Embedding Climate Resilience into Infrastructure Development in India: Law, Policy, and Sustainability Implications

As one of the fastest growing economies in the world, it is critical for India to build climate-resilient infrastructure. Its rapidly increasing population growth and the consequent migration to urban areas, coupled with climate risks, have made infrastructure development a key priority area in India. Thus, ensuring that existing infrastructure and future constructions integrate strategies to address climate-related risks is vital. Despite the growing recognition of the importance of legal and policy landscapes on climate-resilient infrastructure, there is a very limited number of studies on this topic, especially in India. Thus, this study sought to bridge this gap by evaluating the influence of the Indian legal and policy framework on climate-resilient infrastructure. To this end, an analytical, comparative, and evaluative approach was adopted, employing benchmarks from international legal provisions and best practices from Japan’s legal and policy systems. In addition to doctrinal legal analysis using primary and secondary sources, case studies on the Mumbai Coastal Road Project and the Chandigarh–Manali Highway were performed to assess how the extant laws operate in the field. The findings indicate that while India’s legal system is gradually incorporating climate-risk considerations into its infrastructure sector, the effects of these considerations remain constrained due to institutional co-ordination challenges and limited enforceable obligations. Therefore, streamlining climate-resilient infrastructure governance requires more robust climate change legislation and improved implementation mechanisms. The findings of this study provide useful insights for legislators and policymakers in strengthening climate resilience integration within India’s infrastructure governance framework.