This project supports the integration of green and climate-resilient housing solutions into the Government of India’s Pradhan Mantri Awaas Yojana–Gramin (PMAY-G). It focuses on developing standardized frameworks, improved housing typologies, and capacity-building programmes to enhance the quality, efficiency, and resilience of rural housing.

Through demonstration houses and targeted mason training, the project will showcase practical, scalable solutions that improve thermal comfort, resource efficiency, and disaster resilience. It will further support the mainstreaming of these approaches into national guidelines and policies to enable large-scale adoption.

To promote green rural housing in India by integrating energy efficiency, material efficiency, water and waste management, and climate-resilient design elements into PMAY-G housing.

India faces an estimated shortage of 43 million rural housing units, with a significant portion being addressed through the Government of India’s flagship scheme, Pradhan Mantri Awaas Yojana–Gramin (PMAY-G). The scheme aims to construct 29.5 million houses, providing financial assistance of INR 150,000 (approximately USD 2,200) per unit for a 25 m² dwelling. While this has significantly accelerated rural housing delivery, several structural and implementation challenges persist.

A majority of PMAY-G houses are being constructed in low-income, landlocked states that experience extreme climatic conditions, including prolonged summers with temperatures often exceeding 38°C, along with increasing frequency of heat waves and other climate-induced stresses. At the same time, access to reliable electricity remains limited in many of these regions, increasing the need for climate-responsive and energy-efficient housing design.

Although PMAY-G provides beneficiaries with flexibility in selecting house design, materials, and construction approaches, this has led to widespread reliance on untrained local masons. As a result, housing construction often lacks adequate consideration for ventilation, natural lighting, thermal comfort, and structural resilience to climate and disaster risks. In addition, there is limited integration of resource-efficient practices related to water management, waste management, and material selection, leading to higher lifecycle costs and environmental impacts.

A key challenge also lies in the prevailing preference for “pucca” (permanent) houses, which are perceived as symbols of durability and social progress. However, these structures are often built using conventional materials and techniques that are not optimized for local climatic conditions, resulting in higher indoor temperatures, increased energy demand, and reduced resilience to extreme weather events.

Overall, the absence of standardized guidelines for “green” rural housing, limited technical capacity at the local level, and lack of demonstration models have constrained the adoption of sustainable and climate-resilient construction practices under PMAY-G.

The project will enhance the quality, resilience, and sustainability of rural housing under PMAY-G by improving thermal comfort, reducing energy demand, and strengthening disaster resilience. It will build local capacity among masons and stakeholders, enabling long-term adoption of green construction practices.

The intervention will contribute to improved living conditions for vulnerable communities while supporting India’s progress towards SDG 1 (No Poverty) and SDG Target 11.1 (access to adequate, safe, and affordable housing and basic services).