Archive · 7 Jan 2026
India to Introduce Seeds and Pesticides Bills
The Indian government is planning to introduce two new bills in the coming years.
The first is the Seeds Bill 2025, which will replace a very old law from 1966.
This bill aims to make sure that seeds are of good quality and can be traced easily, using things like QR codes on seed packets.
Farmers will still be able to save and share their own seeds without needing to register.
The government has already received many suggestions about this bill and will review them.
The second bill is the Pesticides Management Bill 2025, which will replace laws from 1968 and 1971.
This bill is also farmer-centric and includes features like transparency, traceability, and the use of technology to ensure that only quality pesticides are available to farmers.
The government is inviting suggestions from the public for both bills.
The Seeds Bill will be introduced in February 2025, and the Pesticides Bill will be introduced after that, with a deadline for suggestions set for February 4, 2026.
Government to introduce Seeds Bill 2025 in February 2025 to replace the 1966 Seeds Act.
Seeds Bill includes mandatory registration for seed varieties, dealers, and producers with QR codes for traceability, while allowing farmers to save and exchange farm-saved seeds without registration.
Penalties for violations of the Seeds Bill range from fines up to Rs 30 lakh to imprisonment up to 3 years.
Pesticides Management Bill 2025 aims to replace the Insecticides Act 1968 and Insecticides Rules 1971, focusing on quality pesticides, transparency, and traceability.
Public invited to submit suggestions for both bills, with deadlines set for December 11, 2024 (Seeds Bill) and February 4, 2026 (Pesticides Bill).
- Who
- Indian Government, Department of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare
- What
- Introduction of Seeds Bill 2025 and Pesticides Management Bill 2025
- When
- February 2025 (Seeds Bill), February 2026 (Pesticides Bill)
- Where
- India
- Why
- To replace outdated laws, ensure quality and traceability of seeds and pesticides, and promote ease of living and doing business
- Bill Name
- Seeds Bill 2025, Pesticides Management Bill 2025
- Target Introduction
- February 2025 (Seeds Bill), February 2026 (Pesticides Bill)
- Suggestions Received
- 9,000 (Seeds Bill), Deadline February 4, 2026 (Pesticides Bill)
- Current Laws
- Seeds Act 1966, Insecticides Act 1968 and Insecticides Rules 1971
- Penalties
- Fines up to Rs 30 lakh, imprisonment up to 3 years (Seeds Bill), Enhanced penalties (Pesticides Bill)
- Public Comment Deadline
- December 11, 2024 (Seeds Bill), February 4, 2026 (Pesticides Bill)
- Key Features
- Mandatory registration, QR codes, farmer seed exchange allowed (Seeds Bill), Transparency, traceability, digital methods, accreditation of testing laboratories (Pesticides Bill)
