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Are Crop Residue Burning Bans Effective? Evidence from India

Author

Listed:
  • Shefali Khanna

    (LSE)

  • Kanika Mahajan

    (Ashoka University)

  • Sudarshan RSA

    (University of British Columbia)

Abstract

Crop residue burning (CRB) is a leading cause of high air pollution in developing countries. We examine the effectiveness of India’s largest ban on CRB using a difference-in-differences strategy that exploits its implementation in select states. We find that there was a reduction in fire counts by 30% of the pre-ban mean albeit waning to near-zero two-three years after the ban. Using state-level data on fines, we show that burning initially reduced in areas where the ban was relatively better enforced, generating uncertainty for farmers. However, low levels of overall enforcement led to a return to the old status-quo.

Suggested Citation

  • Shefali Khanna & Kanika Mahajan & Sudarshan RSA, 2024. "Are Crop Residue Burning Bans Effective? Evidence from India," Working Papers 136, Ashoka University, Department of Economics, revised 11 Jul 2025.
    • Handle: RePEc:ash:wpaper:136
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    File URL: https://dp.ashoka.edu.in/ash/wpaper/paper136_0.pdf
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Wangyang Lai & Shanjun Li & Yanan Li & Xiaohui Tian, 2022. "Air Pollution and Cognitive Functions: Evidence from Straw Burning in China," American Journal of Agricultural Economics, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 104(1), pages 190-208, January.
    2. Ruoyu Lan & Sebastian D. Eastham & Tianjia Liu & Leslie K. Norford & Steven R. H. Barrett, 2022. "Air quality impacts of crop residue burning in India and mitigation alternatives," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-13, December.
    3. Leena A. Kaushal & Anupama Prashar, 2021. "Agricultural crop residue burning and its environmental impacts and potential causes – case of northwest India," Journal of Environmental Planning and Management, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 64(3), pages 464-484, February.
    4. Cao, Jing & Ma, Rong, 2023. "Mitigating agricultural fires with carrot or stick? Evidence from China," Journal of Development Economics, Elsevier, vol. 165(C).
    5. B. Kelsey Jack & Seema Jayachandran & Namrata Kala & Rohini Pande, 2025. "Money (Not) to Burn: Payments for Ecosystem Services to Reduce Crop Residue Burning," American Economic Review: Insights, American Economic Association, vol. 7(1), pages 39-55, March.
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    Cited by:

    1. Batabyal, Amitrajeet & Beladi, Hamid, 2025. "An Analysis of Agricultural Crop Residue Burning and Urban Air Pollution in New Delhi, India," MPRA Paper 125945, University Library of Munich, Germany, revised 19 Aug 2025.

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