[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":261},["ShallowReactive",2],{"story-2149-en":3},{"id":4,"slug":5,"slugs":5,"currentSlug":5,"title":6,"subtitle":7,"coverImagesSmall":8,"coverImages":9,"content":53,"questions":54,"relatedArticles":64,"body_color":259,"card_color":260},"2149",null,"India's Agricultural Pollution Puzzle: How Farmers Are Outsmarting Satellite Monitoring","- Technological cat-and-mouse game reveals complex environmental policy challenges in northern India",[],[10,11,12,13,14,15,16,17,18,19,20,21,22,23,17,24,25,26,27,28,29,30,31,32,33,34,35,36,37,38,39,40,41,42,43,44,45,46,47,48,49,50,51,52],"https://i0.wp.com/www.socialnews.xyz/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/13/202512133606629.jpg?quality=80&zoom=1&ssl=1","https://media.inshorts.com/inshorts/images/v1/variants/jpg/m/2025/12_dec/10_wed/img_1765343103943_103.jpg","https://thefederal.com/h-upload/2023/11/04/493863-punjabstubbleburning2.webp","https://images.assettype.com/nationalherald/2023-11/e15abced-57ea-4727-8bfb-e02c925d2022/1181854460.","https://images.news18.com/ibnlive/uploads/2025/09/Stubble-burning-2025-09-9cf26459c28e5626e937c070a8285582.jpg","https://www.morungexpress.com/uploads/2025/12/49558388_1765878081_202512140186f.jpg","https://www.hindustantimes.com/ht-img/img/2025/12/13/1600x900/logo/ANI-20251212185-0_1765641678434_1765641687090.jpg","https://www.devdiscourse.com/remote.axd?https://devdiscourse.blob.core.windows.net/aiimagegallery/26_03_2025_15_44_42_1937496.png?width=1280","https://www.theweek.in/content/dam/week/wire-updates/pti-preview-theweek.jpg.transform/schema-1x1/image.jpg","https://etimg.etb2bimg.com/thumb/msid-125862997,width-1200,height-900,resizemode-4/.jpg","https://www.tribuneindia.com/sortd-service/imaginary/v22-01/jpg/large/high?url=dGhldHJpYnVuZS1zb3J0ZC1wcm8tcHJvZC1zb3J0ZC9tZWRpYWYyYTk3MmMwLWQ1OTUtMTFmMC05MjU0LTk5MGM4YWQ1MGZlOS5qcGc=","https://healthpolicy-watch.news/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/Screenshot-2025-12-15-at-15.39.33-1024x566.png","https://th-i.thgim.com/public/incoming/kmwxao/article70399394.ece/alternates/LANDSCAPE_1200/editorial.png","https://indicanews.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/stubble-burning.png","https://m.greaterkashmir.com/sortd-service/imaginary/v22-01/jpg/large/high?url=Z3JlYXRlcmthc2htaXItc29ydGQtcHJvLXByb2Qtc29ydGQvbWVkaWFkMGNiMmUyMC1kYTJmLTExZjAtOTI1NC05OTBjOGFkNTBmZTkuanBn","https://static.theprint.in/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/theprint_default_image_new.jpg","https://assets.thehansindia.com/h-upload/2025/12/13/1608875-delhi-ncr.webp","https://www.dailyexcelsior.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/stubblenew.jpg","https://media.inshorts.com/inshorts/images/v1/variants/jpg/m/2025/12_dec/16_tue/img_1765883341073_419.jpg","https://d3pc1xvrcw35tl.cloudfront.net/ln/feedImages/1200x900/202512133606629_202512.jpg","https://media.assettype.com/outlookbusiness/2025-12-09/pv5zt8dp/Punjab-fire.jpg?w=1200&h=675&auto=format%2Ccompress&fit=max&enlarge=true","https://static.toiimg.com/thumb/msid-125989567,width-1280,height-720,resizemode-72/125989567.jpg","https://indianewengland.