UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — ‘Seeds Bill will not harm farmer rights’

Question 1

Under the Seeds Act, 1966, what exactly is a 'notified kind or variety' of seed?

Accepted Answer

A kind or variety declared by the Central Government by notification, after consultation with the Central Seed Committee, whose quality it is expedient to regulate for sale for purposes of agriculture

Answer

A kind or variety declared by a State Government by notification, on the recommendation of its State Seed Certification Agency, for compulsory certification within that State

Answer

A kind or variety registered by the Protection of Plant Varieties and Farmers' Rights Authority and thereafter notified as protected against unbranded sale by farmers

Answer

A kind or variety for which the Indian Council of Agricultural Research has notified minimum limits of germination and purity after multi-location trials

Question 2

Consider the following statements about the seed regulatory regime that the proposed Seeds Bill seeks to replace:
1. The Seeds (Control) Order, 1983 was issued under the Essential Commodities Act, 1955.
2. A licence to carry on business as a seed dealer under the Seeds (Control) Order, 1983 is granted by the Central Seed Committee.
3. The Central Seed Certification Board advises the Central and State Governments on all matters relating to certification and co-ordinates the functioning of the State certification agencies.
4. Minimum limits of germination and purity for a notified kind or variety are specified by the Central Government by notification in the Official Gazette.
Which of the above is/are NOT correct?

Accepted Answer

2 only

Answer

1 and 3

Answer

2 and 4

Answer

3 only

Question 3

With reference to the draft Seeds Bill, 2025 placed in the public domain for comments, consider the following:
1. It is intended to replace both the Seeds Act, 1966 and the Seeds (Control) Order, 1983.
2. It was prepared by the Department of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare under the Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare.
3. The window for submitting comments and suggestions on the draft closed on 11 December 2025.
4. The draft provides for a Central Seed Committee consisting of a chairperson and fifteen members.
Which of the above is/are NOT correct?

Accepted Answer

4 only

Answer

1 only

Answer

3 only

Answer

3 and 4

Question 4

Consider the following statements comparing the draft Seeds Bill, 2025 with the Seeds Act, 1966:
1. The maximum fine for illegal seed production under the 1966 Act was ₹500, whereas the draft Bill proposes fines of up to ₹30 lakh.
2. The draft Bill provides for imprisonment of up to three years for major violations such as the sale of spurious or unregistered seed.
3. Unlike the 1966 regime, the draft Bill mandates registration of seed varieties, producers and dealers and a QR code on seed containers generated through a centralised seed traceability portal.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Accepted Answer

1, 2 and 3

Answer

1 and 2 only

Answer

2 and 3 only

Answer

1 and 3 only

Question 5

Consider the following statements regarding farmers' seed rights under the Protection of Plant Varieties and Farmers' Rights (PPV&FR) Act, 2001 and the draft Seeds Bill, 2025:
1. The entitlement of a farmer to save, use, sow, re-sow, exchange, share or sell farm produce including seed of a protected variety is contained in Section 39 of the PPV&FR Act, 2001.
2. Under the PPV&FR Act, 2001 this entitlement extends to selling branded seed of a variety protected under that Act.
3. The draft Seeds Bill, 2025 states that its treatment of farmers' rights is in conformity with the PPV&FR Act, 2001, the bar operating only where farm-saved seed is sold under a company brand name.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Accepted Answer

1 and 3 only

Answer

1 and 2 only

Answer

2 only

Answer

1, 2 and 3

Question 6

In the assurances given on the proposed seed law, the expression 'farm-saved seed' denotes which one of the following?

Accepted Answer

Seed retained by a cultivator out of their own harvest, which may be re-sown, exchanged, shared or sold, though not under a brand name

Answer

Certified seed of notified varieties supplied to farmers at concessional rates under the Seed Village Programme for multiplication

Answer

Seed held back from the market by the Government in the National Seed Reserve to meet contingent demand after crop failure

Answer

Seed produced by a cultivator under a buy-back arrangement with a registered seed producer and returned to that producer

Question 7

Under the draft Pesticides Management Bill, 2025, a person seeking to import or manufacture a pesticide for commercial use must obtain a certificate of registration from which authority?

