Union Agriculture Minister Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan and Union Environment, Forest and Climate Change Minister Shri Bhupender Yadav chair high-level meeting on permanent solution for stubble management

1. At a Glance

• High-level Centre review (16 Jun 2026) co-chaired by the Union Agriculture Minister and Union Environment Minister to finalise a "permanent solution" framework for paddy stubble (parali) management in NCR States. [S1][S3]
• Headline financial: ₹544.15 crore earmarked for FY 2026-27 under the Crop Residue Management (CRM) Scheme, with targets of >46,000 machines and 141 stubble supply-chain projects. [S1]
• UPSC relevance: intersection of GS-III (Environment / Agriculture) — air pollution, in-situ & ex-situ residue use, federal scheme delivery, CAQM governance, and farm mechanisation. [S2][S3]

2. Why in the News

• 16 June 2026: Joint meeting of Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan (MoA&FW) and Shri Bhupender Yadav (MoEFCC) on Centre's comprehensive stubble strategy — public awareness, real-time monitoring, technical solutions. [S1]
• Announcement of a "Stubble Protection Force" to actively monitor 70 tehsils across 14 NCR districts. [S1]
• Continuation of an earlier joint review by the same two ministers (PIB PRID 2175974) ahead of the 2025-26 paddy season. [S3]
• CAQM review of Haryana–Punjab action for Paddy Harvest Season 2025 indicating sustained policy momentum. [S2]

3. Background & Evolution

• 2015: NGT order banning stubble burning in Rajasthan, UP, Punjab, Haryana — judicial trigger. (contextual)
• 2018-19: Launch of the central-sector CRM Scheme for in-situ management of paddy residue, primarily for Punjab, Haryana, UP and NCT Delhi. [S4]
• 2018-19 to 2022-23: Centre released >₹3,062 crore to NCR States + GNCTD under CRM. [S4]
• 2021: Constitution of the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) in NCR & Adjoining Areas under the CAQM Act, 2021 — apex statutory body. [S2]
• 2024-25: Joint MoA&FW + MoEFCC strategy emphasising ex-situ utilisation (biomass pellets, 2G ethanol, supply chains). [S3]
• 2026-27: Roll-out of Stubble Protection Force + 141 supply-chain projects. [S1]

4. Core Static Facts

• Implementing ministry: Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers' Welfare (CRM Scheme) in coordination with MoEFCC and CAQM. [S1][S2]
• Scheme: Central Sector Scheme on Promotion of Agricultural Mechanization for In-Situ Management of Crop Residue (CRM). [S4]
• Subsidy pattern:
• 50% financial assistance to individual farmers for CRM machinery. [S4]
• 80% project cost to Cooperatives / FPOs / Panchayats for setting up Custom Hiring Centres (CHCs). [S4]
• Cumulative machinery: Punjab ~1.20 lakh; Haryana ~72,700. [S4]
• CHCs: ~38,400 in Punjab+Haryana+UP (Punjab ~24,200; Haryana ~6,775). [S4]
• FY 2026-27 allocation: ₹544.15 crore; target >46,000 machines, 141 supply-chain projects. [S1]
• Monitoring footprint: Stubble Protection Force across 70 tehsils, 14 NCR districts. [S1]
• Statutory framework: CAQM Act, 2021; Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981. [S2]

5. Multi-Dimensional Analysis

Environmental - Stubble burning contributes a seasonal spike (Oct-Nov) to PM2.5/PM10 loads in the Indo-Gangetic Plain; ex-situ pathways (pellets, bio-CNG, 2G ethanol) convert residue into bio-energy feedstock. [S2][S3] - Real-time satellite monitoring by CAQM/ISRO (via CREAMS protocol) underpins enforcement. [S2]

Economic - ~₹544.15 cr budget + supply-chain projects aim to convert residue "from problem to resource" — feedstock economy for biomass power plants and 2G ethanol refineries. [S1][S3] - Subsidised mechanisation (Happy Seeder, Super Seeder, Mulcher, Baler) reduces farmer cost of in-situ incorporation. [S4]

Administrative / Federal - Tripartite responsibility: Centre (CRM funds) ↔ States (delivery, fire-incident accountability) ↔ CAQM (statutory enforcement in NCR). [S2] - Stubble Protection Force marks a shift to active field monitoring rather than only ex-post FIRs. [S1]

Scientific / Technological - In-situ: Happy Seeder, Super Seeder, Smart Seeder, Surface Seeder, Mulcher, Crop Reaper, Baler. [S4] - Ex-situ: paddy straw-based biomass pellets for co-firing in thermal plants; PUSA bio-decomposer (ICAR-IARI). [S2][S3]