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/Screenshot-2025-12-13-182149.png","https://static.businessworld.in/stubble%20burning_20251201165502_original_image_6.webp","https://images.moneycontrol.com/static-mcnews/2025/10/20251014072916_rekha-gupta.jpg?impolicy=website&width=770&height=431","https://static.businessworld.in/WhatsApp%20Image%202025-12-10%20at%2013.16.19_ae185130_20251210142021_original_image_46.webp","https://www.thehindu.com/theme/images/amp-og-image.jpg","https://akm-img-a-in.tosshub.com/indiatoday/images/story/202512/stubble-burning-india-punjab-164254461-16x9_0.jpeg?VersionId=i7DwpcB7Q3tS3g2sn8pfE1tzIKleoiEQ?size=1280:720","https://images.financialexpressdigital.com/2025/12/Copy-of-Gallery-2025-12-09T194618.642.png","https://media.assettype.com/sentinelassam-english/2025-03-25/vc8dxyib/1740460035-0937.avif?w=1200&h=675&auto=format%2Ccompress&fit=max&enlarge=true","https://m.thewire.in/sortd-service/imaginary/v22-01/jpg/large/high?url=dGhld2lyZS1pbi1wcm9kLXNvcnRkL21lZGlhODc2ZTg3OTAtZDUxNi0xMWYwLTkyNTQtOTkwYzhhZDUwZmU5LmpwZw==","https://www.tribuneindia.com/sortd-service/imaginary/v22-01/jpg/large/high?url=dGhldHJpYnVuZS1zb3J0ZC1wcm8tcHJvZC1zb3J0ZC9tZWRpYWVjMmJkYjEwLWQ1NWMtMTFmMC05MjU0LTk5MGM4YWQ1MGZlOS5qcGc=","https://assets.thehansindia.com/h-upload/2025/12/16/1609401-nasa.webp","https://img.mathrubhumi.com/view/acePublic/alias/contentid/1nv9cu459ivzgroi4x4/0/stubble-burning-punjab-ani-jpg.webp?f=1x1&w=1080&q=0.8","https://assets.science.nasa.gov/dynamicimage/assets/science/esd/eo/images/iotd/2025/new-timing-for-stubble-burning-in-india/indiastubbleburning_amo_20251111.jpg?w=1920&h=1440&fit=clip&crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint","https://d2av8kbir6lh9m.cloudfront.net/12197/01KAJR573H89EMV212K90VGSPV.webp","https://ommcomnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/New-Project-18-2.jpg","https://images.indianexpress.com/2025/12/stuble-burning_20251208203538.png","https://static.toiimg.com/thumb/msid-125964536,width-1280,height-720,resizemode-72/125964536.jpg","https://www.tribuneindia.com/sortd-service/imaginary/v22-01/jpg/large/high?url=dGhldHJpYnVuZS1zb3J0ZC1wcm8tcHJvZC1zb3J0ZC9tZWRpYTM2N2I3MzUwLWQ1NzctMTFmMC05MjU0LTk5MGM4YWQ1MGZlOS5qcGc=","https://www.livemint.com/lm-img/img/2025/12/10/1600x900/logo/Smoke-rises-from-the-burning-stubble-in-a-Punjab-c_1765363449169_1765363457629.jpg","https://www.tribuneindia.com/sortd-service/imaginary/v22-01/jpg/large/high?url=dGhldHJpYnVuZS1zb3J0ZC1wcm8tcHJvZC1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landscape of **agricultural environmental monitoring** in India is undergoing a profound transformation, driven by an unexpected technological arms race between farmers and satellite tracking systems. At the heart of this complex narrative lies a critical shift in **stubble burning practices** across the Indo-Gangetic Plain, where farmers are strategically manipulating the timing of crop residue fires to evade detection.\n\n**NASA researchers**, led by Dr. Hiren Jethva, have uncovered a significant behavioral change: crop fires are now occurring later in the day, moving from the traditional 1-2 PM window to a more strategic 4-6 PM timeframe. This seemingly minor adjustment has substantial implications for environmental monitoring and air quality management. Traditional satellite systems like MODIS and VIIRS, which typically pass over locations once or twice daily, are now missing a substantial number of these fires, creating a critical data blind spot.\n\nThe scale of this monitoring challenge is staggering. While the Indian government claims a 90% reduction in farm fires, Dr. Jethva's research suggests the actual number of incidents could be 10-11 times higher than official reports. This discrepancy exposes fundamental weaknesses in current environmental tracking mechanisms. The **Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO)** captures farm images daily at 1:30 PM, but farmers have learned to strategically time their burns outside these monitoring windows.