Air pollution in India is a significant challenge, with anthropogenic biomass burning (ABB) being a major and poorly understood source. ABB contributes to severe health and climate impacts by affecting air quality, visibility, atmospheric chemistry, the Earth's radiation budget, and biogeochemical cycles. The composition, chemistry, and regional dynamics of ABB emissions are still not fully understood, limiting effective policy and research interventions. ABB sources in India include cooking, heating, open waste burning, and crop residue burning (CRB) in the Indo-Gangetic Plain (IGP) during pre- and post-monsoon seasons. CRB, along with other episodic ABB events and stagnant meteorology, leads to severe air quality issues and poor visibility in the IGP. During winters, ABB contributes significantly to aerosol oxidative potential in Delhi, indicating serious health implications. Meta-analysis of data from source apportionment studies shows that ABB contributes over 24% to PM10 in several Indian cities, with higher contributions to PM2.5 and PM1 in certain regions. Spatio-temporal variations in ABB sources and composition require region-specific solutions through airshed-based management. ABB emissions include primary particulates and precursor gases, with chemical composition influenced by biomass types, fire behavior, and combustion stages. BB emissions contain carbonaceous particulates (OC and EC), inorganics, and gases. Inorganics make up about 12-15% of BB particulates, dominated by alkali earth species and halides. Gaseous emissions include CO, CO2, methane, and various VOCs, which contribute to atmospheric chemistry and climate change. BB emissions are traced using chemical tracers such as levoglucosan, vanillic acid, and syringic acid, which help identify the source of emissions. Ground-based measurements and satellite data are used to study BB emissions, with methods including isotopic analysis, diagnostic ratios, and remote sensing. These methods help quantify BB contributions and understand their impact on air quality and climate. The study highlights the need for region-specific strategies to address the challenges posed by ABB in India.Air pollution in India is a significant challenge, with anthropogenic biomass burning (ABB) being a major and poorly understood source. ABB contributes to severe health and climate impacts by affecting air quality, visibility, atmospheric chemistry, the Earth's radiation budget, and biogeochemical cycles. The composition, chemistry, and regional dynamics of ABB emissions are still not fully understood, limiting effective policy and research interventions. ABB sources in India include cooking, heating, open waste burning, and crop residue burning (CRB) in the Indo-Gangetic Plain (IGP) during pre- and post-monsoon seasons. CRB, along with other episodic ABB events and stagnant meteorology, leads to severe air quality issues and poor visibility in the IGP. During winters, ABB contributes significantly to aerosol oxidative potential in Delhi, indicating serious health implications. Meta-analysis of data from source apportionment studies shows that ABB contributes over 24% to PM10 in several Indian cities, with higher contributions to PM2.5 and PM1 in certain regions. Spatio-temporal variations in ABB sources and composition require region-specific solutions through airshed-based management. ABB emissions include primary particulates and precursor gases, with chemical composition influenced by biomass types, fire behavior, and combustion stages. BB emissions contain carbonaceous particulates (OC and EC), inorganics, and gases. Inorganics make up about 12-15% of BB particulates, dominated by alkali earth species and halides. Gaseous emissions include CO, CO2, methane, and various VOCs, which contribute to atmospheric chemistry and climate change. BB emissions are traced using chemical tracers such as levoglucosan, vanillic acid, and syringic acid, which help identify the source of emissions. Ground-based measurements and satellite data are used to study BB emissions, with methods including isotopic analysis, diagnostic ratios, and remote sensing. These methods help quantify BB contributions and understand their impact on air quality and climate. The study highlights the need for region-specific strategies to address the challenges posed by ABB in India.