Social - Small/marginal farmers in Punjab-Haryana face narrow paddy-wheat transition window (~15-20 days) — economics of burning vs mechanisation drives compliance. [S4]

6. Recent Developments (last 12-18 months)

• 2025 Paddy Season: CAQM review of Haryana & Punjab actions to eliminate burning. [S2]
• 2025: Earlier Chouhan–Yadav joint meeting (PRID 2175974) on awareness, monitoring, crop diversification. [S3]
• 16 Jun 2026: Announcement of ₹544.15 cr outlay, 46,000 machines, 141 supply-chain projects, Stubble Protection Force in 70 tehsils/14 districts. [S1]

7. Prelims Hooks

• CRM Scheme launched in 2018-19. [S4]
• CRM subsidy: 50% to farmers, 80% to FPOs/Cooperatives/Panchayats for CHCs. [S4]
• Centre released ₹3,062+ crore under CRM during 2018-19 to 2022-23. [S4]
• FY 2026-27 CRM provision: ₹544.15 crore. [S1]
• Target machines for 2026-27: >46,000. [S1]
• 141 stubble supply-chain projects planned. [S1]
• Stubble Protection Force to cover 70 tehsils in 14 NCR districts. [S1]
• CAQM is the statutory body under the CAQM Act, 2021, for NCR & Adjoining Areas. [S2]
• Stubble burning monitoring uses ISRO/CREAMS satellite protocol via CAQM. [S2]
• PUSA Bio-decomposer developed by ICAR-IARI. [S3]
• Meeting co-chaired by Shivraj Singh Chouhan (MoA&FW) and Bhupender Yadav (MoEFCC). [S1]
• Punjab CRM machine stock: ~1.20 lakh; Haryana ~72,700. [S4]

8. Mains Relevance

• GS-III — Environment (air pollution); Agriculture (mechanisation, MSP-driven cropping); Science & Tech (bio-decomposer, 2G ethanol).
• GS-II — Centre-State coordination, statutory bodies (CAQM).
• Question stems: 1. "Stubble burning is less an agricultural failure and more a failure of crop-cycle policy." Examine in light of Centre's 2026 CRM strategy. 2. Critically evaluate the role of CAQM in delivering a permanent solution to NCR's seasonal air pollution. 3. Discuss the shift from in-situ to ex-situ paddy residue management and its implications for India's bio-economy.

9. Related Topics to Study Next

• CAQM Act, 2021 — apex enforcement body for NCR air quality.
• National Clean Air Programme (NCAP) — non-attainment city targets.
• PUSA Bio-decomposer (ICAR-IARI) — biological in-situ solution.
• 2G Ethanol Programme & SATAT — ex-situ demand-side anchor for straw.
• MSP & paddy cultivation — root incentive distortion in Punjab/Haryana.
• Pradhan Mantri JI-VAN Yojana — bio-refinery support.
• GRAP (Graded Response Action Plan) — winter NCR escalation tool.
• Sub-Mission on Agricultural Mechanization (SMAM) — sister scheme.

10. Common Errors / Trap Areas

• CRM Scheme is implemented by MoA&FW, not MoEFCC — though MoEFCC/CAQM handles enforcement. [S1][S4]
• CAQM is statutory (Act, 2021), not an EPCA successor in the executive sense — EPCA was dissolved when CAQM was created. [S2]
• Subsidy slabs: 50% (individual) vs 80% (group/CHC) — frequently swapped in MCQs. [S4]
• "Stubble Protection Force" announced 2026 is an active monitoring force in 70 tehsils/14 districts, not a new paramilitary unit. [S1]
• Punjab numbers (1.20 lakh machines) ≠ Haryana (72,700) — pairs often inverted. [S4]

11. Sources

• [S1] Union Agriculture Minister and Union Environment Minister chair high-level meeting on permanent solution for stubble management — https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2273815 — (tier: 1)
• [S2] CAQM reviews Actions Taken by Haryana and Punjab to eliminate Stubble Burning during Paddy Harvest Season 2025 — https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2187847 — (tier: 1)
• [S3] Union Ministers Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan and Shri Bhupender Yadav hold joint meeting in New Delhi on stubble management — https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2175974 — (tier: 1)
• [S4] Measures to Reduce Pollution Due to Stubble Burning / Analysis of paddy stubble management in NCR States and Punjab — https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1880978 — (tier: 1)