Climate change impacts food security in India through its effect on agricultural productivity, as agriculture is the main source of livelihoods and income for rural populations in the country. Increasing temperature, changing rainfall pattern and increased frequency of droughts, floods and cyclones cause damage to crops and reduce crop yields. Crops like wheat, maize and rice are sensitive to high temperatures, while pulses are sensitive to high temperature stress and require more water which is likely to be not available due to decreased rainfall over time. Higher temperature with increased moisture stress can lead to substantial decrease in wheat yield possible up to 50%.

Rise in temperature also affects rice production due to high day and night time temperatures negatively affecting grain filling stage and increasing incidence of pests.

Climate change also worsens water scarcity, which is a severe problem in India since agriculture there depends on monsoon rains. Increasingly unpredictable rains and dwindling water supplies overburden irrigation systems, resulting in lower agricultural yields. More frequent and more intense extreme weather events destroy infrastructure, interrupt supply chains, and increase food prices, all of which make it harder for the poorest people to obtain food.

Climate-induced changes including drought, flooding and higher temperatures are likely to decrease yields for major cereal crops by 2050. Therefore, the future of food security in India is at risk. Climate-induced changes also threaten local rural livelihoods, particularly for poor and marginalised communities who are directly dependent on climate-sensitive sectors such as agriculture .For example, drought severely affected the Alwar district in Rajasthan in 2010, destroying standing crops and leading to mass starvation among local sheep and goat herders. Drought coupled with extreme heat events can also lead to livestock mortality.