CAQM reviews preparedness of States for elimination of Stubble Burning in 2026; stresses Strengthened Enforcement, Crop Residue Management and Coordinated Action

I have sufficient grounded facts. Writing the note.

CAQM Review of States' Preparedness for Stubble Burning Elimination, 2026

1. At a Glance

• Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) is the statutory apex body for air-quality governance in NCR & adjoining areas; stubble burning in Punjab, Haryana & western UP is a principal seasonal driver of NCR's winter PM2.5 spike [S3].
• On 6 May 2026, CAQM reviewed paddy-season 2026 preparedness with Punjab, Haryana & UP, stressing strengthened enforcement, in-situ + ex-situ Crop Residue Management (CRM) and coordinated action [S1].
• Tests both cooperative federalism (Centre–States) and environmental governance under a special statute — high-yield UPSC theme for GS-III (Environment) and GS-II (Statutory bodies).

2. Why in the News

• CAQM Chairman Shri Rajesh Verma convened (06.05.2026) a preparedness meeting with senior officials, DCs/DMs of hotspot districts and State PCBs of Punjab, Haryana & UP for paddy harvest 2026 [S1].
• Follows the statutory direction CAQM issued (April 2026) for elimination of wheat stubble burning in 2026 [S2] and the documented ~90% fall in farm fires in 2025 vs 2022 in Punjab + Haryana [S3].

3. Background & Evolution

• 2020: CAQM Ordinance promulgated; replaced by CAQM Act, 2021 — dissolved the earlier EPCA (Bhure Lal Committee) [S4].
• Supreme Court directions (M.C. Mehta line of cases) repeatedly flagged stubble fires as a major NCR pollution source.
• CRM Scheme of Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers' Welfare operationalised since 2018-19 to subsidise residue-management machinery [S4].
• 2024 paddy season (Haryana, 15 Sep–6 Nov): 888 fire events; 2025: dropped to 206 [S3].
• 2025 season recorded ~90% reduction in fire counts in Punjab + Haryana vs 2022 [S3].

4. Core Static Facts

• Parent body: Ministry of Environment, Forest & Climate Change (MoEFCC) [S1].
• Statute: Commission for Air Quality Management in NCR & Adjoining Areas Act, 2021; CAQM acts under Section 14 (penal powers) [S4].
• Chairperson (2026): Shri Rajesh Verma [S1].
• Jurisdiction: Delhi-NCR + adjoining areas of Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, UP [S5].
• CRM Scheme subsidy: 50% to individual farmers for machinery; 80% to FPOs/Co-operative Societies/Panchayats for Custom Hiring Centres (CHCs) [S4].
• 2025 enforcement footprint: 31 CPCB flying squads; 18 districts of Punjab + 13 districts of Haryana; 10,500 field functionaries in Punjab; Parali Protection Force (PPF) of 1,700 at block level [S3].
• Central teams in hotspots: 26 Central teams deputed earlier to Punjab–Haryana hotspots [S4].
• States covered in 2026 review: Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh [S1].

5. Multi-Dimensional Analysis

Environmental - Paddy straw burning releases PM2.5, PM10, CO, CH₄, N₂O, black carbon; contributes sharply to Delhi-NCR's October–November AQI spikes [S3]. - In-situ tools (Happy Seeder, Super Seeder, Mulcher, PUSA bio-decomposer) cut emissions and conserve soil organic carbon [S4].

Legal / Constitutional - CAQM Act 2021 overrides conflicting state laws on air pollution in NCR; Section 14 prescribes imprisonment up to 5 yrs and/or fine up to ₹1 crore for non-compliance with CAQM directions [S4]. - Empowered District Magistrates to prosecute officials for inaction on stubble enforcement (2024 order) [S5].

Administrative / Federal - Implementation devolves on State Agriculture, Revenue, PCB & district administration; CAQM coordinates Centre–State action through statutory directions and review meetings [S1]. - Hotspot-district approach: DCs/DMs personally answerable to CAQM [S1].

Economic - Ex-situ utilisation channels: biomass pellet plants, 2G ethanol, co-firing in thermal plants under MoP's revised SAMARTH policy — converts residue into revenue [S4]. - CRM machinery subsidy reduces farmer cost of avoiding burning [S4].

Scientific / Technological - ISRO/CREAMS satellite-based fire-count protocol standardised by CAQM for daily monitoring during the season [S3]. - PUSA Bio-Decomposer (ICAR-IARI) decomposes straw in-field within ~25 days [S4].

