Over 27% Increase in Glacial Lake Area in India Since 2011: CWC Report
Key Takeaways
- Glacial lakes in India expanded by 27.87% between 2011-2025
- Total area grew from 1,952 to 2,496 hectares across monitored lakes
- 471 Indian glacial lakes showed increased water spread in July 2025
- Sikkim has the highest number of monitored lakes (28)
A comprehensive study by the Central Water Commission reveals alarming growth in glacial lakes across India’s Himalayan region, with water spread area increasing by over 27% since 2011. The latest monitoring report shows the total inventory area expanded from 1,952 hectares to 2,496 hectares.
State-wise Distribution and Monitoring
The analysis covered 55 glacial lakes across six Himalayan states and union territories. The lakes identified for vigorous monitoring include:
- Ladakh: 8 lakes
- Jammu and Kashmir: 7 lakes
- Himachal Pradesh: 5 lakes
- Uttarakhand: 6 lakes
- Sikkim: 28 lakes
- Arunachal Pradesh: 4 lakes
Out of 100 glacial lakes initially considered, 58 showed growth in water spread area during July 2025 monitoring.
Broader Himalayan Region Impact
The CWC report indicates the total area of glacial lakes and water bodies across the entire Himalayan region increased from 529,116 hectares in 2011 to 561,014 hectares in 2025, representing a 6.03% overall rise.
The monitoring utilized advanced satellite technology, with Sentinel-1 and Sentinel-2 imagery processed through Google Earth Engine platform. Lakes were classified based on changes in water spread area, including categories for increases greater than 40%, up to 40%, no change, decrease, or those not analyzed due to cloud cover or frozen conditions.
Expanded Monitoring Network Findings
Under its enhanced monitoring system, the CWC observed 2,843 glacial lakes and water bodies during July 2025. This includes 581 lakes within India and 1,360 in trans-boundary regions covering the Indus, Ganga, and Brahmaputra basins.
Among Indian glacial lakes newly monitored under the Glacial Lake Atlas 2023, the combined water spread area increased by 7.74% from 11,963 hectares in 2021 to 12,890 hectares in 2025. In trans-boundary regions, the area rose by 5.77% from 44,409 hectares to 46,971 hectares over the same period.
The report was prepared by the Morphology and Climate Change Directorate of CWC under the Ministry of Jal Shakti, as part of ongoing assessment of glacial lakes in the Indian Himalayan region.
