CAQM issues Statutory Direction to Punjab, Haryana and UP to eliminate wheat stubble burning in 2026
The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) issued a Statutory Direction on 16 February 2026 to the governments of Punjab, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh for time-bound implementation of State Action Plans to prevent and eliminate wheat stubble burning in the 2026 harvesting season.
Summary
The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) issued a Statutory Direction on 16 February 2026 to the governments of Punjab, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh for time-bound implementation of State Action Plans to prevent and eliminate wheat stubble burning in the 2026 harvesting season, with complementary efforts expected from Delhi and Rajasthan. Under the ISRO/IARI standard protocol, fire events in the 2025 wheat season (1 April–31 May) were 10,207 in Punjab, 1,832 in Haryana and 259 in the NCR districts of Uttar Pradesh, prompting wheat-season measures alongside paddy-season ones.
Key facts
- Date
- 16 February 2026
- Issued by
- CAQM
- Directed to
- Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh (with Delhi and Rajasthan)
- Season
- 2026 wheat harvesting season
- 2025 wheat-season fires
- Punjab 10,207; Haryana 1,832; UP NCR districts 259
Practice MCQs 1 questions
As cited by CAQM on 16 February 2026, which state recorded the most fire events during the 2025 wheat harvesting season (1 April–31 May)?
Show answer
Correct answer: D — Punjab
Punjab recorded 10,207 fire events, against 1,832 in Haryana and 259 in the NCR districts of Uttar Pradesh.