With reference to the transboundary haze in Southeast Asia, consider the following statements: 1. The smoke originated primarily from the regions of Kalimantan and Sumatra. 2. Over 12,000 hotspots were recorded in Indonesia in August 2026. 3. The haze is exacerbated by El Nino-induced dry weather. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Haze Hits Singapore: Air Quality Plummets, Matching 2019 Crisis Levels

GS3Economy · S&T · Environment · Security· Land reforms· Prelims· 15 September 2026

Transboundary pollution and climate drivers like El Nino: a GS3 environmental governance and regional cooperation case study.

Why in news

Singapore and Malaysia are experiencing severe transboundary haze due to Indonesian wildfires, with air quality reaching 2019 crisis levels.

Background

Over 9,000 hotspots were recorded in Indonesia in August 2026, with an additional 7,000 recorded by mid-September. The National Environment Agency and IQAir reported Singapore's air as among the world's most polluted during this period.

Facts for Prelims

FactOver 9,000 hotspots were recorded in Indonesia in August 2026
FactMore than 7,000 hotspots were recorded by mid-September 2026
PlaceKalimantan and Sumatra are the Indonesian regions where smoke originated
BodyASEAN Specialised Meteorological Centre (ASMC) monitors transboundary smoke haze
FactEl Nino is cited as a factor causing drier weather and exacerbating wildfires

Prelims practice question

With reference to the transboundary haze in Southeast Asia, consider the following statements:

The smoke originated primarily from the regions of Kalimantan and Sumatra.
Over 12,000 hotspots were recorded in Indonesia in August 2026.
The haze is exacerbated by El Nino-induced dry weather.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a)1 only
(b)3 only
(c)1 and 3 only
(d)2 and 3 only

Show answer

Answer: (c) 1 and 3 only — Statements 1 and 3 are correct. Statement 2 is incorrect: Over 9,000 hotspots were recorded in August 2026.

For Mains

Q. Discuss the challenges in managing transboundary air pollution in Southeast Asia and suggest a multilateral framework to address the root causes of forest fires.

Dimensions to cover in your answer

Institutional friction: Lack of binding enforcement mechanisms in ASEAN to penalize regional forest clearing
Climate-wildfire nexus: El Nino-driven drought cycles increasing the frequency of uncontrollable peatland fires
Economic-environmental trade-off: Palm oil and pulpwood expansion driving land-use changes in Kalimantan and Sumatra

Keywords: transboundary pollution · El Nino · peatland fires · ASEAN cooperation · air quality index

Read the full news →Report a mistake in this note How notes are made Source: NDTV ↗Also: GS3 · Pollution (air, water, plastic)

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