Understanding Flood Risk Management in Delhi, India: Policy and Governance Perspectives

Climate change is a major threat to the global community. Extreme weather causes loss of human life, damages infrastructure and the economy, and degrades the environment. Its repercussions are evident across countries. New Delhi, the capital of India, is also a witness to the threats posed by climate change, which have become more severe in recent years, manifesting as extreme flooding in the city. The deluges in the river Yamuna in Delhi in 2023 and 2025 have been widely reported and discussed, particularly with respect to their causes and consequences in the context of significant contemporary climate change phenomena and global warming. This article examines the changing nature of flood patterns along the Yamuna River in Delhi, driven by population growth and urbanisation; their distinctive characteristics; the causes of floods in Delhi; theoretical approaches to flood management in the city; the consequences of floods on people and society; the state’s response; and policy suggestions for resilient flood risk management in Delhi.