7. Combating Summer Pollution: CAQM Directives on Wheat Stubble Burning (2026)

Summary of Key Highlights • Statutory Mandate: The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) has issued a statutory direction to the governments of Punjab, Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh to eliminate wheat stubble burning during the 2026 harvesting season (April-May). • Granular Monitoring: The directives include \'mapping each farm\' across all villages to determine specific management modes and tagging nodal officers to groups of no more than 100 farmers for realtime oversight.• Parali Protection Force (PPF): States are instructed to constitute a dedicated PPF at the district/block level, comprising police, agriculture, and administrative officers to monitor and guard against fire incidents, especially during late evening hours. • Support for Smallholders: A critical mandate includes the rent-free availability of Crop Residue Management (CRM) machines for small and marginal farmers through Custom Hiring Centres (CHCs). • Technology Integration: Governments must ensure the optimum utilization of machinery through a dedicated mobile app and use satellite-based monitoring (ISRO/IARI protocol) to record and respond to fire events. • Ex-situ Supply Chain: The framework emphasizes creating a robust supply chain for wheat straw to be used as fodder or industrial raw material, aiming for a 100% productive use of residue. Key Definitions • In-situ Management: The practice of managing crop residue within the field itself using specialized machinery like Happy Seeders or Mulchers, which incorporate the stubble back into the soil. • Ex-situ Management: The removal of crop residue from the field for external utilization, such as fodder, biomass pellets for power plants, or bio-ethanol production. • Environmental Compensation: A \'polluter pays\' penalty imposed on farmers found burning stubble, recently doubled by the Centre to deter non-compliance. Constitutional & Legal Provisions • Article 21: The Right to Life includes the right to breathe clean air; the Supreme Court has consistently invoked this to pull up authorities for failing to curb stubble burning. • Article 48A: A Directive Principle mandating the State to protect and improve the environment and safeguard forests and wildlife. • CAQM Act, 2021: This Act established the Commission for Air Quality Management in NCR and Adjoining Areas as a powerful statutory body with the authority to issue binding directions to states. • Environment Protection Act, 1986: Provides the overarching legal umbrella under which new rules for penalties and inquiries regarding environmental pollution are notified. Stubble Burning Penalty Structure (Revised 2024-25)

Important Keypoints for UPSC• The \'Summer Pollution\' Shift: Traditionally, the focus was on post-paddy burning (Oct-Nov); however, satellite data from 2025 showed over 10,000 fire incidents in Punjab during the wheat season, necessitating this \'April-May\' intervention. • Airshed Approach: The CAQM treats the entire NCR and adjoining areas as a single \'airshed,\' recognizing that smoke from one state directly impacts the air quality of neighboring regions like Delhi and Rajasthan. • Health Impact: Stubble burning releases high concentrations of PM2.5, PM10, CO, and NOx, contributing to chronic respiratory diseases and deteriorating the Air Quality Index (AQI) to \'Hazardous\' levels. • Custom Hiring Centres (CHCs): These are pivotal for democratization of technology; the shift to \'rent-free\' models for marginal farmers aims to remove the economic incentive for burning. Conclusion The transition of stubble management from a seasonal reactive measure to a year-round statutory requirement marks a significant evolution in India\'s environmental governance. While the \'Parali Protection Force\' and doubled fines provide the necessary \'stick,\' the success of this directive will ultimately hinge on the \'carrot\'— the seamless, rent-free availability of machines and the creation of a profitable market for crop residue. UPSC Relevance • GS Paper II: Statutory, regulatory and various quasi-judicial bodies; Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors. • GS Paper III: Conservation, environmental pollution and degradation; Disaster and disaster management; Issues related to direct and indirect farm subsidies. • Prelims: Powers of CAQM, differences between in-situ and ex-situ management, and the ISRO/IARI fire monitoring protocols.