- Why in news
- On 16 June 2026, Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan and Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav chaired a meeting at Krishi Bhavan to review the Crop Residue Management scheme and states' readiness for the 2026 paddy harvest.
- What it is
- The Crop Residue Management scheme is a Central Sector Scheme of the Agriculture Ministry, begun in 2018-19. It supports machines, Custom Hiring Centres and awareness to stop paddy stubble burning in the north-western states. It aims to cut air pollution and keep soil fertility.
- Start year
- The CRM scheme began in 2018-19 to deal with stubble burning.
- 2026-27 outlay
- Rs 544.15 crore is provided for 2026-27; the first instalment of Rs 272.07 crore is already released.
- Recipients
- Rs 4,266.47 crore has gone to Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and ICAR.
- 2026-27 targets
- States target over 46,000 machines, 910 Custom Hiring Centres and 141 stubble supply chain projects.
- Stubble Protection Force
- It will be active in at least 70 tehsils of 14 NCR districts for monitoring.
Don’t confuse with In-situ vs ex-situ: In-situ treats residue in the field (incorporation, Happy Seeder). Ex-situ moves it out for biomass power, CBG, pellets or ethanol.
Don’t confuse with CPCB vs CAQM: CPCB is the pollution regulator. CAQM is the statutory commission for air quality in NCR and adjoining areas.
Schemes: 52 Prelims questions since 2013, 10 in Prelims 2026 alone. They test features, the period and who funds it. In Mains, 33 news-triggered questions, mostly GS3.
Why it matters
- Cuts air pollution and the health burden in north India each winter.
- Protects soil fertility and beneficial organisms, and can raise farmers' income through residue markets.
Problems
- Small farmers find machines costly, and Custom Hiring Centres may be underused.
- The short gap between paddy harvest and wheat sowing makes burning the cheapest option.
Way forward
- Strengthen ex-situ supply chains so stubble has a steady paying market.
- Shift to short-duration and less water-intensive paddy, and promote DSR with monitoring.
Put in your answer
Stubble volume: States are planning for about 2.762 crore tonnes of stubble in the 2026 paddy harvest.
- 2020Mains GS3 · Q13Factors behind rice-wheat system's success and how it became a bane
- 2020Prelims Q83Advantages of zero tillage: residue-free wheat sowing, direct paddy seeding, carbon sequestration
UPSC’s own questions that come close to this issue, from our Prelims and Mains banks.
Prelims practice · Single answer
Ours, not from a UPSC paper
Consider the following statements about the Crop Residue Management (CRM) scheme of the Government of India: 1. It was started in 2018-19 to deal with stubble burning. 2. Financial assistance under it has so far gone only to the state governments of Punjab, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh. 3. In-situ management means using stubble off the field, in industries such as biomass power plants. 4. The meeting of 16 June 2026 stressed promoting short-duration and low-water paddy varieties to widen the gap between paddy harvest and wheat sowing. Which of the statements given above are correct?
Which of the statements given above are correct?
True or false?
1 of 7
Statements the way Prelims prints them. Say first, then see the fact.
1.The Crop Residue Management scheme was started in 2018-19.
True. Started in 2018-19.
2.Financial assistance under the scheme has so far gone only to state governments of Punjab, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh.
False. Madhya Pradesh and ICAR have also received assistance.
3.For 2026-27 the provision under the scheme is Rs 544.15 crore.
True. Rs 544.15 crore for 2026-27.
4.The Stubble Protection Force is to be active in at least 70 tehsils of 14 NCR districts.
True. 70 tehsils, 14 NCR districts.
5.The meeting urged promotion of long-duration paddy varieties to widen the gap before wheat sowing.
False. Short-duration, low-water paddy varieties are promoted; long-duration ones are discouraged.
6.The Central Pollution Control Board was asked to review stubble stock and its utilisation capacity for pellet, CBG and thermal power plant co-firing.
True. CPCB was advised to review stock and utilisation capacity.
7.In-situ management means using stubble off the field, in industries such as biomass power plants.
False. In-situ means managing residue in the field itself; use in industry is ex-situ.
Written by us from the release, not by UPSC; checked by a second model.
Mains practice
15 marks · 250 words
The Union Agriculture and Environment Ministers recently reviewed the Crop Residue Management scheme and states' readiness for the 2026 paddy harvest. Discuss the main provisions of the scheme and examine the challenges in ending paddy stubble burning in north-western India. Suggest a way forward.
Worth revising until Prelims 2028: most news questions come within two years of the event.