<![CDATA[This paper explores the intersections of climate justice and Indigenous rights in India through a subaltern perspective, with specific attention to the promises and limitations of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Indigenous communities, particularly Adivasis, face disproportionate impacts of climate change due to their dependence on natural resources, socio-economic marginalization and historical dispossession. While global frameworks such as the SDGs emphasize inclusivity and sustainability, their implementation in India often reinforces growth-oriented models that neglect the voices of marginalized groups. Drawing on Indian scholarship and policy analyses, the paper highlights how subaltern perspectives challenge dominant narratives by foregrounding the lived experiences, epistemologies and struggles of Indigenous peoples. It critically examines the role of legal safeguards such as the Forest Rights Act (2006) and PESA (1996), revealing the gap between progressive legislation and weak enforcement. The analysis also identifies structural inequalities, exclusionary governance and epistemic marginalization as barriers to justice. At the same time, it argues for a more just and inclusive framework that integrates Indigenous ecological knowledge, strengthens participatory governance and rethinks development priorities. The paper concludes that achieving climate justice in India requires not only technical adaptation strategies but also structural transformation in development planning, where Indigenous communities are recognized as active agents of sustainability rather than passive recipients of policy.]]>
