Pesticides Management Bill, 2025: Revised draft but old gaps remain

Source: The post  “Pesticides Management Bill, 2025: Revised draft but old gaps remain’’ has been created, based on “Pesticides Management Bill, 2025: Revised draft but old gaps remain” published in “Down to Earth” on 10th January 2026.

UPSC Syllabus: GS Paper-3- Indian Economy

Context: The Union Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare released the draft of the Pesticides Management Bill, 2025 on 7 January 2026. The Bill aims to regulate the manufacture, import, sale, and use of pesticides in India and seeks to replace the Insecticides Act of 1968, which has been in force for over five decades.

Objective of the Bill

1. The draft legislation is intended to ensure effective regulation of the pesticide sector, minimise risks to humans, animals, non-target organisms, and the environment, and promote the use of biological pesticides and traditional knowledge-based solutions.
2. It also aims to improve transparency, traceability, and service delivery to farmers, thereby promoting ease of living.

Key Features of the Draft Bill

1. Quality and Transparency:
   1. Mandatory printing of QR codes or labels on seed packets to disclose seed health, expected performance, and producer certification.
   2. Centralised Seed Traceability Portal to track production and distribution.
   3. Value for Cultivation and Use (VCU) trials to assess varietal traits and performance, with results disclosed to farmers.
2. Institutional Architecture
   1. Central Seed Committee (CSC) with 27 members and State Seed Committees (SSC) with 15 members per state.
   2. Seed price regulation during emergencies is the responsibility of the Union government, with limited state involvement.
3. Definition of Farmer: The Bill defines a farmer as a person who cultivates or supervises land or conserves wild species.
4. Punishment and Penalties
   1. Graded penalties for offences such as the sale of non-registered seeds, ranging from written notices to fines up to ₹30 lakh and cancellation of registration.
   2. Lack of compensation provisions for farmers; experts propose a Seed Compensation Fund to channel penalties for farmer relief.
5. The Bill regulates the entire lifecycle of pesticides, from manufacture to use. It provides for the constitution of a Central Pesticides Board, which will recommend pesticides for inclusion in the Act, define good manufacturing practices, set guidelines for pesticide disposal, and frame protocols for handling poisoning incidents.
   1. State governments can issue notifications to prohibit the sale, distribution, or use of pesticides or specific batches for a period not exceeding one year, which are then reviewed by a Registration Committee formed by the Union government.
   2. The Registration Committee includes members from ICAR, Drugs Controller General of India, Ministry of Environment, Chemicals and Fertilizers, and a Plant Protection Advisor.

Major Gaps and Concerns

1. Limited Powers for State Governments: State governments do not have regulatory or punitive powers, which limits their ability to effectively act against unsafe or banned pesticides.
2. Weak Language on Risk Minimisation: The Bill uses the phrase “strive to minimise risk” instead of mandating actual risk minimisation, weakening enforceability.
3. Absence of Criminal Liability: There is no provision to hold manufacturers, distributors, or marketers criminally liable in cases of misuse, poisoning of water bodies, or suicides linked to pesticide use.
4. Missing Provisions for Price Regulation and Redressal Mechanisms: The draft does not address pricing of pesticides or mechanisms for compensating affected parties.
5. Delayed Legislative Reform: The Bill has faced repeated delays since 2008, with previous drafts introduced in 2018 and 2020, indicating slow progress in updating India’s pesticide regulatory framework.
6. Centralised Decision-making: The Central Pesticides Board functions in an advisory capacity, and state governments are excluded from key decision-making processes, affecting accountability.

Way Forward

1. State governments should be granted greater regulatory and enforcement powers, including the ability to impose penalties.
2. Clear criminal liability provisions should be included to ensure accountability of manufacturers, distributors, and marketers.
3. Stronger legal language should mandate actual risk minimisation rather than aspirational targets.
4. Price regulation and grievance redressal mechanisms for farmers should be incorporated.
5. Central and state coordination should be strengthened to ensure timely and effective implementation.

Conclusion: The Pesticides Management Bill, 2025 is a step towards modernising India’s pesticide regulatory system. However, its current draft leaves critical gaps in state powers, enforcement, accountability, and criminal liability. Addressing these gaps is essential to protect farmers, public health, and the environment.

Question: Examine the key features of the Pesticides Management Bill, 2025. Discuss the gaps in the draft legislation and suggest measures to make it more effective in regulating pesticides in India.