With reference to stubble burning and air quality in North India, consider the following statements: 1. Farmers burn rice chaff as a cheap method to prepare soil for the Kharif wheat crop. 2. The Indo-Gangetic Plain is a region affected by stubble burning pollution. 3. Rice chaff burning is a primary driver of noxious air quality in Delhi during October and November. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Stubble burning in Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh worsens Delhi air quality

GS3Economy · S&T · Environment · Security· Pollution (air, water, plastic)· Prelims + Mains· 9 November 2026

Air quality management and agricultural residue management: a key GS3 Environment and Ecology case study.

Why in news

Researchers analyzed how stubble burning in Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, and Uttar Pradesh during October and November contributes to severe air pollution in Delhi and the Indo-Gangetic Plain.

Background

Farmers in Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, and Uttar Pradesh burn rice chaff as a cheap method to prepare soil for Rabi wheat. This practice is a primary driver of noxious air quality in Delhi and other north Indian cities during the October-November period.

Facts for Prelims

PlaceIndo-Gangetic Plain: Region affected by stubble burning pollution
FactOctober and November: Peak months for rice chaff burning in Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, and Uttar Pradesh
FactRabi wheat: The primary crop for which soil preparation occurs via stubble burning

Prelims practice question

With reference to stubble burning and air quality in North India, consider the following statements:

Farmers burn rice chaff as a cheap method to prepare soil for the Kharif wheat crop.
The Indo-Gangetic Plain is a region affected by stubble burning pollution.
Rice chaff burning is a primary driver of noxious air quality in Delhi during October and November.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

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

Show answer

Answer: (c) 2 and 3 only — Statements 2 and 3 are correct. Statement 1 is incorrect: The note states it is used to prepare soil for the Rabi wheat crop.

For Mains

Q. Discuss the socio-economic and environmental challenges in curbing stubble burning in the Indo-Gangetic Plain and suggest policy measures to transition towards sustainable agricultural practices.

Dimensions to cover in your answer

Economic trade-off: High cost of mechanized residue management vs low-cost traditional burning
Regional friction: Inter-state coordination gaps in managing transboundary air pollution in the Indo-Gangetic Plain

Keywords: transboundary pollution · agricultural residue management · Rabi cropping cycle · Indo-Gangetic Plain · air quality management

Read the full news →Report a mistake in this note How notes are made Source: The Hindu ↗Also: GS3 · Cropping patterns & irrigation

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