Stubble burning

In the news

• Explained: Why stubble fires in Punjab and Haryana keep coming back 9 October 2026 · The Hindu

  A groundwater law, a long-duration rice variety and a satellite's timetable: how they keep north India's fields burning.

• Stiff 'red entry' rules in land records to curb farm fires 19 September 2026 · Indian Express

  A mark on your land record for burning stubble. Will it work?

• India's first payments to farmers for soil carbon 18 September 2026 · PIB

  Farmers in Punjab and Haryana paid for carbon stored in their soil.

Key facts

• The Punjab Preservation of Subsoil Water Act, 2009 bars sowing of paddy nurseries before 10 May and lets the State notify the transplanting date. (9 October 2026)
• The Act's penalty is ₹10,000 per hectare for every month or part of a month of violation. (9 October 2026)
• The Commission for Air Quality Management in NCR and Adjoining Areas was set up under the CAQM Act, 2021. (19 September 2026)
• Paddy stubble is burnt because the gap between rice harvest and wheat sowing is short. (19 September 2026)
• Soil carbon credits reward farmers for storing carbon in soil and reducing emissions through changed farm practices. (18 September 2026)
• Direct Seeded Rice (DSR) saves water and labour compared with transplanted paddy. (18 September 2026)

Previous-year questions

1. 2025 · GS3 · 15 marks Examine the factors responsible for depleting groundwater in India. What are the steps taken by the government to mitigate such depletion of groundwater?
2. 2021 · GS3 · 10 marks Describe the key points of the revised Global Air Quality Guidelines (AQGs) recently released by the World Health Organisation (WHO). How are these different from its last update in 2005? What changes in India's…
3. 2020 · GS3 · 15 marks What are the major factors responsible for making rice-wheat system a success? In spite of this success how has this system become bane in India?
4. 2020 · GS3 · 15 marks What are the key features of the National Clean Air Programme (NCAP) initiated by the Government of India?
5. 2018 · GS3 · 10 marks Sikkim is the first 'Organic State' in India. What are the ecological and economical benefits of Organic State?
6. 2014 · GS3 · 12.5 marks Should the pursuit of carbon credits and clean development mechanisms set up under UNFCCC be maintained even though there has been a massive slide in the value of a carbon credit? Discuss with respect to India's energy…
7. 2023 · Prelims Consider the following activities: 1. Spreading finely ground basalt rock on farmlands extensively 2. Increasing the alkalinity of oceans by adding lime 3. Capturing carbon dioxide released by various industries and…
8. 2016 · Prelims In the cities of our country, which among the following atmospheric gases are normally considered in calculating the value of Air Quality Index? 1. Carbon dioxide 2. Carbon monoxide 3. Nitrogen dioxide 4. Sulfur…