AgricultureEnvironment
News 7 of 23

Biochar: Carbon-Negative Solution from Farm Waste Boosts Soil Health by 10-30%

AgricultureEnvironmentScience & TechHIGH
Target:UPSC GS-IIIMPSCTeachingSSC GAPrelims HighMains HighStatic GK Link
22 Jun 2026
~2 min
Source: The Hindu
Key Data:20 million tonnes10% to 30%10% to 25%2-2.8 tCO2e62 million tonnes
Bodies:IIT-KharagpurInternational Rice Research Institute (IRRI)Embrapa Institute (Brazil)
Practice MCQs from today's news ▸
What This Article Covers

1.Biochar is produced by heating agricultural waste (like paddy straw) in low-oxygen conditions, creating a carbon-rich material that sequesters carbon for long periods.

2.Studies show biochar improves crop productivity by 10-30% and water-holding capacity by 10-25%, especially in nutrient-poor soils like black soils of Maharashtra and red soils of Kerala.

3.Each tonne of certified biochar can generate 2-2.8 tCO2e in carbon credits under the VM0042 methodology, providing additional income for farmers and supporting India's climate goals.

The Big Picture
Prelims · HighMains · High

Biochar, a carbon-rich material made by heating agricultural waste in low-oxygen conditions, offers a solution to India's twin problems of stubble burning and degraded soil. It can improve crop productivity by 10-30% and water-holding capacity by 10-25%, while also generating carbon credits (2-2.8 tCO2e per tonne) under the VM0042 methodology. This is crucial for UPSC as it links agriculture, climate change, and circular economy.

Exam Lens

Quick Exam Facts From News

Crop productivity improvement10% to 30%
Water-holding capacity improvement10% to 25%
Paddy straw burned annually in Punjab & HaryanaOver 20 million tonnes
Carbon credits per tonne of biochar2-2.8 tCO2e
India's municipal solid waste per year62 million tonnes (over 50% biodegradable)

1-Minute Revision

  • ›Crop productivity improvement: 10% to 30%
  • ›Water-holding capacity improvement: 10% to 25%
  • ›Target this Data: Crop productivity improvement: 10-30%
  • ›Target this Data: Water-holding capacity improvement: 10-25%
  • ›Target this Data: Carbon credits per tonne: 2-2.8 tCO2e
  • ›Target this Nodal Body: Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare (for policy implementation)

Mastered this topic? Test your knowledge with a full MCQ quiz.

Practice exam-style questions, track your score, and strengthen your recall.

Q1Static LinkageEasy

Which ministry/department is primarily responsible for implementing agricultural waste management and biochar promotion in India?

Q2Statement-basedHard

Consider the following statements regarding biochar:

1. Biochar is produced by heating agricultural waste in high-oxygen conditions.

2. Biochar can improve crop productivity by 10% to 30%.

3. Each tonne of certified biochar can generate 2-2.8 tonnes of CO2-equivalent in carbon credits.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Q3Data-centricMedium

According to the article, what is the estimated improvement in water-holding capacity when biochar is added to degraded soils?

Q4Application/ImpactMedium

What is the primary objective of integrating biochar production into carbon credit markets, as mentioned in the article?

All 15 MCQs ▸
Read original article from The Hindu
You finished this topic
Practice 3 MCQs from this newsNext Article
Explore Related Topics
AgricultureView Topic MCQs →EnvironmentView Topic MCQs →Science & TechView Topic MCQs →
PreviousIndia's 82.9% GenAI Talent Gap: Need for Builders, Not Just Users, Warns Quess Corp StudyNext U.S.-Iran Talks in Switzerland: 60-Day Roadmap Agreed, Strait of Hormuz Reopening Mechanism
Related Current Affairs
Economy Current Affairs

E20 Ethanol Fuel Used in 4 Crore Vehicles; Flex-Fuel Engines to End ₹22 Lakh Cr Fuel Imports

E20 ethanol-blended petrol is being used in 4 crore four-wheelers and 20 million two-wheelers without harming vehicles and with improved mileage. Union Minister Nitin Gadkari announced that automobile companies will produce flex-fuel engines capable of running on 100% ethanol, potentially saving ₹22 lakh crore in fuel imports and boosting farmers' income through higher maize prices.

