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Social protection for climate adaptation: how India can adjust to a warming world

Author

Listed:
  • Bansal, Trishaa
  • Feyertag, Joe
  • Malhotra, Saumya
  • Mehta, Sukanya

Abstract

India has one of the world’s largest social protection systems. The Government of India spends roughly 7.9% of GDP, or 26.6% of its budget, on social protection programmes. In 2025, social security coverage extended to 64.3% of the population: around 920 million people. Climate change is projected to put a significant strain on India’s social protection system, especially given the country’s high exposure and vulnerability to extreme weather events. As such, social protection coverage is becoming increasingly vital in areas such as water, resilient infrastructure, poverty alleviation, agriculture and health. India will need to leverage these sectors if it is to finance adaptation that protects the most vulnerable sections of society.

Suggested Citation

  • Bansal, Trishaa & Feyertag, Joe & Malhotra, Saumya & Mehta, Sukanya, 2026. "Social protection for climate adaptation: how India can adjust to a warming world," LSE Research Online Documents on Economics 140334, London School of Economics and Political Science, LSE Library.
  • Handle: RePEc:ehl:lserod:140334
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    File URL: https://researchonline.lse.ac.uk/id/eprint/140334/
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Bansal, Trishaa & Feyertag, Joe, 2026. "Leveraging parametric insurance for climate adaptation and resilience in India," LSE Research Online Documents on Economics 138979, London School of Economics and Political Science, LSE Library.
    2. Atkinson, Anthony B., 2015. "Inequality: what can be done?," LSE Research Online Documents on Economics 101810, London School of Economics and Political Science, LSE Library.
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    JEL classification:

    • N0 - Economic History - - General
    • E6 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Macroeconomic Policy, Macroeconomic Aspects of Public Finance, and General Outlook

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