**Executive Summary**
This document is a response to Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 1552 concerning stubble burning incidents in Punjab, to be answered on February 9, 2026. It details the number of incidents reported in Punjab from September to November 2025, the initiatives taken to prevent stubble burning, incentives and penalties for farmers, budgetary allocations, and results achieved in reducing air pollution. A deadline of February 9, 2026 is present, however the document does not list any immediate action items.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Stubble Burning Incidents:**
* 5114 paddy straw burning incidents were reported in Punjab from September to November 2025.
* **Government Initiatives:**
* A comprehensive framework developed by the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) for the prevention and management of paddy straw burning.
* State-specific action plans were prepared by the Governments of Punjab, Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh.
* The Action Plan includes in-situ crop residue management, ex-situ utilization of paddy straw, monitoring, enforcement, and awareness campaigns.
* Mandates the use of paddy straw-based biomass pellets/briquettes in Coal based Thermal Power Plants and all brick kilns in Delhi NCR.
* Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) provides one-time financial support for establishment of pelletisation and Torrefaction plants.
* Rs. 15.58 crore released for 25 plants with a capacity of 104.5 Tons per Hour (TPH) to utilize 4.83 lakh tonnes of paddy straw annually.
* A Central Sector Scheme on Crop Residue Management has been implemented since 2018-19.
* Rs.4,173.84 crore released during the period 2018-19 till 2025-26 (as on 04.02.2026), of which, an amount of Rs. 2026.45 crore has been released to State of Punjab.
* **Incentives and Financial Assistance:**
* Haryana provides Rs.7000/- per acre to farmers under the Crop Diversification Programme.
* Haryana provides Rs.1200 per acre to farmers for not engaging in stubble burning.
* Haryana provides Rs.4000/- per acre to farmers for using Direct Seeded Rice (DSR) method.
* Punjab offers Rs. 1500 per acre to farmers who adopt the DSR technique.
* Incentives of SGST reimbursement on the cost of boilers installed in industries utilizing paddy straw.
* **Monitoring and Enforcement:**
* 10,500 field functionaries appointed to monitor stubble burning incidents.
* A Parali Protection Force of 1700 personnel deployed at Block level in Punjab.
* 31 Flying Squads from CPCB deployed in Punjab and Haryana hotspots.
* **Other Measures:**
* Punjab has banned the PUSA 44 seed variety.
* ICAR has developed new varieties of paddy.
* 22 paddy supply chain centres have been established.
* Unnat Kissan App 2.0 launched to facilitate mapping of CRM machines.
* **Results:**
* Stubble burning incidents have been reduced by more than 90% with 5,114 in 2025 as against 71,304 in 2021 in Punjab.
* Air Quality Index (AQI) in Delhi has improved at 201 in 2025 as against 225 in 2018.
* Environmental compensation has been imposed in 2386 incidents
**Impact Analysis**
**Farmers**
* **Impact**: Affected by incentives and penalties related to stubble burning and crop diversification.
* **Action Required**: Consider adopting DSR techniques, utilizing crop residue management machinery, and diversifying crops. Also, be aware of the penalties for stubble burning.
**State Governments (Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh)**
* **Impact**: Responsible for implementing and monitoring the action plans.
* **Action Required**: Continue implementing state-specific action plans, enforce regulations against stubble burning, and promote the use of paddy straw-based biomass.
**Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB)**
* **Impact**: Provides financial support for establishing pelletisation and Torrefaction plants.
* **Action Required**: Continue providing financial support for relevant projects and deploying flying squads for monitoring.
**Industries (Sugar Mills, Paper Mills, Coal based Thermal Power Plants and all brick kilns in Delhi NCR)**
* **Impact**: Industries encouraged to use paddy straw-based biomass and offered incentives for installing relevant equipment.
* **Action Required**: Explore the use of paddy straw as a fuel source and consider applying for incentives for boiler upgrades.
**Residents of Delhi NCR and Punjab**
* **Impact**: Directly benefit from reduced air pollution due to decreased stubble burning.
* **Action Required**: No immediate action required, but benefit from cleaner air.
Key Entities Referenced
Punjab: The State where the reported stubble burning incidents occurred and the focus of many initiatives.
Central Sector Scheme on Crop Residue Management: A scheme implemented by the Ministry of Agriculture and Family Welfare to subsidize machinery for crop residue management.
Commission for Air Quality Management in NCR and Adjoining Areas (CAQM): Developed a comprehensive framework for prevention and management of paddy straw.
Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB): Provides financial support for establishment of pelletisation and Torrefaction plants to promote utilization of paddy straw.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1552
TO BE ANSWERED ON 09.02.2026
Stubble Burning incidents in Punjab
1552. SMT. HARSIMRAT KAUR BADAL:
Will the Minister of ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE be pleased to state:
(a) the current number of stubble-burning incidents reported from the State of Punjab from
September to November 2025;
(b) the major initiatives taken by the State and Centre to prevent stubble burning and curb air
pollution in North India;
(c) whether the Government has introduced new incentives or penalties for farmers in this
context;
(d) the budgetary allocation and actual disbursement for in-situ crop residue management in
2025; and
(e) the results achieved in reducing air pollution and health hazards vis-a-vis previous years?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND
CLIMATE CHANGE
(SHRI KIRTI VARDHAN SINGH)
(a) to (e): As reported by Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI), paddy straw burning
incidents reported in State of Punjab during September to November 2025 was 5114.