Accepted Answer

The Registration Committee, which also maintains the national digital register of pesticides

Answer

The Central Pesticides Board proposed to be constituted to advise the Union and State Governments

Answer

The State Government licensing authority notified under the Insecticides Rules, 1971

Answer

The Central Insecticides Laboratory functioning under the Insecticides Act, 1968

Question 8

Which one of the following best describes the role assigned to the Central Pesticides Board under the draft Pesticides Management Bill, 2025?

Accepted Answer

To advise the Central and State Governments on scientific and technical matters arising under the Act

Answer

To grant, review and cancel certificates of registration and to maintain the national digital register

Answer

To prohibit the distribution, sale or use of a pesticide or a batch of it for up to one year where risk arises

Answer

To analyse samples drawn by inspectors and report whether a pesticide is misbranded or substandard

Question 9

Under the Seeds Act, 1966, the actual work of certifying seed of a notified kind or variety is carried out by which body?

Accepted Answer

Certification agencies established by the State Governments under Section 8 of the Act

Answer

The Central Seed Certification Board established by the Central Government under the Act

Answer

The Central Seed Committee constituted by the Central Government under the Act

Answer

National Seeds Corporation Limited, the public sector undertaking under the Ministry

Question 10

The apex all-India body charged with co-ordinating the functioning of the State seed certification agencies was brought into the Seeds Act, 1966 by an amendment made in which year?

Accepted Answer

1972

Answer

1966

Answer

1968

Answer

1983

Question 11

Consider the following statements regarding the September 2026 consultation of the Union Agriculture Minister with farmers' organisations on the proposed seed and pesticide laws:
1. About twenty farmers' organisations took part in the discussions held in New Delhi on the draft Seeds Bill and the draft Pesticides Management Bill.
2. The consultation exercise followed suggestions received during the Viksit Krishi Sankalp campaign that the existing seed and pesticide laws needed an overhaul.
3. The Minister announced that, unlike the earlier round of public consultation, both draft Bills stood finalised and would be introduced without further change as all farmers' organisations had endorsed them.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Accepted Answer

1 and 2 only

Answer

1 and 3 only

Answer

2 and 3 only

Answer

1, 2 and 3

Question 12

The Sub-Mission on Seeds and Planting Material, which comprises components such as the Seed Village Programme and the National Seed Reserve, is implemented by which one of the following?

Accepted Answer

The Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, under the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare

Answer

The Department of Agricultural Research and Education, which functions through the ICAR network of institutes

Answer

The Department of Fertilizers, under the Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers, through State agencies

Answer

The Department of Rural Development, under the Ministry of Rural Development, through the district administration

UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — ‘Seeds Bill will not harm farmer rights’

Q1. Under the Seeds Act, 1966, what exactly is a 'notified kind or variety' of seed?

Q6. In the assurances given on the proposed seed law, the expression 'farm-saved seed' denotes which one of the following?

Q7. Under the draft Pesticides Management Bill, 2025, a person seeking to import or manufacture a pesticide for commercial use must obtain a certificate of registration from which authority?

Q8. Which one of the following best describes the role assigned to the Central Pesticides Board under the draft Pesticides Management Bill, 2025?

Q9. Under the Seeds Act, 1966, the actual work of certifying seed of a notified kind or variety is carried out by which body?

Q10. The apex all-India body charged with co-ordinating the functioning of the State seed certification agencies was brought into the Seeds Act, 1966 by an amendment made in which year?

Q12. The Sub-Mission on Seeds and Planting Material, which comprises components such as the Seed Village Programme and the National Seed Reserve, is implemented by which one of the following?