\n\nThe environmental consequences are profound. Evening burns, coinciding with weaker winds and shallower atmospheric boundary layers, potentially allow pollutants to accumulate more efficiently. On November 11, 2025, pollution levels exceeded 400 on India's air quality index, prompting school closures and stricter construction controls. Estimates suggest stubble burning contributes between 40-70% of pollution during peak episodes, dropping to under 10% when averaged annually.\n\nEncouragingly, collaborative efforts are emerging. The Indian government has invested Rs 4,000 crore in Punjab and Haryana for stubble management, deploying over 150,000 crop residue management machines. Corporate initiatives like decentralized biomass-to-energy plants are converting agricultural residue into electricity, creating alternative economic opportunities.\n\nThe broader implication is clear: addressing environmental challenges requires adaptive, technologically sophisticated tracking and mitigation strategies that can keep pace with evolving agricultural practices.",[55,58,61],{"title":56,"answer":57,"author":5,"avatar":5,"time":5},"What innovative solutions are emerging to address stubble burning?","Corporate initiatives like decentralized biomass-to-energy plants are converting agricultural residue into electricity, creating alternative economic opportunities. The government has also invested Rs 4,000 crore in Punjab and Haryana, deploying over 150,000 crop residue management machines to provide farmers with alternatives to burning.",{"title":59,"answer":60,"author":5,"avatar":5,"time":5},"How significant is the pollution impact of stubble burning?","Stubble burning can contribute between 40-70% of pollution during peak episodes, though this drops to under 10% when averaged annually. On November 11, 2025, pollution levels exceeded 400 on India's air quality index, leading to school closures and stricter construction controls.",{"title":62,"answer":63,"author":5,"avatar":5,"time":5},"Why are farmers changing their stubble burning times?","Farmers are strategically burning crops later in the day to avoid detection by satellite monitoring systems that typically capture images in the early afternoon. By shifting burn times to 4-6 PM, they can effectively evade traditional tracking methods, creating a significant data gap in environmental monitoring.",[65,70,75,80,85,89,93,98,102,106,110,114,118,122,126,131,136,140,143,147,151,155,159,163,167,172,176,180,184,188,192,196,200,204,207,211,215,218,222,225,229,232,236,240,244,247,251,255],{"id":66,"title":67,"source":68,"logo":12,"time":69},93313,"Stubble burning drops over 90 per cent in Punjab, Haryana; Delhi air improves","https://thefederal.com/category/news/stubble-burning-drops-punjab-haryana-delhi-air-quality-220407","7D AGO",{"id":71,"title":72,"source":73,"logo":28,"time":74},94028,"What has NASA said about pollution & stubble burning in North India? | Most fires earlier lit between 1 pm & 2 pm IST | Inshorts","https://inshorts.com/en/news/what-has-nasa-said-about-pollution---stubble-burning-in-north-india--1765884533144","3D AGO",{"id":76,"title":77,"source":78,"logo":26,"time":79},93312,"Pb, Har saw marked decline in stubble burning cases this year","https://www.thehansindia.com/news/national/pb-har-saw-marked-decline-in-stubble-burning-cases-this-year-1030789","6D AGO",{"id":81,"title":82,"source":83,"logo":29,"time":84},93311,"No paddy stubble burning in Delhi due to govt policy, monitoring: CM Rekha Gupta","https://www.lokmattimes.com/national/no-paddy-stubble-burning-in-delhi-due-to-govt-policy-monitoring-cm-rekha-gupta/","5D AGO",{"id":86,"title":87,"source":88,"logo":51,"time":84},93299,"Zero stubble burning cases recorded in Delhi this winter: CM","https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/delhi/zero-stubble-burning-cases-recorded-in-delhi-this-winter-cm/",{"id":90,"title":91,"source":92,"logo":17,"time":84},93310,"Delhi's