New Delhi, July 15: Nearly seven in 10 children across India missed school or routine activities during the summer of 2026 due to extreme heat, while more than three quarters reported difficulty concentrating in class, according to a new report by child rights organisation CRY (Child Rights and You).
The report Feeling the Heat Children Voices on Heat, Well Being and Learning in India surveyed more than 3,000 children aged 10 to 17 across 27 states and Union Territories. It highlights the growing impact of rising temperatures on children’s education, health and overall well being.
According to the findings, 68% of children said they missed school or regular activities because of heat related distress, while 76% reported that extreme heat affected their ability to focus on studies. Nearly 88% felt the summer of 2026 was hotter than previous years, and 45% described school hours as particularly uncomfortable during periods of intense heat.
The survey documented widespread health impacts among children with 63% reporting dehydration, 51% headaches, 44% extreme fatigue, 41% difficulty sleeping and 39% dizziness due to prolonged exposure to high temperatures.
The report found that children from economically vulnerable households were disproportionately affected. About 71% of children from daily wage and manual labourer families reported severe heat related distress, compared with 46% from other households.
Among the states surveyed, Andhra Pradesh and West Bengal recorded some of the highest levels of disruption. More than 88% of children surveyed in Andhra Pradesh reported missing school or routine activities because of extreme heat, while nearly 72% of respondents in West Bengal reported similar disruptions. Around 53% of children in West Bengal identified school hours as the most difficult part of the day during heatwaves.
The report comes after India experienced repeated heatwave conditions during the summer of 2026, with temperatures exceeding 45°C in several northern and central states. Many schools responded by revising class timings, restricting outdoor activities or temporarily suspending classes.
CRY Chief Executive Officer Puja Marwaha said the findings highlight the need to place children experiences at the centre of climate policy. She urged policymakers to incorporate children’s concerns into heat action plans and long-term climate adaptation strategies.
Health experts also warned that rising temperatures are increasingly affecting children’s physical well being. Paediatricians reported fatigue, dehydration and other heat related illnesses as common symptoms among children exposed to prolonged extreme heat.
The report calls for stronger measures to protect children from the impacts of climate change, including improved school infrastructure, access to cooling facilities, safe drinking water and climate resilient education policies.