6. Recent Developments (last 12-18 months)

• 06 May 2026: CAQM preparedness meeting with Punjab, Haryana, UP for paddy 2026 [S1].
• April 2026: CAQM issued comprehensive Statutory Direction for elimination of wheat stubble burning in 2026 [S2].
• 15 Sept – 6 Nov 2025: Haryana farm fires fell to 206 from 888 in same window of 2024 [S3].
• Oct–Nov 2025: 31 CPCB flying squads; PPF (1,700) operationalised in Punjab; Punjab + Haryana logged ~90% reduction vs 2022 [S3].

7. Prelims Hooks

• CAQM is constituted under the CAQM Act, 2021 (not Air Act 1981) [S4].
• CAQM replaced EPCA (which was set up under Environment (Protection) Act, 1986) [S4].
• Maximum penalty under Section 14: 5 yrs imprisonment and/or ₹1 crore fine [S4].
• CRM Scheme: 50% subsidy to individuals, 80% to CHCs [S4].
• PUSA Bio-Decomposer is developed by ICAR-IARI (under DARE/MoA&FW), not MoEFCC [S4].
• CAQM Chairman in 2026: Rajesh Verma [S1].
• 2025 season registered ~90% reduction in farm fires (Punjab + Haryana) over 2022 baseline [S3].
• Punjab deployed Parali Protection Force of 1,700 and 10,500 field functionaries in 2025 [S3].
• 31 CPCB flying squads covered 18 Punjab + 13 Haryana districts in 2025 [S3].
• Haryana fires: 888 (2024) → 206 (2025) for the comparable window [S3].
• CAQM jurisdiction: NCR + adjoining areas of Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, UP [S5].

8. Mains Relevance

• GS-III: Environment & Pollution; Conservation; Agriculture residue management.
• GS-II: Statutory & regulatory bodies; Centre–State coordination; Cooperative federalism.
• Possible stems: 1. "Critically examine the role of the CAQM Act, 2021 in mitigating seasonal air-pollution episodes in NCR." (GS-III/II) 2. "Despite a ~90% fall in farm-fire counts since 2022, stubble burning remains a structural challenge. Discuss policy levers — in-situ vs ex-situ — needed for full elimination." (GS-III) 3. "Statutory enforcement alone cannot eliminate stubble burning unless aligned with farm economics. Comment." (GS-III)

9. Related Topics to Study Next

• GRAP (Graded Response Action Plan) — CAQM's tool for NCR air-quality stages.
• National Clean Air Programme (NCAP), 2019 — MoEFCC's umbrella scheme.
• Air (Prevention & Control of Pollution) Act, 1981 — distinguish from CAQM Act.
• PUSA Bio-Decomposer & ICAR-IARI — tech intervention.
• 2G Ethanol / SATAT / SAMARTH — ex-situ residue utilisation.
• EPCA (defunct) — predecessor body, often confused in MCQs.
• MSP for paddy & water-table depletion in Punjab — root cause behind late paddy harvest.
• CPCB & State PCBs — enforcement architecture.

10. Common Errors / Trap Areas

• Confusing CAQM Act 2021 with the Air Act 1981 or EP Act 1986 — CAQM has its own statute.
• Assigning CAQM to NGT or CPCB — it is an independent statutory commission reporting to MoEFCC.
• Mixing up PUSA Bio-Decomposer (ICAR-IARI) as a MoEFCC product — it is agricultural research, not environment ministry.
• CRM subsidy split (50% individuals / 80% CHCs) often inverted in MCQs.
• Assuming CAQM covers all of India — jurisdiction is NCR + adjoining areas only.

11. Sources

• [S1] CAQM reviews preparedness of States for elimination of Stubble Burning in 2026 — https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2258883 — (tier: 1)
• [S2] CAQM issues comprehensive Statutory Direction for elimination of Wheat Stubble Burning in 2026 — https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2228743 — (tier: 1)
• [S3] Paddy Harvesting Season 2025 concludes with significant Reduction in Farm Fire Incidents — https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2197201 — (tier: 1)
• [S4] Measures to Reduce Pollution Due to Stubble Burning (CRM Scheme, Sec 14 CAQM Act) — https://www.pib.gov.in/Pressreleaseshare.aspx?PRID=1779712 — (tier: 1)
• [S5] CAQM Empowers District Authorities to Prosecute Officials for Inaction on Stubble Burning — https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2064389 — (tier: 1)