India’s electric vehicle (EV) manufacturing sector is steadily advancing towards localization, with several high-value components expected to be produced almost entirely within the country by 2030. A new report by the Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis (IEEFA) and JMK Research & Analytics notes that the industry is moving beyond basic assembly into more complex manufacturing.

Systems such as motors, power electronics, thermal management units, and charging infrastructure are emerging as key opportunities for domestic production, signaling a structural shift in the EV ecosystem.

Rapid Growth Fuels Domestic Manufacturing

The push for localisation is being driven by strong market growth. Annual EV sales in India have increased nearly 14-fold since 2020, creating significant demand across the value chain. If planned capacities are successfully implemented, several non-battery components could achieve 90–100% localisation by the end of the decade.

Government initiatives have supported this momentum. Around 60% of recent manufacturing announcements come from companies approved under the Production-Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme for automobiles and auto components. However, progress remains uneven, with less than 10% of the ₹25,938 crore allocation disbursed as of early 2026.

Import Dependence Limits Value Creation

Despite these gains, India’s EV sector continues to rely heavily on imported subcomponents. Semiconductors and rare-earth magnets remain critical inputs for motors, power electronics, and control systems, yet their supply is concentrated in regions such as China and Taiwan.

This dependence limits the extent of value creation within the country, even as assembly and component manufacturing expand domestically.

Supply Chain Gaps Persist

The report identifies semiconductors and rare-earth materials as major bottlenecks in achieving deeper localisation. Without strengthening upstream capabilities, India risks remaining dependent on imports for critical technologies.

“A number of factors could influence future localisation outcomes, including access to critical materials, cost competitiveness, supplier scale, and domestic technology capabilities,” said Charith Konda, Energy Specialist at IEEFA and co-author of the report.

To address these challenges, the report calls for targeted policy and industry interventions. These include accelerating semiconductor and magnet supply chains, promoting component standardisation, encouraging startup participation, and increasing investment in research and development. While industry sentiment remains optimistic, the next phase of India’s EV journey will depend on its ability to move up the value chain and build a more self-reliant clean mobility ecosystem.

This year, too, the monsoon in India brought not the usual promise of prosperity but widespread destruction, as it has in recent years. Torrential rains flooded farmlands across several states, washing away livelihoods and submerging the hopes of millions of farmers. Instead of irrigating the fields, the rain turned into an unrelenting deluge. States like Punjab, Maharashtra, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, and Madhya Pradesh experienced heavy flooding that claimed lives, displaced thousands, and devastated crops — a major blow to the country’s agricultural economy.

When rain becomes a curse

Madhya Pradesh, often called the “Heart of India,” has been particularly affected. Both floods and waterlogging have crippled agriculture. The monsoon began on June 16, and by the end of September, the state had received 119% of its average rainfall — 44.2 inches instead of the expected 37 inches, a 7.2-inch surplus.

In the Bundelkhand region, which spans parts of Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh, July’s rainfall broke a ten-year record. Sagar district recorded 471 mm, Tikamgarh 416 mm, Damoh 365 mm, Niwari 362 mm, and Chhatarpur 261 mm. The rain persisted through October, flooding villages and turning agricultural land into temporary lakes. Bundelkhand, already known for its fragile ecology and dependence on monsoon rains, saw crops submerged instead of nourished. The result: massive losses of yield and income.

The ground reality: Voices from the fields

A glimpse of the devastation can be seen in the rural belt of Sagar district, where a majority of the population depends on agriculture. Kesli Tehsil, located about 65 km from Sagar city, is known for its fertile soil and green cover. But this year, the sight is heartbreaking — bent paddy stalks, rotting soybean pods, and maize that never reached maturity.

“Even clearing the field costs more than what we’ll earn.” In Chirai village, farmers are counting their losses. Arjun, a natural farming practitioner who owns about 12 acres, says, “Agriculture is the livelihood for all communities here — Brahmin, Thakur, Adivasi, Harijan, and Chadhar. The rains destroyed everyone’s crops. Even the ‘murum’ (gravelly) soil areas are damaged, and crops on black and yellow soil have been wiped out. Until July–August, everything looked promising. Then the rain washed away the crops — and our hopes. The damage is so severe that we won’t even recover the cost of clearing the fields. Farmers will now have to borrow money for the next crop. I fear many small farmers will leave their fields unsown.”

He paused before adding, “A farmer’s income mainly depends on two or three crops a year. Money comes only when we sell them. If the crops are ruined, how will we survive?”

