NEW DELHI, 18 January 2026: The Government of India has invited public and stakeholder comments on the Draft Pesticides Management Bill, 2025, a proposed legislation that seeks to overhaul the country’s pesticide regulatory framework by replacing the Insecticides Act, 1968 and the Insecticides Rules, 1971.
The Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare (DA&FW), under the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, said the new Bill is designed to align regulation with current technological, environmental and market realities. Stakeholders can submit their feedback until February 4, 2026, as part of the pre-legislative consultation process.
According to the ministry, the draft Bill is farmer-centric and focuses on ensuring the availability of quality pesticides while strengthening safety, accountability and transparency across the supply chain. A key feature is the introduction of digital systems to enable traceability of pesticide products, allowing regulators and farmers to track their origin and distribution channels.
The legislation also proposes stricter penalties for the manufacture and sale of spurious pesticides, a persistent issue impacting crop productivity and farmer incomes. At the same time, the government aims to decriminalise minor, procedural offences by allowing for compounding mechanisms, reducing the compliance burden on small businesses and traders. State-level authorities will be empowered to define and enforce compounding provisions.
Officials said the Bill balances regulatory oversight with ease of doing business by streamlining approvals and strengthening administrative control through technology-driven processes. Mandatory accreditation of pesticide testing laboratories has also been proposed to ensure only quality-assured products reach farmers.
“The objective is to protect farmers while promoting responsible business practices across the sector,” a senior government official said, adding that the reforms reflect the Centre’s broader push towards modernising agricultural regulations.
The draft Bill and consultation format are available on the ministry’s official website. Stakeholders have been asked to submit suggestions in a prescribed format covering personal or organisational details and section-wise comments on the Bill. Submissions can be sent via email in Word or PDF format.
Industry participants, including agrochemical manufacturers, farmer groups, state governments and testing agencies, are expected to review the proposals closely, given their implications for licensing, compliance and enforcement.
Analysts note that the reform could reshape India’s agrochemical sector by introducing higher quality standards, improving market transparency and enhancing consumer trust. However, the implementation framework and penalty structure will be critical to ensuring effective enforcement without disrupting supply chains.
The government said all comments received before the deadline will be reviewed before finalising the Bill for parliamentary consideration.
Click on the Link to see the draft copy of the Pesticides Management Bill
