Discuss the need to replace the Insecticides Act, 1968 with a new pesticide regulatory framework. What are the key features of the Pesticides Management Bill, 2026?

Q. Discuss the need to replace the Insecticides Act, 1968 with a new pesticide regulatory framework. What are the key features of the Pesticides Management Bill, 2026? (15 marks, 250-350 words)

The Insecticides Act, 1968, framed in the early Green Revolution years, regulates a market transformed since — new molecules, bio-pesticides, e-commerce sales and spurious inputs. Successive attempts to replace it (Bills of 2008 and 2020) lapsed [1][2], and the Pesticides Management Bill, 2026, now in consultation, seeks to close this five-decade regulatory gap.

Why the 1968 Act needs replacement - Narrow scope: it centres on "insecticides", inadequately covering the full pesticide basket, bio-pesticides and pest control operations [2]. - Weak deterrence: penalties fixed decades ago are trivial against the losses spurious and adulterated pesticides inflict on farmers [2]. - Farmer-safety deficit: no statutory compensation mechanism for crop or health damage; the 1968 framework lacks a clear precautionary power to act quickly on hazardous molecules [2]. - Information asymmetry: no mandate for label transparency, traceability or accredited testing laboratories, leaving farmers dependent on dealer advice [3]. - Compliance burden: minor procedural lapses attract criminal liability, contrary to the Jan Vishwas decriminalisation reform now guiding economic legislation [4].

Key features of the 2026 Bill - Comprehensive coverage of manufacture, import, sale, storage, distribution, use and disposal of pesticides [3]. - Institutional architecture: a Central Pesticides Board for scientific advice and a Registration Committee assessing every pesticide for safety, efficacy and need [2]. - Farmer-centric safeguards: licensing of manufacturers and dealers, accreditation of testing laboratories, and transparency/traceability provisions; household users remain exempt [2][3]. - Stronger penalties with graded liability — unlicensed operations attracted up to three years' imprisonment or ₹40 lakh fine in the 2020 template — alongside Jan Vishwas-aligned rationalisation of minor offences [2][4]. - Price regulation and precautionary powers, including temporary prohibition of hazardous pesticides and suspension of suspect stock pending testing [2]. - Consultative drafting: circulated to States and Ministries and opened to public comment, with data-protection of registration data under debate [4].

Modernising pesticide law is thus simultaneously a farmer-welfare, food-safety and ease-of-doing-business reform. Timely introduction in Parliament, backed by strong State-level enforcement capacity and extension advice on judicious use, would align India's input regulation with SDG-2 and SDG-3 while safeguarding soil and human health.

(~330 words)

Sources: 1. The Pesticide Management Bill, 2008 — PRS Legislative Research — earlier replacement attempt, introduced 2008 and withdrawn 2020 2. The Pesticide Management Bill, 2020 — PRS Legislative Research — Central Pesticides Board, Registration Committee, licensing, household exemption, price regulation, 60-day sale halt, penalties up to 3 years/₹40 lakh 3. Draft Pesticides Management Bill (text) — Department of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare, via PIB — scope, laboratory accreditation, transparency and traceability provisions 4. Government invites public comments on Draft Pesticides Management Bill — PIB, Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare — public/State consultation process, Jan Vishwas alignment, data-protection suggestions