The Government of India has invited public comments on the Draft Pesticides Management Bill, 2025 through the Department of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare under the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare. The proposed legislation is intended to replace the Insecticides Act, 1968 and the Insecticides Rules, 1971.
The move reflects an effort to update the regulatory framework in line with current agricultural practices and administrative needs. Stakeholders and members of the public can submit suggestions until February 4, 2026.
The Draft Pesticides Management Bill, 2025 seeks to repeal the Insecticides Act, 1968 along with its associated rules notified in 1971. The existing legislation has governed pesticide regulation in India for more than 5 decades.
According to the Department of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare, the replacement is aimed at aligning regulations with present-day scientific, administrative, and technological requirements. The new Bill introduces updated definitions and regulatory mechanisms suited to the modern agricultural ecosystem.
The draft legislation is described as farmer-centric, with a focus on ensuring the supply of quality pesticides. Provisions related to transparency and traceability have been incorporated to improve service delivery to farmers.
The Bill also mandates the accreditation of testing laboratories to ensure that only quality-approved pesticides reach the market. These steps aim to strengthen quality control across the pesticide supply chain.
One of the key features of the Draft Pesticides Management Bill, 2025 is the decriminalisation of minor offences. Petty offences may be compounded instead of attracting criminal prosecution.
The Bill proposes higher monetary penalties to act as a deterrent against violations such as the sale of spurious pesticides. State-level authorities will be empowered to define compounding provisions, supporting administrative efficiency.
As part of the pre-legislative consultation process, the draft Bill and a prescribed feedback format have been made available on the Ministry’s official website. The Government has invited comments and suggestions from stakeholders, industry participants, and the general public.
Submissions can be sent via email within the specified consultation window. The deadline for submitting comments is February 4, 2026.
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The Draft Pesticides Management Bill, 2025 represents a comprehensive update to India’s pesticide regulation framework. It proposes the replacement of long-standing legislation with provisions focused on quality assurance, regulatory efficiency, and administrative clarity.
The inclusion of digital processes, stricter penalties, and laboratory accreditation reflects evolving regulatory priorities. The ongoing public consultation process allows stakeholders to contribute to the final shape of the proposed law.
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Published on: Jan 8, 2026, 10:48 AM IST
Akshay Shivalkar
Akshay Shivalkar is a financial content specialist who strategises and creates SEO-optimised content on the stock market, mutual funds, and other investment products. With experience in fintech and mutual funds, he simplifies complex financial concepts to help investors make informed decisions through his writing.
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