​An anomaly, Pg6

Key Highlights:

• The Environment Ministry stated that Punjab and Haryana reduced fire incidences by 90% in 2025 compared to 2022.
• This reduction is related to farm stubble burning, a practice linked to increased air pollution in Delhi and surrounding areas during October-November.
• The government employed a strategy of fining farmers while also providing subsidized farm equipment to manage stubble.
• Satellite data revealed a 30% reduction in burnt area, decreasing from 31,500 sq. km in 2022 to 19,700 sq. km in 2025.

Detailed Insights:

• The central and state governments have been using a combination of penalties and incentives to address stubble burning.
• Direct evidence linking these measures to improved air quality in Delhi is lacking due to the absence of detailed chemical analysis of pollutants.
• Farmers have reportedly shifted stubble burning to the evening to avoid detection by polar-orbiting satellites used for monitoring.
• The Supreme Court directed the Environment Ministry in 2024 to ascertain burnt area to accurately assess stubble burning trends.
• Discrepancies in satellite data resolution and the lack of public burnt-area estimates undermine the government's claims on tackling air pollution.

Key Concepts Involved:

• Stubble Burning: The practice of setting fire to crop residue after harvest, commonly used to clear fields quickly.
• Air Pollution: The contamination of air by pollutants such as smoke, chemicals, and particulate matter.
• Geostationary Satellite: A satellite that orbits Earth at the same rate as Earth rotates, allowing it to stay in a fixed position.