Lok Sabha Question No. 3733 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2026-03-16
Subject: Impact of Crop Burning
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: Shri Adhikari Deepak Dev

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3733

TO BE ANSWERED ON 16.03.2026

## Impact of Crop Burning

## 3733. SHRI ADHIKARI DEEPAK DEV:

Will the Minister of ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE be pleased to state:

(a) whether the Government is aware of the harmful effects at crop burning and if so, the details thereof;

- (b)  the  details  of  the  such  harmful  practices  in  the  country,  States/UTs-wise  including neighbouring States; and
- (c) the initiatives taken by the Government to discourage such practices and mitigate the effects of crop burning?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE (SHRI KIRTI VARDHAN SINGH)

(a) to (c)

Crop residue burning has been identified as one of the significant factors in North India, particularly in Delhi NCR region, which aggravates the air quality index in the region during winter season after harvest of the preceding crop for sowing the next crop.

The major steps  taken  by  the  Government  to  discourage and  mitigate the  practice  of  crop residue burning include the following:

- i. The active fire events due to crop residue burning are monitored using satellite remote sensing, following the "Standard Protocol for Estimation of Crop Residue Burning Fire  Events  using  Satellite  Data  by  Consortium  for  Research  on Agroecosystem Monitoring and Modeling from Space (CREAMS)  Laboratory, Division of Agricultural  Physics,  Indian  Council  of  Agricultural  Research  (ICAR)  -  Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi.
- ii. Farmers are facilitated with alternative measures like in-situ crop residue management, ex-situ utilization  of  paddy straw  in  various  applications. The in-situ crop  residue  management  includes in-situ mulching  /  incorporation  of  the  paddy residue in the field itself through efficient and affordable mechanized means / crop residue management machinery. To support the efforts of the Governments of Punjab,

Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and NCT of Delhi to address air pollution caused due to paddy stubble burning and to subsidize machinery required for management of crop residue, a Central Sector Scheme on Crop Residue Management (CRM) has been implemented by Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare w.e.f. 2018-19.

Under this scheme, 50% financial assistance is provided to the farmers for purchase of crop residue management machinery and  80% financial assistance is provided to Rural  Entrepreneurs  (Rural  youth  and  farmer  as  an  entrepreneur),  Cooperative Societies of Farmers (Agriculture/ Horticulture/Makhana etc.), Day-NRLM Cluster Level  Federations  and  Self  Help  Groups  (SHGs),  Farmer  Producer  Organizations (FPOs) and Panchayats for establishment of Custom Hiring Centres of crop residue management machines. Financial support of 65% up to a maximum of Rs. 1.50 Crore is also provided to paddy supply chain projects on the capital cost of machinery and equipment like higher HP Tractors, Cutters, Tedder, Medium to large Balers, Rakers, Loaders, Grabbers & Telehandlers. Financial assistance to the States and ICAR is also provided for undertaking Information, Education and Communication activities for mass awareness of farmers on crop residue management.

During the period from 2018-19 to 2025-26 (as on 10.03.2026), Rs. 4237.47 crores have been released. The States have distributed more than 3.53 lakh machines to the individual famers and established more than 43535 CHCs in the States.

- iii. The Commission for Air Quality Management in NCR and Adjoining Areas (CAQM) has been constituted under the CAQM Act, 2021 in accordance with the notification dated 23.04.2021 towards better coordination, research, identification and resolution of problems surrounding the air quality index in NCR and adjoining areas and for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto. A comprehensive policy detailing sector-wise  actions/interventions  and  quantified  targets  and  staggered  timelines (short-term, medium-term and long-term) was formulated by CAQM and issued in July, 2022, to various stakeholders including Central Government Ministries/Departments,  NCR  State  Governments,  GNCTD  and  Government  of Punjab  for  necessary  action  and  implementation.  The  targeted  action  plans  with staggered timeline have been stipulated across various contributing sectors including crop residue burning.
- iv. CAQM  through  Direction  90  dated  09.05.2025  directed  to  Plan  for  rent-free availability of CRM machines for small / marginal farmers.
- v. CAQM, vide Direction No. 92 dated 03.06.2025, directed the State Governments of Punjab  and  Haryana  to  mandate  use  of  paddy  straw-based  bio-mass  pellets  / briquettes  in all brick kilns located in the districts beyond NCR, as one of the means towards elimination of the practice of open paddy stubble burning.
- vi. CAQM  has  issued  Direction  No.  95  on  01.10.2025  authorizing the  Deputy Commissioners  /  District  Collectors  /  District  Magistrates  in  the  States  of  Punjab, Haryana, NCR areas of Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh and in the NCT of Delhi to file a complaint before jurisdictional judicial magistrate, in case of inaction in respect of
5. officials, including nodal officers and supervisory officers at various levels and Station House Officers, responsible for effective enforcement towards ensuring elimination of paddy stubble burning in their respective jurisdiction.
- vii. CAQM has issued directions to all the Coal based Thermal Power Plants located within 300 Kms radius of Delhi to co-fire biomass based pellets, torrefied pellets/ briquettes (upto 5-10%) with coal to promote use of biomass.
- viii. The MoEFCC  through notification dated 11.07.2023, as amended, notified Environment  (Utilisation  of  Crop  Residue  by  Thermal  Power  Plants)  Rules,  2023 mandating minimum five per cent blend of pellets or briquettes made of crop residue along with coal by the Thermal Power Plants in the NCR and Adjoining Areas, failing which said Rules stipulates certain amount of Environmental Compensation against the Thermal Power Plants, as per unit of electricity generated.
- ix. CAQM has issued directions to State Governments of Punjab and Haryana to mandate use of paddy straw-based biomass pellets / briquettes in all brick kilns located in the districts beyond NCR, as one of the means towards elimination of the practice of open paddy stubble burning.
- x. Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) has framed Guidelines for grant of one-time financial  support  under  Environment  Protection  Charge  funds  for  establishment  of pelletization and Torrefaction plants to promote utilization of paddy straw.
- xi. 31 Flying Squads from CPCB have been deployed from 01.10.2025 to 30.11.2025 in identified hotspot districts in Punjab and Haryana to closely monitor the actions and coordinate with the concerned authorities / officers at the district level, officers of the Pollution Control Boards/CAQM cell. These teams provide daily updates, photographic evidence, and compliance status.

In addition to the above mentioned measures/action, the Government has regularly reviewed and monitored the actions taken to address air pollution including stubble burning related issues in Delhi-NCR and adjoining areas.

With coordinated efforts, the States of Punjab and Haryana have collectively recorded more than  90%  reduction in  fire  incidences  during  paddy  harvesting  season  in  the  year  2025  in comparison to the same period in the year 2022.

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