With reference to the transboundary haze in Southeast Asia, consider the following statements: 1. The smoke originated primarily from the regions of Kalimantan and Sumatra. 2. Over 12,000 hotspots were recorded in Indonesia in August 2026. 3. The haze is exacerbated by El Nino-induced dry weather. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Haze Hits Singapore: Air Quality Plummets, Matching 2019 Crisis Levels

GS3Economy · S&T · Environment · Security· Land reforms· Prelims· 15 September 2026

Transboundary pollution and climate drivers like El Nino: a GS3 environmental governance and regional cooperation case study.

Why in news

Singapore and Malaysia are experiencing severe transboundary haze due to wildfires in Indonesia, with air quality matching 2019 crisis levels.

Background

Over 9,000 hotspots were recorded in Indonesia in August 2026, with more than 7,000 recorded by mid-September. The haze is exacerbated by El Nino-induced dry weather and smoke drifting from Kalimantan and Sumatra.

Facts for Prelims

FactOver 9,000 hotspots were recorded in Indonesia in August 2026
PlaceKalimantan and Sumatra are the Indonesian regions where smoke originated
S&TEl Nino is identified as a driver for drier weather and increased wildfire risk
BodyASEAN Specialised Meteorological Centre is the body monitoring the transboundary smoke haze

Prelims practice question

With reference to the transboundary haze in Southeast Asia, consider the following statements:

The smoke originated primarily from the regions of Kalimantan and Sumatra.
Over 12,000 hotspots were recorded in Indonesia in August 2026.
The haze is exacerbated by El Nino-induced dry weather.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a)1 only
(b)3 only
(c)1 and 3 only
(d)2 and 3 only

Show answer

Answer: (c) 1 and 3 only — Statements 1 and 3 are correct. Statement 2 is incorrect: Over 9,000 hotspots were recorded in August 2026.

For Mains

Q. Discuss the challenges in managing transboundary air pollution in Southeast Asia and the role of regional cooperation in mitigating wildfire-induced haze.

Dimensions to cover in your answer

Institutional bottleneck: Lack of binding enforcement mechanisms in ASEAN's haze management framework
Climate-policy nexus: El Nino-driven droughts intensifying land-clearing fires in Kalimantan and Sumatra
Diplomatic friction: Balancing sovereign land-use rights with regional environmental health obligations

Keywords: transboundary pollution · El Nino · ASEAN cooperation · environmental governance · wildfire management

Read the full news →Report a mistake in this note Source: NDTV ↗Also: GS3 · Pollution (air, water, plastic)

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