Government has taken various measures to eliminate the paddy stubble burning. A comprehensive
framework for prevention and management of paddy straw was developed by Commission for Air
Quality Management in NCR and Adjoining Areas (CAQM), followed by year-wise, State-
specific action plans for Punjab, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh. Based on the framework, State
Governments of Punjab, Haryana and UP prepared state specific action plans to address paddy
stubble burning.
The Action Plan includes in-situ crop residue management, ex-situ utilization of paddy straw, strict
monitoring and enforcement, and extensive awareness campaigns, all aimed at reducing the
practice of burning agricultural residue after harvest. It also mandates the use of paddy straw-based
biomass pellets/briquettes in Coal based Thermal Power Plants and all brick kilns in Delhi NCR.
Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) provides one-time financial support for establishment of
pelletisation and Torrefaction plants to promote utilization of paddy straw. An amount of Rs.15.58
crore has been released for 25 plants with capacity of 104.5 Tons per Hour (TPH) and tehse plants
are expected to utilize 4.83 lakh tonnes paddy straw annually.To support the efforts of the Government 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 has been
implemented by Ministry of Agriculture and Family Welfare (MoAFW) since 2018-19. States
have distributed more than 3.50 lakh machines to the individual farmers and established more than
43,415 Custom Hiring Centers (CHCs) in these States which includes 1.48 lakh Crop Residue
Machines (CRM) and 1500 CHC in Punjab for in-situ crop residue management. So far,
Rs.4,173.84 crore has been released during the period 2018-19 till 2025-26 (as on 04.02.2026), of
which, an amount of Rs. 2026.45 crore has been released to State of Punjab.
Government of Haryana provides incentive of Rs.7000/- per acre to farmers under Crop
Diversification Programe ‘Mera Pani Meri Virasat’ with the aim of reducing the area of paddy in
the State and promoting maize, cotton, Kharif Oilseed, Kharif Pulses, Kharif onion, Fodder crops,
Horticulture/vegetable crops, even in case of fallow land. Government of Haryana also provides
an incentives of Rs.1200 per acre to farmers for not engaging in stubble burning. Further, Rs.4000/-
per acre is provided to farmers for using Direct Seeded Rice (DSR) method.
Government of Punjab offers a financial incentive of Rs. 1500 per acre to farmers who adopt the
Direct Seeded Rice (DSR) technique. An area of 2.93 lakh acres has been sown using DSR method.
Government has offered incentives of SGST reimbursement on the cost of the boiler (based on
paddy straw) installed in industries such as Sugar Mills, Paper Mills and boilers of steam
generation capacity more than 25 Tons per Hour (TPH) under the PBIP Investment promotion
policy of the State of Punjab. Further incentives under agriculture infra fund for industrial units
utilising paddy straw are also offered.
22 paddy supply chain centres have been established to strengthen supply chain of paddy residue.
Unnat Kissan App 2.0 has been launched to facilitate mapping of CRM machines, real-time
booking by farmers, and daily reporting of machine utilization by officers and single platform for
machine rental.
10,500 field functionaries have been appointed to monitor and contain stubble burning incidents
and Parali Protection Force of 1700 personnel has been deployed at Block level in Punjab for
effective enforcement of measures to prevent and control stubble burning. 31 Flying Squads from
CPCB have been deployed during the paddy harvesting season in identified hotspots of Punjab
and Haryana to closely monitor actions and coordinate with the concerned District level
authorities.
Govt. of Punjab has banned the PUSA 44 seed variety due to high water demand and late
harvesting. ICAR has developed many varieties of paddy maturing 125 days producing same yield
and consuming less water as replacement to PUSA 44. Further, ICAR has developed many new
varieties of Paddy such as PUSA 2090, PUSA 1824, PR114, PR122, PR126, PR128, PR131 as a
better option compared to PUSA 44 variety. On-farm demonstrations and awareness programmes
have been conducted by IARI for popularization of short duration varieties with equal or better
yield potential than PUSA44 for its replacement.Environmental compensation has been imposed in 2386 incidents as per Air Quality Management
in National Capital Region and Adjoining Areas (Imposition, Collection and Utilization of
Environmental Compensation for Stubble Burning) Rules, 2023.
Due to coordinated efforts, paddy stubble burning incidents have been reduced in Punjab by more
than 90% with 5,114 in 2025 as against 71,304 in 2021, in Punjab. Further, Air Quality Index
(AQI) in Delhi has improved at 201 in 2025 as against 225 in 2018.
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