Union Health Minister J. P. Nadda on Sunday, 31 May 2026, shared a public-health advisory from Prime Minister Narendra Modi via the Mann Ki Baat radio programme, urging citizens across India to protect themselves from the intense summer heat and to follow inter-departmental government guidelines issued for the season.

Context

In the post, Nadda quoted PM Modi as saying: 'Most parts of the country are experiencing very intense heat right now. Scorching sun, hot winds — it is very important to take care of yourself in such weather. Keep drinking water, and if you must go out in the sun, do so carefully. Do not forget the guidelines issued by various government departments in this regard.'

The advisory also encouraged citizens to enjoy traditional Indian summer beverages — 'deesi peyjalon ka khoob aanand lijiye' (savour traditional indigenous drinks abundantly) — a nod to cooling drinks such as lassi, sharbat, aam panna, and nimbu paani that are widely consumed across the country during summer months.

Policy Backdrop

The advisory is rooted in India's formal heatwave preparedness architecture. The Disaster Management Act, 2005 created the institutional framework under which the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) and state governments have developed heat action plans, particularly after the landmark 2010 Ahmedabad Heat Action Plan demonstrated that early-warning systems and public communication could reduce heat-related mortality.

The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare issues annual summer health advisories coordinating with state health departments, while the India Meteorological Department (IMD) provides heatwave bulletins that feed into these advisories. Mann Ki Baat, the Prime Minister's monthly radio address running since 2014, has periodically served as a high-reach channel for exactly this kind of seasonal public-health messaging, reaching tens of millions of listeners across urban and rural India.

Stakeholders and Impact

The advisory is especially relevant for outdoor workers, the elderly, and children — groups most vulnerable to heat-related illness including heat exhaustion and heatstroke. Large parts of northern, central, and western India typically record temperatures above 40°C through May and June, with heatwave conditions declared by the IMD when temperatures exceed defined thresholds.

By amplifying the Prime Minister's message through his own social-media handle, Nadda reinforces the health ministry's role as the nodal agency for translating broad public-wellness messaging into actionable citizen behaviour. The reference to official inter-departmental guidelines signals a coordinated whole-of-government approach rather than a single-ministry communication.

What's Next

State governments are expected to operationalise heat action plans in line with central advisories, including opening cooling centres, issuing district-level alerts, and activating community health workers. Observers will watch whether the next episode of Mann Ki Baat revisits the theme or expands on specific traditional remedies and hydration practices. Parliamentary health committee updates and IMD heatwave bulletins through June 2026 will indicate how the season unfolds and whether the advisory campaign scales further.