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Madhya Pradesh Ranks First in Stubble Burning Season Start

Source:downtoearth-org ↗

Why It Matters

Crucial for UPPSC aspirants tracking environmental trends, state-wise rankings in stubble burning, and government measures for air quality management in northern India.

Summary

An analysis of the early stubble burning season reveals that Madhya Pradesh has ranked first in crop residue burning incidents, followed by Punjab in second place, and Uttar Pradesh in third place, highlighting shifting geographical trends in pre-monsoon and post-harvest residue management challenges.

Key Points

  • The stubble burning season has officially begun, with Madhya Pradesh recording the highest number of fire counts in the initial phase.
  • Punjab ranked second and Uttar Pradesh ranked third in terms of early-season stubble burning incidents.
  • Stubble burning contributes significantly to seasonal air pollution across northern and central India, prompting monitoring by environmental agencies.

Important Terms

Crop Residue Management scheme

A centrally sponsored scheme implemented by the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare to provide financial assistance for purchasing crop residue management machinery and establishing custom hiring centers.

UPSC context

Relevant for GS Paper III (Agriculture, Environmental Pollution). Tests knowledge of government interventions to mitigate stubble burning and agrarian pollution.

Source

Prelims Trap

Punjab consistently ranks first in all phases and months of crop residue burning across India.

Aspirants often assume Punjab always holds the absolute #1 rank in all phases of stubble burning due to high media focus, overlooking early-season shifts where MP or UP can lead.

Static Concepts Connected

Environment and Agriculture

What are the primary in-situ and ex-situ crop residue management strategies promoted in India?

  • In-situ Management: In-situ management involves incorporating crop stubble back into the soil using specialized machinery like Happy Seeder, Super Seeder, and Mulcher.
  • Ex-situ Management: Ex-situ management utilizes crop residue away from fields as industrial fuel, in biomass power plants, or for bio-CNG production.
  • Government Support: CRM scheme provides substantial financial subsidies to farmers and custom hiring centers for purchasing these management machines.

Cross-Topic Patterns

  • Satellite Remote Sensing + Air Pollution Monitoring

    Stubble burning incidents are tracked via CREAMS satellite data at IARI, linking remote sensing applications in agriculture with atmospheric pollution control.

  • CRM Scheme + Agricultural Subsidies & Economics

    The Crop Residue Management scheme interacts directly with Minimum Support Price and input subsidy debates in northern agrarian economies.

Expect assertion-reasoning on CRM funding allocations and satellite monitoring agencies (CREAMS/IARI) for crop residue tracking.

Linked PYQs · 1

Linked PYQs · 1

  • 2025UPPSC_PRELIMSGS1

    With reference to 'Delhi Government's Bio-decomposer and Spray Programme', which of the following statements is/are correct? 1. The Bio-decomposer solution is provided free of cost to farmers to help convert stubble into manure. 2. The Bio-decomposer solution is prepared using a mix of several fungi. Select the correct answer using the code given below: