Archive · 5 Dec 2025
ISRO Study Reveals Stubble Burning Time Shift
A study by ISRO found that farmers in Punjab and Haryana are burning crop stubble later in the day to avoid being caught by satellites.
The satellites that usually monitor these fires pass over the area at specific times, so farmers have started burning stubble in the evening when the satellites aren't watching.
This means the official numbers of farm fires might be lower than they really are.
The government is trying to stop this by increasing monitoring and penalties.
Farmers who are caught burning stubble have to pay fines, and the number of fires has gone down a lot in recent years.
ISRO study reveals a shift in peak stubble-burning times from early afternoon to early evening in Punjab and Haryana.
Official data shows a decline in farm fires, but ISRO suggests this may be due to underestimation by polar orbiting satellites.
Geostationary satellites can monitor fires continuously, unlike polar satellites that pass over specific areas only once or twice a day.
Government agencies are increasing monitoring and penalties to curb stubble burning, with over 10,500 personnel deployed for round-the-clock enforcement.
Official data indicates a significant reduction in farm fires from 2020 to 2024, but the shift in burning times may mean many fires go uncounted.
- Who
- Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and farmers in Punjab and Haryana
- What
- Shift in peak stubble-burning times to avoid satellite detection
- When
- From 2020 to 2024, with a noticeable shift from 2022 onward
- Where
- Punjab and Haryana
- Why
- To avoid detection by polar orbiting satellites and subsequent penalties
- Study Conducted By
- Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO)
- Satellites Used
- European geostationary satellites (Meteosat Second Generation)
- Shift in Peak Fire Activity
- From ~13:30 IST in 2020 to ~17:00 IST in 2024
- States Affected
- Punjab and Haryana
- Penalty for Stubble Burning
- Rs 5,000 to Rs 30,000 depending on land size
- FIRs Registered in 2024
- 1,963
- Environmental Compensation Imposed in 2024
- Rs 1.26 crore
- Reduction in Fire Incidences (2022-2025)
- 90% reduction in 2025 compared to 2022
