Stubble Burning in India: Politics and Policy Responses

Abstract

Stubble burning has emerged as an important environmental policy issue in India in recent times. This article contends that in addition to the apparent, practical reasons for burning stubble by farmers, there are also historical, policy-based reasons associated with the Green Revolution of India that has led to the perpetuation of the practice. It then provides an assessment of the extant policy responses toward the practice in India, and comments on their efficacies. Having done so, the article maintains that it would be more prudent to approach stubble burning by contextualising it within other environmental issues (and consequent policies) and not as an isolated issue in itself so that environmental sustainability and ecological holism are realised.