Clean Air Victory: Zero Stubble Burning Reported","https://www.devdiscourse.com/article/science-environment/3730000-delhis-clean-air-victory-zero-stubble-burning-reported",{"id":94,"title":95,"source":96,"logo":33,"time":97},93317,"Stubble Burning Far Higher Than Official Count, New Study Reveals","https://www.businessworld.in/article/stubble-burning-far-higher-than-official-count-new-study-reveals-583225","8D AGO",{"id":99,"title":100,"source":101,"logo":35,"time":69},93316,"Evening Farm Fires Reveal Gaps In India’s Stubble Detection","https://www.businessworld.in/article/evening-farm-fires-reveal-gaps-in-india-s-stubble-detection-583123",{"id":103,"title":104,"source":105,"logo":17,"time":69},93315,"Major Drop in Stubble Burning Leads to Cleaner Air in Delhi-NCR","https://www.devdiscourse.com/article/headlines/3728662-major-drop-in-stubble-burning-leads-to-cleaner-air-in-delhi-ncr",{"id":107,"title":108,"source":109,"logo":25,"time":69},93314,"Punjab, Haryana saw marked decline in stubble burning cases this year: Data","https://theprint.in/india/punjab-haryana-saw-marked-decline-in-stubble-burning-cases-this-year-data/2804357/",{"id":111,"title":112,"source":113,"logo":15,"time":74},94029,"NASA says later-day stubble burning in northern India complicates air quality monitoring","https://morungexpress.com/nasa-says-later-day-stubble-burning-in-northern-india-complicates-air-quality-monitoring",{"id":115,"title":116,"source":117,"logo":13,"time":74},93294,"NASA flags shift in stubble-burning timing hindering air quality tracking in north India","https://www.nationalheraldindia.com/national/nasa-flags-shift-in-stubble-burning-timing-hindering-air-quality-tracking-in-north-india",{"id":119,"title":120,"source":121,"logo":23,"time":74},93293,"NASA says later-day stubble burning complicates air quality monitoring in northern India","https://indicanews.com/nasa-says-later-day-stubble-burning-complicates-air-quality-monitoring-in-northern-india/",{"id":123,"title":124,"source":125,"logo":37,"time":74},93292,"Farmers are burning stubble when satellites aren't looking, Nasa confirms new time","https://www.indiatoday.in/science/story/farmers-are-burning-stubble-when-satellites-arent-looking-nasa-confirms-new-time-2836638-2025-12-16",{"id":127,"title":128,"source":129,"logo":50,"time":130},95475,"Mint Explainer | Dirty air trick: How North Indian rice farmers outsmart satellites | Mint","https://www.livemint.com/industry/agriculture/north-india-farmers-paddy-stubble-burning-satellite-detection-air-pollution-true-scale-11765360930559.html","9D AGO",{"id":132,"title":133,"source":134,"logo":22,"time":135},93298,"Watch: ​Addressing an anomaly | On stubble burning, burnt-area estimates","https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/watch-addressing-an-anomaly-on-stubble-burning-burnt-area-estimates/article70399408.ece","4D AGO",{"id":137,"title":138,"source":139,"logo":31,"time":74},93297,"Haryana continues to breath poor air, officials review situation","https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chandigarh/haryana-continues-to-breath-poor-air-officials-review-situation/articleshow/125989568.cms",{"id":141,"title":112,"source":142,"logo":24,"time":74},93296,"https://www.greaterkashmir.com/world/nasa-says-later-day-stubble-burning-in-northern-india-complicates-air-quality-monitoring/",{"id":144,"title":145,"source":146,"logo":43,"time":74},93295,"Changing farmer practices: NASA explains how later stubble burns impact air pollution monitoring","https://english.mathrubhumi.com/news/india/nasa-late-stubble-burning-india-air-quality-dpb4369s",{"id":148,"title":149,"source":150,"logo":5,"time":74},95494,"NASA