“Our maize only grew three feet”

Sachin Thakur, another farmer from Chirai with 15 acres of land, shares, “I sowed soybean and maize. The soybean was mostly spoiled by the rain, and what remained dried up. The maize plants only grew three to four feet. Some cobs developed, but most plants had none, and the few cobs that did grow had fewer kernels. Nearby villages like Jaruwa, Bamni, Patna, Samnapur, Kukwara, and Mahka are all suffering the same fate.”

“The biodiversity of our fields is dying”

Ramji Thakur, also from Chirai and a member of the Bharatiya Kisan Sangh (Indian Farmers’ Union), explains: “We five brothers cultivate about 40 acres. This year we sowed maize, paddy, and soybean. All have been hit badly. The soybean is completely ruined — we’ll have to plough it back into the soil. Apart from the rain, the biodiversity of our crops and fields is also in danger. The government must take steps for conservation, inspection, and field development to preserve soil fertility and crop purity.”

“Only a little hope left for maize”

In Utkata village, Suresh Kumar Mehra manages 12 acres (four owned, eight leased).

“I planted radish, sponge gourd, pigeon pea (tur), groundnut, and maize. Except for maize on two acres, everything was destroyed by rain and waterlogging. Only the maize gives me a little hope.”

“A fungus ruined our maize”

From Jetpur Doma village, Sitaram Patel says, “I have six acres, and my family has been farming for three generations. This time we grew bottle gourd and tomato, which survived. But maize around us is ruined. About 10% of it got a fungal disease because of waterlogging. The plants couldn’t withstand the rain.”

“Rs 40,000 gone—and nothing to show for it”

Govind Patel from Chauka village detailed his financial losses, “I sowed maize and pigeon pea on five acres. I spent around Rs 40,000 (approx. $480) on seeds, fertilizer, and chemicals. The pigeon pea is completely gone. Only maize might help me recover part of the cost. But most farmers nearby have maize that only grew two to two-and-a-half feet before turning yellow.”

“Only a third of our seeds sprouted”

Ajab Singh, a farmer from Kewlari Kalan, shares, “Here we have small and big farmers, and everyone’s crop is affected. We sowed paddy, soybean, and maize, but because of continuous rain and waterlogging, many seeds didn’t even sprout. In most fields, only about 25–30% of the seeds grew.”

He added that crops in surrounding villages like Kheri, Semra, Ghana, and Idalpur were also submerged.

“In low-lying areas, 90% of crops are gone”

Arvind Bhaiji, another Kesli farmer, says, “The flat and low-lying fields are more damaged, while crops in slightly elevated areas are better. Some crops are 50% damaged, others 70%, and some even 90% ruined. The rain caused root rot, and the urea fertilizer has been washed away. Farmers here have small landholdings and little money to manage rainwater.”

District Farmers’ Union: ‘Satellite surveys can’t see reality’

When contacted, Raghuvir Tomar, district president of the Bharatiya Kisan Sangh, says, “the situation of both crops and farmers is very bad. We are demanding that the government conduct an accurate survey and give compensation.”

He criticized the current assessment methods, “In some places, a satellite survey is being used, but it’s not accurate. It doesn’t show the condition of the kernels or the extent of the rot. The ground reality is much worse.”

Climate Change, adaptation, and farmer-led Solutions

As farmers struggle to rebuild, Akash Chaurasia, a nationally recognized innovator in sustainable agriculture, offers a hopeful path. Known for developing Multi-Layer Farming, Akash believes the situation is not hopeless — it just demands adaptation.

“This imbalance of excessive rain is a form of climate change,” he explains. “It’s a disruption that can destroy ecosystems if farmers don’t adapt. But solutions exist.”

His advice is straightforward and affordable:

1. Build Drainage Channels

“During heavy rain, farmers should dig a two-foot-deep and two-foot-wide drain around the raised boundary (med) of their field. This helps excess water escape into canals or pits. When water collects underground, it recharges groundwater and prevents soil erosion. Fertilizer won’t wash away, and waterlogging will end.”

2. Adopt Raised-Bed (Med) Sowing

“In the Med method, crops are sown four to five inches above the ground. When it rains, the water stays in the drains, not around the crop. This prevents root rot. Farmers can do this with their own labour — no extra money is needed. I’ve used it on my own farm, and our crops stay healthy even in heavy rain.”

Akash believes such simple practices, if widely adopted, could transform India’s vulnerability into resilience.

“If every farmer in waterlogged regions followed these two steps, we could save thousands of acres every year.”

