Stubble Burning

Average AQI hovers near 110, the lowest early-October reading since 2015; Punjab and Haryana fires down nearly 90 percent

Punjab dominates stubble burning but UP’s share rises, Delhi’s AQI enters danger zone in September

In a worrying trend, September 2025 was marked as the first month since 2016 when Delhi’s air quality has stayed above 100 throughout the month.

Delhi's air emergency: Why national capital chokes year after year — Stubble burning link explained

Every winter, Delhi finds itself battling a public health emergency as smog blankets the city and AQI levels plummet to hazardous lows. At the heart of this crisis lies the practice of stubble burning.

Punjab readies control room to tackle stubble burning as Delhi braces for winter pollution

Stubble burning in neighbouring states, including Punjab, is one of the major causes of air pollution in the Delhi-NCR region during the winter.

'If some are behind bars ...': SC suggests stringent punishment for farmers burning stubble

CJI Gavai questioned the reluctance to impose penalties on agriculturists if there is a genuine intention to curb pollution.

Stubble burning incidents down 68 percent after doubling of fines, says environment ministry

The cases of stubble burning in Punjab, Haryana, Delhi and the NCR districts of Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan are down 76.6 percent from 53,672 in 2022 to 12,530 in 2024

Some Punjab, Haryana farmers manipulating crop burning timing to evade satellite detection, say some experts, others differ: Report

Despite laws against burning crop residues due to its contribution to air pollution, farmers are still finding ways to avoid detection by either burning at night or using small, scattered fires, the report noted citing experts

Govt doubles fines on stubble burning, notifies new rules to check worsening air quality

The penalty levied can now go up to Rs 30,000 for those with more than five acres of farmland

Campaign to discourage open burning from Nov 6, 588 teams to be deployed: Delhi Minister Rai

Delhiites continued to breathe toxic air on Tuesday as the air quality edged closer to the severe zone in some areas. The Air Quality Index (AQI) stood at 384 at 9 am, according to data from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB).

Delhi feels choked in 'very poor' air quality, AQI hits a peak of 382 on Nov 3

Among the 258 cities for which AQI numbers were available, over 20 percent continued to witness AQI levels of 200 or poor air quality

Metros feel choked with AQI reading above 100, Chennai air quality at worst since start of Oct

While Delhi continued to witness “very poor” air quality with an AQI reading of over 300 for a second consecutive day, Mumbai’s AQI levels remained over 100 for a fifth day in a row

Haryana govt says stubble burning incidents down 29% this year

Acting on the directives of Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini, a state-specific scheme has been implemented to curb incidents of stubble burning, according to an official statement.

Delhi breathes 'very poor' air again, AQI for Mumbai and Chennai worst since start of Oct

All metros, barring Hyderabad and Kolkata, face an air quality index reading of over 100

Over 8% of Indian cities witnessed poor air quality in the last week: MC Analysis

Delhi was the worst performer. The national capital was the only city, among the 238 for which data was available, with 'very poor' air quality and an AQI of over 300

14 farmers arrested in Haryana's Kaithal for stubble-burning

Stubble-burning in Haryana and neighbouring Punjab is often blamed for the rise in pollution levels in Delhi, especially during the post-harvest season of October and November.

Bhagwant Mann: 'If PM Modi can stop Ukraine war, why can't he stop stubble burning?'

Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann said the farmers do not want to burn stubble or even cultivate paddy but are forced to because MSP is not available on alternative crops.

Stubble burning: SC likely to consider CAQM's compliance report on Thursday

In September, the top court rapped the CAQM over its failure to curb air pollution in Delhi due to crop residue burning in the neighbouring states

Haryana now a model state in stubble management: CM Khattar

Interacting with the state's farmers through audio conferencing during the 'CM ki Vishesh Charcha' programme, Khattar praised their efforts to reduce stubble burning incidents, according to an official release.

Stubble burning: NGT directs Punjab, Haryana to prepare time-bound action plan for 2024

The tribunal posted the matter for further proceedings on January 19 after noting that the counsel for Punjab has assured such an action plan will be submitted within six weeks.

Dousing farm fires: SC urges Punjab, Centre to find alternative to paddy in the state

The court a committee led by the cabinet secretary must look for ways to discourage rice cultivation in Punjab as wells running. It asked the Centre and state to work together to find a solution

Total farm fires cross 30,000 mark in Punjab since September 15

Punjab had reported 67,020 and 45,464 stubble burning incidents in the corresponding period (September 15 to November 15) of 2021 and 2022 respectively.

Want to stamp out farm fires? Higher MSP for alternative crops may be the way

An immediate solution could come in the form of assured MSPs for basmati or organic varieties of rice such as PR126, Pusa Basmati-1509, Pusa Basmati-1692, instead of the current widely used PUSA-44 variety, farm expert Indra Shekhar Singh says.

Delhi pollution: Stubble burning has declined in Punjab but is still a menace

Although not much in the spotlight, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, and Madhya Pradesh have seen a spike in stubble burning. And according to experts, stubble burning isn’t the only reason for the rapid deterioration of air quality in Delhi over the last week

MC Explains: How regenerative agriculture can help fight the menace of stubble burning

Delhi air pollution: The persistent problem of air pollution calls for an end to stubble burning in the National Capital Region and in adjoining states of Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, and Rajasthan, at a time when multinationals are eyeing to adopt sustainable practices across all operational stages to meet their net-zero goals.

Delhi pollution crisis: AAP-BJP slugfest continues over stubble burning in states ruled by them

AAP chief spokesperson Priyanka Kakkar alleged in a press conference on Monday that paddy stubble (parali) burning in Haryana was responsible for air pollution in Delhi and BJP government in the state did nothing to prevent farm fires.