Farm fire incidents in northern India drop by 11.5 percent

The Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) reported that farm fire incidents across six northern Indian states fell by 11.5 percent to 9,590 between 15 September and 10 November 2026.

This figure represents a decrease from the 10,832 incidents recorded during the same period last year. Punjab reported the highest number of fires at 5,002, followed by Madhya Pradesh with 2,145 and Rajasthan with 1,335. The reduction in fires occurs as the region faces a recurring air quality crisis.

While farm fires contribute roughly 2.25 percent to the annual pollution in Delhi, their share of the city's air pollution rises to between 12 and 40 percent during the winter stubble-burning season. Despite the drop in fires, Delhi recorded its worst daily average Air Quality Index of 382 on 6 November 2026. Experts suggest that satellite monitoring might undercount the true scale of burning because smoke can obscure fires from view.

To address this, some advocates call for year-round government education for farmers and a shift toward crop diversification. A coordinated seven-month programme running from September 2026 to March 2027 aims to target various pollution sources, including agricultural residue and industrial emissions, to improve air quality in the region.