IIndia is the second largest agro-based economy with year-round crop cultivation and generates a large amount of agricultural waste, including crop residues. According to Ministry of New and Renewable Energy, India creates an average of 500 million tonnes (Mt) of crop residue per year. The bulk of crop residue is used for feed, fuel, and other home and industrial reasons. However, there is still a 140 million tonne surplus, of which 92 million tonnes is burned in India, causing excessive particulate matter emissions and air pollution. Crop residue burning has developed into a significant environmental issue that affects human health and contributes to global warming. Stubble burning of crop residues in India generates nearly 150 million tons of carbon dioxide (CO2 ), more than 9 million tons of carbon monoxide (CO), a quarter-million tons of sulphur oxides (SOX), one million tons of particulate matter and more than half a million tons of black carbon. The solution to crop residue burning lies in the effective execution of the sustainable management practices with government interventions and policies. India is the world’s second-largest producer of rice and wheat and these two crops are the major contributors to agricultural waste. Crop residues can be beneficially used in a variety of agro-based applications as well as other industrial operations. The cost of collecting, processing, and transportation, on the other hand, can be significantly higher than the revenue generated by the residue’s beneficial use. Due to the organic makeup of crop residues, they can actually be used for the benefit of society. This study aims to highlight the current state of the various practises used for crop residue disposal in India and explore a number of alternative methods for crop residue valorisation. This study provides a thorough understanding of the negative impacts of mismanagement of crop residues via stubble burning in India and other more promising management methods, such as using bio-energy. If widely adopted, these strategies could not only lessen the negative environmental effects of crop residue management but also create additional value for the global agricultural industry.