitat, water, sustainable agriculture, and manufacturing. These groups conduct technology assessment and evaluation to identify solutions suitable for Indian conditions.

Research institutions across the country contribute to climate science and policy development. Centres of excellence housed in universities and research institutes provide specialised expertise on topics ranging from Himalayan glaciology to coastal zone management.

Challenges in coordination 🔗

Despite this elaborate institutional architecture, coordination challenges persist. Climate change cuts across traditional ministry boundaries, requiring unprecedented levels of inter-agency cooperation. The central-state dynamic adds complexity, as national targets must be translated into state-level actions that respect constitutional divisions of power.

Local governments, though constitutionally empowered, often lack technical capacity and financial resources to implement climate measures effectively. Building capacity at the grassroots level remains an ongoing challenge. International commitments made at forums like COP summits must be translated into domestic actions across multiple agencies and levels of government.

The success of India’s climate response ultimately depends on how effectively these diverse institutions work together, share information, and coordinate their efforts toward common goals.

What do you think? Given the complex multi-level governance structure in India, which level of government-central, state, or local-do you believe is most critical for effective climate action? How can coordination between these levels be improved to accelerate India’s climate response?

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