Centre Proposes 15-Month ‘Red Entry’ for Farms Linked to Stubble Burning

The Centre has proposed a new regulatory mechanism to curb stubble burning, under which agricultural land linked to crop-residue burning would receive a “red entry” in land-revenue records for 15 months, adding a longer-term land-level consequence to the existing system of environmental compensation. The proposal comes ahead of the winter pollution season in Delhi-NCR and seeks to strengthen accountability while simultaneously directing penalty collections towards alternatives to stubble burning.

The draft rules, issued by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, seek to replace the 2023 environmental compensation rules and their 2024 amendment. The proposed framework covers Delhi, Punjab, Haryana and NCR areas of Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh. The government has invited objections and suggestions from stakeholders for 60 days, meaning the provisions remain subject to change before finalisation.

Under the proposal, land-revenue authorities would mark a red entry against farmland where stubble burning is found or established. The entry would remain valid for 15 months. It would be removed after that period if there is no subsequent burning on the same land and the environmental compensation has been paid. A fresh incident or unpaid compensation would extend the entry for another 15 months.

The draft retains compensation rates of ₹5,000 for holdings below two acres, ₹10,000 for two to five acres and ₹30,000 for holdings above five acres. Farmers would have 30 days to pay, failing which the amount could be recovered as arrears of land revenue.

The proposed framework also earmarks compensation collections for crop-diversification programmes, residue-management machinery, biomass utilisation and storage infrastructure, and research and development. The government has allocated ₹544.15 crore for crop-residue management in 2026-27, targeting more than 46,000 machines, 910 Custom Hiring Centres and 141 stubble supply-chain projects. Around 2.762 crore tonnes of paddy residue is expected to require management this season.

Satellite-based monitoring, supported by ISRO, IARI and state remote-sensing centres, remains central to identifying farm fires, alongside field enforcement. The government has reported a sharp decline in paddy-fire incidents, with Punjab recording 5,114 cases in 2025, down 90% from 2022, while Haryana recorded 662, down 81% over the same period.

However, stubble burning remains one of several contributors to Delhi-NCR pollution, alongside vehicles, industries, construction and road dust and other sources. The effectiveness of the proposed red-entry system will depend on accurate identification of affected land, transparent mechanisms for challenging entries and the availability of affordable alternatives for farmers.

The 60-day consultation will determine how the final rules address these implementation questions, including the practical consequences of a red entry and procedures for its removal.