10 September 2026·PIB

Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan Engages Farmer Leaders Nationwide on Proposed Stronger Seed Act

In this note

1. At a Glance

Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan is engaging farmer leaders nationwide to build consensus on a proposed new Seed Act (referred to as "Seed Act 2026"), intended to replace the Seeds Act, 1966 and the Seeds (Control) Order, 1983 [1][2].
Core reform pillars: seed traceability via QR codes, stricter penalties for spurious/substandard seeds, and codified farmer rights to grow, sow, re-sow, save, exchange, share or sell farm-saved seed [1][2].
Relevant for UPSC as it intersects agri-governance reform, farmer rights vs seed-industry regulation, and legislative modernization of a 60-year-old law [2].

Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare released the draft Seeds Bill, 2025 on 12 November 2025 for public comments (window till 11 December 2025) [2].
Chouhan has since been briefing media and holding outreach with farmer leaders/organisations across states to explain provisions and address concerns amid criticism that the bill favours seed companies over cultivators [1][2].

Existing law: Seeds Act, 1966, supplemented by the Seeds (Control) Order, 1983 — governs seed quality, sale, and certification in India [2].
Ministry has long sought to replace this outdated framework; draft Seeds Bill, 2025 is the latest attempt at comprehensive reform [2].
Nationwide outreach is being conducted under the Viksit Krishi Sankalp Abhiyan (VKSA), launched 29 May 2025, targeting over 1.5 crore farmers across 700+ districts with support from 16,000 agricultural scientists [3].

Item	Detail
Nodal Ministry	Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare [1][2]
Union Minister	Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan [1][2]
Law being replaced	Seeds Act, 1966 + Seeds (Control) Order, 1983 [2]
Draft released	12 November 2025 [2]
Public comment deadline	11 December 2025 [2]
Traceability tool	QR code on every seed packet, linked to a Centralised Seed Traceability Portal [1][2]
Old penalty	Up to ₹500 [1]
Proposed new penalty	Up to ₹30 lakh fine; provision for punishment in deliberate offences [1]
Farmer education network	731 Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs) nationwide [1]
Outreach programme	Viksit Krishi Sankalp Abhiyan (VKSA), launched 29 May 2025 [3]
VKSA scale	1.5 crore+ farmers, 700+ districts, 16,000 scientists [3]

Economic

Aims to curb sale of spurious/counterfeit seeds, a major cause of crop loss and farmer indebtedness [2].
Bill also proposes to liberalise seed imports, potentially affecting domestic seed industry competitiveness [2].

Legal/Constitutional

Replaces a 1966-era statute; strengthens penal provisions (₹500 → ₹30 lakh) [1].
Statutorily protects farmers' customary right to save, re-sow, exchange, and sell farm-saved seed (without using a company brand name) [2].

Governance/Administrative

Introduces QR-code-based traceability administered via a Centralised Seed Traceability Portal — a new digital governance layer [1][2].
Relies on KVK network (731 units) for last-mile farmer education and grievance redressal [1].

Social

Farmer groups and civil society allege the bill is tilted toward corporate/agribusiness interests, especially affecting farmers practising traditional, chemical-free agriculture [2].
Traditional local seed-exchange practices are explicitly protected under the draft [1].

29 May 2025: Viksit Krishi Sankalp Abhiyan launched [3].
12 November 2025: Draft Seeds Bill, 2025 released for public comment [2].
11 December 2025: Public comment window closed [2].
Post-draft period (late 2025–2026): Chouhan conducts nationwide briefings/engagement with farmer leaders explaining "historic reforms," amid farmer-group criticism [1][2].

Draft Seeds Bill, 2025 replaces the Seeds Act, 1966 and Seeds (Control) Order, 1983 [2].
Draft released on 12 November 2025; comments open till 11 December 2025 [2].
Proposed penalty ceiling raised from ₹500 to ₹30 lakh [1].
New QR-code traceability run via the Centralised Seed Traceability Portal [1][2].
731 Krishi Vigyan Kendras to educate farmers on seed quality under the new regime [1].
Nodal ministry: Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Minister: Shivraj Singh Chouhan [1].
Outreach vehicle: Viksit Krishi Sankalp Abhiyan, launched 29 May 2025 [3].
VKSA target: 1.5 crore farmers, 700+ districts, 16,000 agricultural scientists [3].
Farmers' variety seed and export-only seed are exempted from mandatory registration [2].
Farm-saved seed cannot be sold under a company brand name, though sale itself is permitted [2].

Plant Variety Protection and Farmers' Rights Act, 2001 (PPV&FR Act) — overlapping farmer seed-rights framework [2].
National Seeds Policy, 2002 — earlier policy backdrop.
Krishi Vigyan Kendras — extension architecture referenced for implementation.
Viksit Krishi Sankalp Abhiyan — the outreach vehicle itself.
Seed certification and quality control systems in India (ICAR, NSC, State Seed Certification Agencies).
GM crops and biosafety regulation (GEAC) — related seed/biotech governance debates.
Essential Commodities Act, 1955 — earlier basis of Seeds (Control) Order, 1983.

Do not confuse Seeds Act, 1966 (quality/sale/certification) with PPV&FR Act, 2001 (plant variety/farmer IP rights) — the new bill overlaps with but does not replace the latter.
Note the bill is still a draft, not enacted law, as of the sourced press activity — avoid stating it is already in force.
Penalty figures (₹500 → ₹30 lakh) refer to the proposed ceiling, not a currently applicable one.
Ministry is Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, not Consumer Affairs (despite the Seeds Control Order's historical link to the Essential Commodities Act framework).
VKSA (outreach campaign) and the Seed Act reform are related but distinct initiatives — don't conflate campaign statistics with bill provisions.