Says Shift In Stubble Burning Time Impacting Air Quality In North India","https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/nasa-says-shift-in-stubble-burning-time-impacting-air-quality-in-north-india-9824840",{"id":152,"title":153,"source":154,"logo":18,"time":84},93309,"No stubble burning incidents in Delhi this winter CM Gupta","https://www.theweek.in/wire-updates/national/2025/12/13/des64-dl-cm-stubble-burning.html",{"id":156,"title":157,"source":158,"logo":34,"time":84},93308,"No stubble burning incidents in Delhi this winter: CM Gupta","https://www.moneycontrol.com/news/india/no-stubble-burning-incidents-in-delhi-this-winter-cm-gupta-13724203.html",{"id":160,"title":161,"source":162,"logo":16,"time":84},93307,"No stubble burning incidents in Delhi this winter: CM Gupta | India News","https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/no-stubble-burning-incidents-in-delhi-this-winter-cm-gupta-101765641527150.html",{"id":164,"title":165,"source":166,"logo":36,"time":135},93302,"​Addressing an anomaly: On stubble burning, burnt-area estimates","https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/editorial/addressing-an-anomaly-on-stubble-burning-burnt-area-estimates/article70395266.ece",{"id":168,"title":169,"source":170,"logo":30,"time":171},93324,"Farmers in Punjab & Haryana Shift Stubble Fires to Evenings to Evade Monitoring, Says Report","https://www.outlookbusiness.com/planet/climate/punjab-haryana-evening-stubble-burning-detection-gap-delhi-pollution","10D AGO",{"id":173,"title":174,"source":175,"logo":14,"time":171},93489,"After Satellite Data Gaps, New Study Calls For More Rigorous Monitoring Of Farm Fires","https://www.news18.com/india/after-satellite-data-gaps-new-study-calls-for-more-rigorous-monitoring-of-farm-fires-ws-kl-9758026.html",{"id":177,"title":178,"source":179,"logo":48,"time":135},93301,"Bahadurgarh chokes at AQI 464, Haryana NCR gasps for air","https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chandigarh/bahadurgarh-chokes-at-aqi-464-haryana-ncr-gasps-for-air/articleshow/125964537.cms",{"id":181,"title":182,"source":183,"logo":47,"time":171},93323,"How burnt farm land exposes blind spots in Delhi’s air pollution monitoring","https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/delhi/burnt-area-increased-in-haryana-even-as-farm-fire-count-dropped-new-report-flags-concerns-about-data-collection-10410005/",{"id":185,"title":186,"source":187,"logo":21,"time":135},93488,"Scientist Disputes Indian Government Claim that Polluting Farm Fires Have Reduced by 90%","https://healthpolicy-watch.news/scientist-disputes-indian-government-claim-that-polluting-farm-fires-have-reduced-by-90/",{"id":189,"title":190,"source":191,"logo":39,"time":84},93300,"No paddy stubble burning in Delhi due to govt policy: CM Rekha Gupta","https://www.sentinelassam.com/more-news/national-news/no-paddy-stubble-burning-in-delhi-due-to-govt-policy-cm-rekha-gupta",{"id":193,"title":194,"source":195,"logo":5,"time":171},93322,"Farm Fires Didn't End, They Just Moved To Afternoon: Satellite Data Analysis","https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/delhi-pollution-stubble-burning-punjab-haryana-farm-fires-didnt-end-they-just-moved-to-afternoon-satellite-data-analysis-9779018",{"id":197,"title":198,"source":199,"logo":44,"time":135},93487,"New Timing for Stubble Burning in India","https://science.nasa.gov/earth/earth-observatory/new-timing-for-stubble-burning-in-india/",{"id":201,"title":202,"source":203,"logo":49,"time":130},93321,"Farmers shift stubble-burning time to dodge satellite tracking: ISRO