"One Nation, One Temperature" — the headline caught everyone’s attention like a splash of cold water on a summer afternoon. The Union Power Minister had just announced a bold plan: regulate the default setting of air conditioners across India. Whether you’re in the humid coast of Chennai, the dry heat of Delhi, or the breezy hills of Bengaluru — your AC would be set to the same temperature.
The internet, unsurprisingly, had a meltdown.
Many weren’t ready to surrender their right to the remote just yet. Some raised a different concern altogether: If air conditioners are considered a luxury — attracting a hefty 28% GST — then why are they slowly becoming essential in most homes? With heatwaves no longer confined to a few regions and the entire country sweltering under record temperatures, is an AC really a luxury anymore?
So, what’s behind this government idea?
The minister clarified that it wasn’t about discomfort — it was about energy. India’s energy demand is exploding. As a young, rapidly developing nation, our appetite for electricity is only growing. From UPI-enabled digital payments to rising electric vehicle sales, tech-driven growth is everywhere — and it’s powered by energy.
More gadgets, more appliances, more chargers — all adding to the burden on our power grids. And while green energy is part of the solution, it isn’t always reliable. The sun doesn’t always shine. The wind doesn’t always blow. And hydropower depends on the rains. So fossil fuels continue to play a big role in keeping our lights — and fans — running.
That’s why the government is pushing for energy efficiency. Rooftop solar subsidies, electric vehicle incentives, even this “AC temperature cap” — all part of a bigger picture.
But here's the irony: Even traditionally cooler cities like Bengaluru, once famous for its breezy weather, have started seeing soaring temperatures. Last year, AC sales in the city hit a new high. Places once seen as summer escapes are now heating up — literally and figuratively.
So, is the AC a luxury? Or a necessity?
It depends on how you define luxury. If we define it as something expensive, foreign-made, or heavily taxed, then yes — ACs qualify. Most air conditioning technologies are not indigenous. Even if they're assembled in India, royalties and patents mean we’re paying foreign companies every time we turn one on.
That’s one reason the government imposes a high tax — to reduce dependency on imported tech and encourage local innovation. But there’s a catch. For many Indians, ACs are no longer a status symbol. They’re survival tools.
So what’s the middle path?
One option is to build better — not just more. Our homes and cities need smarter design: better ventilation, natural lighting, shaded streets, reflective roofs, and green spaces. Old Indian architecture knew this well — just visit the Hawa Mahal in Jaipur or any centuries-old temple and you’ll see passive cooling done right.
We don’t have to choose between sweltering heat and power-guzzling ACs. We can design buildings that stay cool naturally. But until we get there, a higher tax on energy-hungry gadgets might just be the nudge we need to think greener.
In the end, the real question isn’t "One Nation, One Temperature" — it’s whether we want comfort at the cost of the planet, or are ready to rethink how we stay cool in a warming world.
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