North India Statesman
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The Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) has issued a bulletin on incidents of stubble burning in North India on November 20, 2025. In this bulletin, information about the incidents of stubble burning this year has been given. This year the situation seems to have changed a lot. While Punjab was once considered the biggest source of stubble pollution, Madhya Pradesh has taken over this responsibility in 2025. The total incidents of stubble burning across the country have reached 23,608, with Madhya Pradesh contributing the highest.
A total of 23,608 incidents of stubble burning have been recorded so far in 2025. Madhya Pradesh has now become the state with maximum stubble burning. Madhya Pradesh’s share in the total cases of stubble burning is about 46%. In Punjab, this percentage has dropped significantly to just 21% compared to 2020. The total share of Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan is 30%, indicating a shift of the center of stubble burning from western India to central India. There has been a significant reduction in the cases of stubble burning in Haryana.
How many fire incidents will occur in which states in 2025?
State’s share in fire incidents
- Madhya Pradesh 45.70%
- Punjab 21.40%
- Uttar Pradesh 19.10%
- Rajasthan 11.30%
- Haryana 2.50%
State wise trends from 2020 to 2025
There has been a significant decline in incidents of stubble burning in Punjab in the last five years, from 82,147 to just 5,046. The widespread use of machines like Happy Seeder and Super SMS is being said to be the main reason for this decline. This includes strict government monitoring and increased use of alternative straw. The decline in paddy cultivation in some areas of Punjab has played a significant role in this, with a decline of 50% between 2024 and 2025.
Haryana is continuously improving. There were 3,884 cases reported in 2020, which dropped to just 592 in 2025, a reduction of 85%. This is the only state where there has been no increase in incidents of stubble burning in any year after 2020.
The incidents of stubble burning are continuously increasing in Uttar Pradesh. Uttar Pradesh is the only state where incidents of stubble burning have increased continuously. The number of incidents is expected to increase from 1,905 incidents in 2022 to 4,507 in 2025. The possible reason for this increase is believed to be delay in harvesting of paddy. At the same time, there has been an increase in the sowing of paddy in western Uttar Pradesh. Apart from this, lack of modern machines has also been cited as a reason. The report also says that farmers here are paying less attention to alternative management. This is also increasing the fear that Uttar Pradesh may become a new center of stubble pollution in the coming years.
This threat is gradually increasing in Rajasthan, where incidents of stubble burning have increased from 1,068 in 2021 to 2,663 in 2025. This is due to low availability of machinery and minimal policy intervention.
The incidents of stubble burning are fluctuating rapidly in Madhya Pradesh, but the danger remains. Stubble burning incidents in Madhya Pradesh have fluctuated between 6,000 and 13,000. In 2025, 10,800 incidents of stubble burning were recorded in the state, making it the largest contributor to stubble burning across North India. The possible reasons for this are also mentioned in the report. Although crop patterns vary, stubble burning continues in some districts, but there is no strict control at the state level.
If this is not stopped the situation will worsen.
The situation of stubble burning is changing rapidly in North India. While positive progress is being made in Punjab and Haryana, the situation is worsening in Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan. Experts believe that if these states do not implement better machinery, alternative stubble management and strict rules and regulations, the air pollution crisis may worsen in the coming years.