study","https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/haryana/farmers-shift-stubble-burning-time-to-dodge-satellite-tracking-isro-study/",{"id":205,"title":157,"source":206,"logo":27,"time":84},93306,"https://www.dailyexcelsior.com/no-stubble-burning-incidents-in-delhi-this-winter-cm-gupta/",{"id":208,"title":209,"source":210,"logo":32,"time":84},93305,"Zero Stubble Burning in Delhi This Winter: Policy, Policing, and Farmer Participation Deliver Results","https://indianewengland.com/zero-stubble-burning-in-delhi-this-winter-policy-policing-and-farmer-participation-deliver-results/",{"id":212,"title":213,"source":214,"logo":5,"time":130},93327,"Video | Farm Fire: Farmers Escaping Satellite Direction?","https://www.ndtv.com/video/farm-fire-farmers-escaping-satellite-direction-1032505",{"id":216,"title":82,"source":217,"logo":10,"time":84},93304,"https://www.socialnews.xyz/2025/12/13/no-paddy-stubble-burning-in-delhi-due-to-govt-policy-monitoring-cm-rekha-gupta/",{"id":219,"title":220,"source":221,"logo":19,"time":171},93326,"Satellites missing most farm fires in Punjab, Haryana; impact on Delhi highly underestimated: Report","https://energy.economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/coal/over-90-of-farm-fires-in-punjab-and-haryana-undetected-by-satellite-monitoring-iforest-report/125862997",{"id":223,"title":165,"source":224,"logo":45,"time":135},93303,"https://visionias.in/current-affairs/upsc-daily-news-summary/article/2025-12-15/the-hindu/environment/addressing-an-anomaly-on-stubble-burning-burnt-area-estimates",{"id":226,"title":227,"source":228,"logo":5,"time":171},93325,"Satellite-based tracking underreports stubble burning in Punjab, Haryana: Study","https://scroll.in/latest/1089140/satellite-based-tracking-underreports-stubble-burning-in-punjab-haryana-study",{"id":230,"title":112,"source":231,"logo":42,"time":74},94031,"https://www.thehansindia.com/news/international/nasa-says-later-day-stubble-burning-in-northern-india-complicates-air-quality-monitoring-1031410",{"id":233,"title":234,"source":235,"logo":46,"time":74},94030,"NASA Says Later-Day Stubble Burning In Northern India Complicates Air Quality Monitoring","https://ommcomnews.com/world-news/nasa-says-later-day-stubble-burning-in-northern-india-complicates-air-quality-monitoring/",{"id":237,"title":238,"source":239,"logo":20,"time":130},93320,"Farmers shifting stubble-burning time to dodge satellite tracking: ISRO study","https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/haryana/farmers-shifting-stubble-burning-time-to-dodge-satellite-tracking-isro-study/",{"id":241,"title":242,"source":243,"logo":40,"time":130},94033,"Govt Data On Farm Fires ‘Does Not Paint Entire Picture,’ Says New Report","https://m.thewire.in/article/environment/govt-data-on-farm-fires-does-not-paint-entire-picture-says-new-report",{"id":245,"title":112,"source":246,"logo":52,"time":74},94032,"https://ianslive.in/indias-stubble-burning-shifts-later-in-day-satellites-reveal--20251216033604",{"id":248,"title":249,"source":250,"logo":38,"time":171},94070,"FE Special | Breathless in India – A farmer-citizen conflict? Not really","https://www.financialexpress.com/india-news/fe-special-breathless-in-india-a-farmer-citizen-conflict-not-really/4071231/",{"id":252,"title":253,"source":254,"logo":11,"time":130},93319,"Farmers shift stubble-burning time to avoid satellite check: Study | Tap to know more | Inshorts","https://inshorts.com/en/news/farmers-shift-stubble-burning-time-to-avoid-satellite-check--study-1765343142003",{"id":256,"title":257,"source":258,"logo":41,"time":130},93318,"66% drop in stubble burning FIRs registered in a year: RTI","https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/delhi/66-drop-in-stubble-burning-firs-registered-in-a-year-rti/","#3e8c02ff","#3e8c024d",1766125561097]