Science & Tech Current Affairs

SAT-1 Serotype of Foot and Mouth Disease Returns After 60 Years; NADCP & Brucellosis Key for Prelims

After 60 years, the SAT-1 serotype of Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) has re-emerged in Europe and the Middle East, raising alarms for livestock health. India's National Animal Disease Control Programme (NADCP) aims to control FMD and Brucellosis through vaccination and biosecurity. This is critical for UPSC as it links animal disease, economic impact, and government schemes.

Environment Current Affairs

India's First Farmer Carbon Credit Payout: ₹2.5 Crore Distributed to 2,500 Farmers in Punjab & Haryana

For the first time in India, ~2,500 farmers in Punjab and Haryana have received carbon credit payments (totaling ₹2.5 crore) for adopting climate-smart agricultural practices like reducing stubble burning and economizing fertilizer use. This marks a major shift from penalizing stubble burning to economically rewarding sustainable farming, with satellite monitoring and ICAR-backed verification.

Environment Current Affairs

72% of Punjab's Groundwater Blocks in 'Red Zone' as Extraction Rate Hits 152% - Pani Bachao Scheme Offers Cash for Conservation

Punjab's groundwater crisis deepens with an extraction rate of 152%, and 72% of its 153 blocks classified as 'over-exploited'. The rice-wheat cropping system, supported by subsidised electricity and assured procurement, drives this overuse. The 'Pani Bachao, Paisa Kamao' scheme offers cash incentives for electricity conservation, but low enrolment limits impact. This is a critical issue for UPSC Environment, Agriculture, and Governance papers.

Environment Current Affairs

131 GW Canal-Top Solar Potential: MNRE Pilot Scheme, PM Surya Sarovar Yojana Boost Land-Free Renewable Energy

India's vast canal network offers a land-free path to solar power via Canal-Top Photovoltaics (CTPV). With land acquisition for solar projects becoming expensive, CTPV saves land, reduces water evaporation, and improves panel efficiency. A 2024 assessment estimates 131 GW potential, but high costs and structural challenges limit deployment. The PM Surya Sarovar Yojana (floating solar) signals growing policy interest in land-neutral solar.

Environment Current Affairs

India's Next Energy Transition: Electrifying Industrial Heat for MSMEs, Manufacturing Competitiveness

India's next energy transition phase targets electrifying industrial heat, especially for MSMEs, to boost manufacturing competitiveness, energy security, and decarbonisation. The article draws a parallel with the solar PV revolution and calls for a coordinated ecosystem of policies, financing, and cluster-level planning to scale the transition.

Environment Current Affairs

Hurricane Polo Turns Category 5; Strong El Niño May Cause 451,000 Additional Global Heat Deaths

Hurricane Polo has intensified into a Category 5 storm off Mexico's Pacific coast, with maximum sustained winds of 270 kmph. This is unfolding against an unusually strong El Niño that the WMO expects to persist through February 2027. El Niño is being watched closely because it can disrupt rainfall worldwide—the Climate Impact Lab projects 451,000 additional heat-related deaths globally, including about 15,800 in India.

Science & Tech Current Affairs

National Green Hydrogen Mission: 400-500 Buses/Trucks by 2030, Trials on 20 Highways

India's National Green Hydrogen Mission targets 400-500 hydrogen-fuelled heavy-duty buses and trucks by 2030. To achieve this, 70 vehicles have been sanctioned for trials across 20 highways, with the goal of achieving operating cost parity with diesel in 2-3 years.

Start Today's Quiz(15 Qs)