Punjab records 70% plunge in stubble burning for 2024

2024 saw Punjab register the steepest fall in stubble burning, with a 70.25 percent drop compared with earlier years. Stubble burning, the practice of setting farm residues ablaze after harvest, usually clouds the air and fuels respiratory problems. The new figure marks a notable shift from past patterns, suggesting a change in farmer behaviour or support measures, though the report does not detail the cause. A cleaner post‑harvest season could ease the seasonal haze that often grips northern India during the rabi crop cycle. Authorities will likely monitor whether the decline sustains in the coming years as the state prepares for future agricultural cycles.