Stubble burning reduced by 90%, yet Delhi’s air is still a toxic cocktail
Environment minister Kirti Vardhan Singh stated, “Air pollution is a collective result of high levels of anthropogenic activity across multiple sectors.” It was a plain admission, but one that reframed the pollution debate, especially for Delhi-NCR. Vehicular emissions, industrial discharge, construction and demolition dust, road dust, biomass burning, and municipal solid waste burning now sit together in what the government described as a toxic cocktail. Weather, too, plays its part. During winter, lower temperatures, reduced mixing heights, temperature inversion, and stagnant winds trap pollutants close to the ground, allowing these to accumulate across the region.
The numbers on stubble burning suggest a success story, at least in isolation. Punjab and Haryana together recorded a 90 per cent reduction in fire incidents during the 2025 paddy harvesting season compared to 2022. The government acknowledged that stubble burning is “episodic but significant.” But it stopped short of calling the problem solved. The implication was harder to ignore. Even with 90% reduction in stubble burning cases, the air remains toxic.
Behind this shift lies a sustained push on crop residue management. Since 2018-19, Rs 4,233.84 crore has been released under a Central scheme. Over 3.53 lakh machines have been distributed, and more than 43,535 custom hiring centres set up across several states. Small and marginal farmers have been allowed to access these machines rent-free under a government direction. Yet the question lingers quietly. Whether the benefits are reaching those who burn out of compulsion remains uncertain.
