UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — Centre seeks comments on draft Pesticides Bill

Q1. With reference to the draft Pesticides Management Bill, 2025, consider the following functions: 1. Advising the central and state governments on scientific and technical matters arising under the Act. 2. Maintaining the national digital register of registered pesticides. 3. Framing criteria for good manufacturing practices for pesticide manufacturers. 4. Framing protocols to handle pesticide poisoning cases. Which of the above are correctly identified as functions of the proposed Central Pesticides Board?

  1. Advising the central and state governments on scientific and technical matters arising under the Act.
  2. Maintaining the national digital register of registered pesticides.
  3. Framing criteria for good manufacturing practices for pesticide manufacturers.
  4. Framing protocols to handle pesticide poisoning cases.
  • A. 1, 3 and 4 only
  • B. 1, 2 and 3 only
  • C. 2 and 4 only
  • D. 1, 2, 3 and 4

Q2. The draft Pesticides Management Bill, 2025, released for public consultation in January 2026, seeks to replace which one of the following existing statutes?

  • A. The Insecticides Act, 1968
  • B. The Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006
  • C. The Environment (Protection) Act, 1986
  • D. The Agricultural Produce (Grading and Marking) Act, 1937

Q3. Which one of the following has released the draft Pesticides Management Bill, 2025 for stakeholder and public comments?

  • A. Department of Chemicals and Petrochemicals, Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers
  • B. Department of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare, Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare
  • C. Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change
  • D. Department of Health Research, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare

Q4. With reference to the draft Pesticides Management Bill, 2025, what is the purpose of the Central Fund proposed under the Bill?

  • A. To subsidise the procurement of bio-pesticides by small and marginal farmers
  • B. To provide ex gratia payment to persons, or their legal heirs, who have suffered hurt, grievous hurt or death due to pesticide poisoning
  • C. To finance pesticide-residue testing laboratories in State Agricultural Universities
  • D. To meet the administrative expenditure of the Central Pesticides Board and the Registration Committee

Q5. As per the draft Pesticides Management Bill, 2025, the proposed Registration Committee is to include representatives from the following bodies: 1. Drugs Controller General of India 2. Indian Council of Agricultural Research 3. Reserve Bank of India 4. Department of Chemicals and Petrochemicals Which of the above is/are NOT correctly identified?

  1. Drugs Controller General of India
  2. Indian Council of Agricultural Research
  3. Reserve Bank of India
  4. Department of Chemicals and Petrochemicals
  • A. 3 only
  • B. 1 and 3
  • C. 3 and 4
  • D. 2 and 4