Government Support — And What’s Still Missing

India has several schemes designed to protect farmers from disasters:

• Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (2016): Provides crop insurance and financial assistance during natural calamities.
• Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi Yojana (PM-KISAN, 2019): Offers Rs 6,000 (approx. $72) annually to farmers for basic support.
• Mukhyamantri Kisan Kalyan Yojana (2020): Adds another Rs 6,000 (approx. $72) per year from the state government.

Despite these, many farmers say the support arrives late or doesn’t cover losses. As Arjun pointed out, “We can’t wait months for relief when we have to buy seeds next week.”

Experts argue that while insurance and compensation help recovery, the real solution lies in prevention — teaching farmers low-cost water management, soil conservation, and climate-resilient methods.

Bringing science and policy Together

Agricultural scientists emphasize the importance of integrating climate-adaptive strategies into local farming practices. Soil moisture mapping, satellite-assisted flood prediction, and localized extension services can inform when to sow, which crops to prioritize, and how to manage water in extreme rainfall years.

What the farmers of Bundelkhand need is not just relief but resilience. Drainage systems, raised-bed cultivation, and better soil management can all help farmers cope with erratic rainfall

Bundelkhand’s case demonstrates a broader climate reality: traditional monsoon patterns no longer guarantee stable farming. What worked decades ago may fail today. Farmers, government agencies, and scientific institutions must collaborate to create resilient systems that protect crops, livelihoods, and the environment.

What the farmers of Bundelkhand need is not just relief but resilience. Drainage systems, raised-bed cultivation, and better soil management can all help farmers cope with erratic rainfall. Local governments could play a transformative role by integrating these ideas into training programs, agricultural extension services, and climate adaptation schemes.

The story of this year’s rain in Madhya Pradesh is one of loss — but also of learning. Farmers like Akash Chaurasia show that adaptation begins with awareness and small, practical steps. If those lessons spread across India’s rural heartland, future monsoons might once again bring prosperity, not panic. The monsoon, once India’s lifeline, is now becoming unpredictable under a changing climate. What farmers in Madhya Pradesh need most is not just compensation—but climate-smart solutions that can secure their future harvests.

(The story is part of EdPublica’s Solutions Journalism Initiative)

A coalition of ten human-rights and climate organisations has urged the International Cricket Council (ICC) to review its sponsorship ties with Saudi Aramco, warning that the company’s role in the 2026 T20 World Cup in India and Sri Lanka risks undermining cricket’s credibility and exposing the sport to reputational damage.

The letters, sent in September, highlight how Aramco, the world’s largest oil company, is using global sport to burnish its image while continuing to expand fossil fuel production. Campaigners argue this is directly at odds with international climate goals and threatens the very future of cricket, already facing heatwaves and extreme weather.

“With the burning of fossil fuels accounting for 80% of carbon emissions, sports organisations risk undermining the Paris Agreement and enabling human rights harms caused by climate breakdown,” the groups wrote in their submission.

India’s climate-cricket paradox

The IPL has already seen matches played in dangerous heat conditions, with experts warning of increasing risks for players and spectators alike. A study released in July 2025, titled “Hit for Six: The Danger Zone”, found that half of this year’s IPL matches were played under conditions rated “Extreme Caution” or “Danger” on the Heat Index, which measures temperature and humidity risks. Over 36% of games faced extreme heat, while 12% reached dangerous levels with significant risk of heatstroke. The report, covering all 65 matches, was published by BASIS, Climate Central, Frontrunners, and The Next Test.

Bringing Aramco in as a lead sponsor of the 2026 World Cup, campaigners say, contradicts efforts to protect cricket from climate disruption.

 “While world-leading UN human rights experts have been raising the alarm about the impact of Aramco’s activities on the planet and humans, sports organisations like FIFA, Formula 1 and the ICC are happily taking the company’s money, disregarding not only their much vaunted social responsibility statements but also the future of the sports themselves,” James Lynch of FairSquare, a human rights organisation with a focus on accountability in sport, said.

Sofie Junge Pedersen, Danish international footballer, drew a parallel with FIFA: “The choice to partner with Aramco helps the Saudi regime distract from its harmful treatment of women and the planet. Values are not just words to write on a page — you need to live them and stand by them.”

UN’s stance
The warnings echo an earlier UN communication sent in 2023 to financial institutions and governments, which cautioned that working with Aramco could contravene international human-rights standards. While directed at banks and states, the principle, campaigners argue, should extend to powerful global sporting bodies as well.

For India, the stakes are high. Cricket’s governing bodies must weigh commercial revenues against rising scrutiny from activists and fans. With the World Cup just a year away, the question is whether the ICC will respond, or risk a credibility clash on one of its biggest stage