The Centre has hiked the penalties for farmers involved in stubble burning, with fines now set to rise as high as Rs 30,000, as an attempt to tackle worsening air quality in Delhi and the neighbouring regions.

The new rules, which take effect immediately, states that farmers with less than two acres of land will face a fine of Rs 5,000, those with between two and five acres will be fined Rs 10,000, while farmers with over five acres of land will be penalised Rs 30,000 for engaging in stubble burning.

This amendment is part of the government’s push to minimize air pollution under the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) Act of 2021.

An official notice mentioned that the new rules may be called the Commission for Air Quality Management in National Capital Region and Adjoining Areas (Imposition, Collection, and Utilisation of Environmental Compensation for Stubble Burning) Amendment Rules, 2024.

Under the aegis of these new measures, complaints related to pollution will be handled by the pollution control boards and the CAQM, with clear guidelines for conducting enquiries and addressing grievances.

Notably, this development follows sharp criticism from the Supreme Court, which had previously held earlier penalties as ineffective in curbing the practice.

Recently, the apex court had also criticised the Delhi government over the blanket ban on firecrackers. It observed that the ban was hardly implemented and directed the Delhi Police Commissioner to file an affidavit stating the measures that were taken to enforce the ban in the national capital.

The Centre’s move is aimed at addressing the severe air pollution that annually plagues Delhi and its surrounding areas. The air quality was recorded in the severe category in many areas on Thursday. Anand Vihar, Bawana, Mundka and Wazirpur recorded air quality in the severe category, while other areas were in the very poor category.

Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi said on Wednesday that the true meaning of a caste census is justice, adding that his party will also “break the wall of 50 per cent” reservation limit.

Addressing the Samvidhan Samman Sammelan in Nagpur, the former Congress chief hit out at the BJP and its ideological parent Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), accusing them of attacking the Constitution and thereby attacking the voice of the country.

Ahead of the November 20 Maharashtra Assembly elections, the event was organised at the Suresh Bhatt Hall in Reshimbagh area of Nagpur, which is adjacent to Dr Hedgewar Smruti Mandir, a memorial of RSS founder Dr Keshav Baliram Hedgewar.

Attack on Constitution by RSS-BJP is an attack on the voice of India, Gandhi said. He explained the idea behind the Constitution and said it is not just a book but it is a way of life. He said what is written in the Constitution has been said by many great personalities like Lord Buddha, Mahatma Gandhi, and Phule.

“It is written in it that there should be equality among all, every religion, every language, every caste should be respected,” the Congress leader said.

“Different institutions of government are formed by the Constitution. If there was no Constitution, then the Election Commission would not have been formed,” he said.

India’s education system, IIT, IIM, primary education system, and secondary education system were created because of the Constitution, he said, adding that “if this is removed, you will not get a public school, public hospital, public college”.

Gandhi also attacked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his comments on Congress leader, saying, “Whenever I talk about caste census, Modiji says that Rahul Gandhi talks about dividing the country. But I am telling the country that 90% of the people of India are not participating in the progress of the country.”

He added, “If you see tribal, Dalit, backward people, you will see them standing in MNREGA queue or working as laborers. You will not find these people in the media or the judiciary.”

“Whatever the BJP-RSS people say or do… Caste census will be conducted in India and the wall of 50% reservation will be broken,” he said.

The Rae Bareli MP recalled a meeting that he attended recently in his constituency where he asked the officers to introduce themselves. Gandhi said when the introduction started, he did not find a single name belonging to the Dalit and OBC categories.

“From corporate to judiciary, we do not see people from Dalit, OBC and tribal communities. This is the situation everywhere, where we cannot see 90% of India,” Gandhi added.

The senior Congress leader also spoke on how the idea of caste census came to him, saying, “When he was interacting with the public, a small voice came to him – caste census. But then gradually this voice grew bigger. We have named it caste census, but its real meaning is justice.”

With Donald Trump all set to become the 47th President of the United States, Indian exporters may face high customs duties on products such as automobiles, textiles, and pharmaceuticals if the new administration pursues its “America First” agenda, according to trade experts.

The experts have also indicated that Trump might tighten H-1B visa regulations, which could raise costs and hinder growth for Indian IT companies. With over 80 per cent of India’s IT export revenues stemming from the US, these changes could make the sector vulnerable to shifts in visa policy.

The US stands as India’s largest trading partner, with annual trade exceeding $190 billion.

Ajay Srivastava, founder of the Global Trade Research Initiative (GTRI), said that Trump might extend tariffs beyond China to include India and other nations, citing Trump’s earlier statement that India is a large tariff abuser and his October 2020 statement labeling the country as the tariff king. These comments hint at the likelihood of more challenging trade negotiations during Trump’s second term.

“His America First strategy is expected to advocate for protective measures, including reciprocal tariffs on Indian goods, which could hinder key exports such as automobiles, textiles, and pharmaceuticals, diminishing their competitiveness in the US market,” Srivastava stated.

However, he also said that a tougher US policy towards China could potentially open up new markets for Indian exporters.

The bilateral trade in goods between the two countries stood at $120 billion in 2023-24 as against $129.4 billion in 2022-23.

A GTRI report had earlier stated that according to WTO’s World Tariff Profiles 2023, the US also imposes high duties on items like dairy products (188 per cent), Fruits and vegetables (132 per cent), cereals and food preparations (193 per cent), oilseeds, fats and oils (164 per cent), beverages and tobacco (150 per cent).

International trade expert Biswajit Dhar remarked that Trump is likely to increase tariffs across different sectors to fulfill his MAGA (Make America Great Again) mandate. “With Trump’s return to power, we are headed toward a new era of protectionism,” Dhar predicted, pointing out that sectors such as electronics might be adversely affected.

Furthermore, Dhar raised concerns about the future of the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework for Prosperity (IPEF), emphasising, based on Trump’s past decision to withdraw from the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), there may be uncertainty surrounding IPEF’s stability. Launched on May 23, 2022, the 14-nation bloc could face challenges ahead.

Ajay Sahai, Director General of the Federation of Indian Export Organizations (FIEO), stated, “While we might see Trump advocating for more balanced trade, disputes around tariffs are likely to arise amid rising protectionist trends and stricter immigration policies.”

Agneshwar Sen, Partner for Tax and Economic Policy (International Trade) at EY India, said that the US might strategically implement high tariffs to promote domestic manufacturing and adjust existing supply chains, potentially leading to increased tariffs on Indian exports such as textiles, chemicals, pharmaceuticals, and engineering products.

“India may need to look for alternative markets, which would be challenging, or consider retaliatory tariffs on US exports. Alternatively, we should prepare for a trade deal that is appealing to the US, not only protecting our existing interests but also facilitating new opportunities,” Sen noted.

Additionally, Srivastava pointed out that Trump’s concerns regarding outsourcing could result in policy changes affecting IT exports. H-1B visa regulations are crucial for facilitating the movement of skilled IT professionals from India. “A stricter immigration approach from Trump could potentially alter visa rules, thereby raising costs for Indian IT companies,” he explained, PTI reported.