SDG 2: Zero Hunger | SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being | SDG 15: Life on Land
Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare | Central Pesticides Board | National Statistics Office (NSO)
The Department of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare has released a draft Pesticides Management Bill, 2025 for public comments. It is a legislative framework designed to regulate the entire lifecycle of pesticides in India—from manufacture and import to disposal. Replacing the archaic Insecticides Act, 1968, this Bill prioritizes the availability of safe and effective pesticides while minimizing risks to human health, animals, and the environment. It specifically endeavors to promote biological pesticides and those based on traditional knowledge to encourage indigenous manufacturing and integrated pest management (IPM).
The Bill establishes a robust two-tier regulatory structure:
Central Pesticides Board: A multi-sectoral body including representatives from Agriculture, Health, and Environment ministries to advise the government on safety standards, disposal criteria, and the inclusion of new molecules in the official Schedule.
Registration Committee: A technical committee tasked with scrutinizing pesticide applications in a mandatory digital mode, evaluating them based on safety, efficacy, and necessity before granting a certificate of registration.
Digital Transparency: Provisions for a National Register of Pesticides and online tracking of manufacture, stock, and sales records to curb the distribution of falsified or illegal products.
Deemed Registration: To prevent bureaucratic delays, if the Committee fails to decide on a complete application for a "generic pesticide" within 18 months, the certificate is deemed to have been granted. This mechanism ensures that bureaucratic delays do not stifle market competition or prevent farmers from accessing affordable alternatives to patented or high-cost molecules.
Surveillance and Protection: A defined framework for reporting and analyzing poisoning occurrences and a dedicated plan for medical facilities to handle such exigencies.
Policy Relevance
The Pesticides Management Bill is central to India’s vision of Agri-Sustainability and “Atmanirbhar Bharat” in the chemical sector. It aligns with the National Mission on Natural Farming by providing a legal pathway to exempt and promote bio-pesticides from the rigorous data requirements of synthetic chemicals.
Strategic Impact for India:
Food Safety Compliance: By prohibiting the registration of any pesticide whose Maximum Residue Limits (MRLs) are not specified under the Food Safety and Standards Act (FSSAI), the Bill ensures that India’s agricultural exports remain globally competitive and safe.
Enhanced Penalties for Spurious Products: The Bill introduces stringent fines ranging from ₹10 lakh to ₹50 lakh and imprisonment up to 5 years for fraudulent misrepresentation or manufacturing banned molecules, a major deterrent against “illegal” pesticides.
Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI): Mandating digital-only applications and monthly reporting of sales creates a “traceability spine” for the agriculture sector, enabling real-time monitoring of pesticide use across various agro-climatic zones.
Worker Welfare: For the first time, it mandates standards for training and working conditions for workers (manual or unskilled) involved in handling toxic pesticides, addressing a critical gap in occupational health.
Follow the full text of the Bill here: Pesticides Management Bill, 2025