India, June 13 -- In a country where millions work, commute and earn a living outdoors, extreme heat is no longer just an environmental challenge. It is becoming a socioeconomic one. Rising temperatures are affecting productivity, disrupting livelihoods and straining the systems that keep the economy running.

India's informal sector employs nearly 90% of the country's workforce, including street vendors, waste pickers, construction workers, gig workers, security guards, rickshaw pullers, among others, who keep the economy functioning every day. For many of them, stepping away from work during a heatwave is not an option. Yet they remain among the most exposed to extreme temperatures, often without access to cooling, health care or social...