Question 1

CAQM rules and penalties apply exclusively to the state of Delhi.

Accepted Answer

CAQM's jurisdiction covers the entire National Capital Region (NCR) and adjoining areas, empowering it to penalise stubble burning in Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, and Uttar Pradesh.

Question 2

The CAQM fines are criminal penalties leading to immediate jail time for farmers.

Accepted Answer

The fines are civil 'environmental compensations' under Section 15 of the CAQM Act, recovered via challan or as land revenue arrears, not criminal sentences.

Question 3

Consider the following statements regarding the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) Amendment Rules, 2024:
1. The penalty for farmers holding more than five acres of land who engage in stubble burning is now Rs 30,000 per incident.
2. The rules empower the CAQM to impose environmental compensation exclusively within the borders of the National Capital Territory of Delhi.
3. Environmental compensation collected via challan must be paid by the violator within 30 days of issuance.
How many of the above statements are correct?

Accepted Answer

(b) Only two — Statement 1 is correct: The penalty for >5 acres increased from Rs 15,000 to Rs 30,000. Statement 3 is correct: The amended rules stipulate a 30-day payment window for the challan. Statement 2 is incorrect: CAQM's jurisdiction for stubble burning penalties covers Delhi-NCR and adjoining areas, including Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, and UP, not exclusively Delhi.

Question 4

Match List I (Landholding Size for Stubble Burning Fine) with List II (New Environmental Compensation under CAQM 2024 Rules):

List I
A. Less than 2 acres
B. 2 to 5 acres
C. More than 5 acres
D. More than 10 acres

List II
1. Rs 10,000
2. Rs 5,000
3. Rs 30,000
4. Rs 30,000

Select the correct code:

Accepted Answer

(a) A-2, B-1, C-3, D-4 — Under the new rules, <2 acres is fined Rs 5,000 (A-2). 2-5 acres is fined Rs 10,000 (B-1). Anything >5 acres falls under the maximum slab of Rs 30,000 (C-3 and D-4). Note: C and D are effectively matched to the same value, testing the student's knowledge that there is no higher tier beyond 5 acres.

Question 5

Assertion (A): The MoEFCC rapidly notified the CAQM Amendment Rules 2024 to double the environmental compensation for stubble burning.
Reason (R): The Supreme Court of India criticized the central government because Section 15 of the CAQM Act 2021 was rendered 'toothless' due to the absence of adjudicating officers and a regulatory framework.
Select the correct answer from the codes given below:

Accepted Answer

(a) Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A. — The doubling of fines and the formal notification of the implementation mechanism in November 2024 was a direct response to the Supreme Court's severe rap in October 2024, where the bench highlighted that Section 15 of the CAQM Act was ineffective ('toothless') without proper adjudicating officers and enforcement frameworks.

MoEFCC Doubles Environmental Compensation Penalties for Stubble Burning

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