Building Resilience in the Margins: Reimagining Climate Federalism in India through Case Studies on Indigenous Communities in the Eastern Himalayan Landscape

Abstract

In a developing country like India, climate change has far-reaching consequences, impacting ecosystems, food and water security, public health, and infrastructure, which in turn undermine economic growth and deepen existing socio-economic vulnerabilities. This challenge is particularly acute in the Eastern Himalayan states of Northeast India, where over 135 recognized tribal groups and nearly 500 sub-tribes inhabit an ecologically fragile landscape. Despite protections under the Sixth Schedule of the Indian Constitution, Indigenous communities have remained largely excluded from India’s centralised climate governance. This disconnect is especially concerning as climate change disproportionately affects these communities, threatening their traditional livelihoods, cultural practices, and overall resilience. This paper seeks to critically examine India’s climate federalism framework, assessing the inclusivity of Indigenous communities in existing climate laws, policies, and administrative structures. Judicial interventions, particularly the outcomes of climate litigation like the MK Ranjitsinh & Ors v Union of India case, will be examined to understand the impact of such judgement of indigenous communities. Finally, the article will propose a framework toward creating a bottom-up, community-led climate governance model, that ensures meaningful participation of indigenous groups, ultimately fostering climate resilience among vulnerable communities inhabiting fragile landscapes.