Human rights in the governance of climate adaptation and disasters in India: a systematic assessment of state and union territory policies

This article provides a systematic assessment of the incorporation of human rights in climate adaptation and disaster management policies adopted by India’s states and union territories, assessing the extent to which they recognize human rights, address inequality and equity-seeking groups, and include procedural rights and accountability mechanisms.</p> <p>The findings reveal an uneven integration of human rights across subnational policies.

Fewer than half of all plans explicitly reference human rights, and meaningful participation of marginalized groups in climate adaptation and disaster management planning remains limited. Disaster management plans outperform adaptation plans in their incorporation of rights-based elements, suggesting sectoral fragmentation and limited coordination within subnational governance. We also find no systematic association between human rights performance and contextual factors such as population, wealth, human development, or climate vulnerability.</p> <p>By examining equity, inclusion, and justice across both adaptation and disaster policy domains, this article highlights the structural constraints and unrealized potential of multi-level climate governance in India, emphasizing the need for improved coordination, clearer guidance, and institutionalized participation to strengthen rights-based climate resilience.</p>