The State Action Plans on Climate Change (SAPCCs) emerged from a top-down approach initiated in 2009, when the Prime Minister of India directed state governments to develop comprehensive plans aligned with the national framework, while addressing state-specific vulnerabilities. The State Action Plans on Climate Change (SAPCCs) serve as a framework for state-level responses to climate change, following a uniform structure that outlines each state’s vulnerabilities and adaptation strategies. Only a few states have conducted comprehensive climate change vulnerability assessments, while most have depended on national-level studies or limited sectoral analyses to outline current and projected climate change impacts. As per the directives of the central government, most State Action Plans on Climate Change (SAPCCs) primarily emphasize adaptation, with limited attention to mitigating greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. However, some SAPCCs include a GHG inventory and examine the potential of renewable energy and other clean technologies. Most states completed their plans between 2010 and 2011, often with the assistance of consultants provided by development agencies. State action plans address key economic and livelihood sectors such as agriculture, water, energy, transport, and forestry, detailing proposed actions, timelines, and budgets. 33 states and union territories prepared State Action Plans on Climate Change, the focus now shifts to overcoming implementation challenges and leveraging opportunities for effective climate action. Although the promised central funding has yet to materialize, the central government continues to urge states to finalize, adopt, and begin implementing these plans. Stakeholders, including development partners, remain committed to ensuring that this initiative yields meaningful outcomes and does not go to waste.