UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — Government invites public comments on Draft Pesticides Management Bill, 2025
Q1. The Draft Pesticides Management Bill, 2025 released for public consultation proposes to replace how many existing instruments of the current pesticide regulatory framework?
- A. One
- B. Two
- C. Three
- D. Four
Q2. With reference to the Draft Pesticides Management Bill, 2025 and the existing Insecticides Act, 1968, consider the following statements:
1. Both the Draft Bill, 2025 and the Insecticides Act, 1968 are administered by the Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare.
2. In addition to the parent Act, the 2025 draft also seeks to repeal the Insecticides Rules, 1971.
3. Unlike the Insecticides Act, 1968, the 2025 draft was circulated for pre-legislative public consultation before enactment.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- Both the Draft Bill, 2025 and the Insecticides Act, 1968 are administered by the Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare.
- In addition to the parent Act, the 2025 draft also seeks to repeal the Insecticides Rules, 1971.
- Unlike the Insecticides Act, 1968, the 2025 draft was circulated for pre-legislative public consultation before enactment.
- A. 1 and 2 only
- B. 2 and 3 only
- C. 1 and 3 only
- D. 1, 2 and 3
Q3. With reference to the pre-legislative consultation on the Draft Pesticides Management Bill, 2025, consider the following statements:
1. The draft was released by the Department of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare for inviting public comments.
2. The last date notified for submitting comments was 4 February 2026.
3. The draft was referred to a Select Committee of the Rajya Sabha before public comments were invited.
4. The exercise followed the practice of circulating the draft for stakeholder feedback prior to its introduction in Parliament.
Which of the statements given above is/are NOT correct?
- The draft was released by the Department of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare for inviting public comments.
- The last date notified for submitting comments was 4 February 2026.
- The draft was referred to a Select Committee of the Rajya Sabha before public comments were invited.
- The exercise followed the practice of circulating the draft for stakeholder feedback prior to its introduction in Parliament.
- A. 3 only
- B. 3 and 4 only
- C. 1 and 2 only
- D. 2 and 3 only
Q4. The Draft Pesticides Management Bill, 2025 was placed in the public domain for pre-legislative consultation by which of the following?
- A. Department of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare, Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare
- B. Central Insecticides Board & Registration Committee
- C. Department of Chemicals & Petrochemicals, Ministry of Chemicals & Fertilizers
- D. Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change
Q5. Comparing the scope of the Draft Pesticides Management Bill, 2025 with the Insecticides Act, 1968, consider the following statements:
1. Unlike the 1968 Act's narrow focus on 'insecticides', the 2025 draft brings pesticides of both chemical and biological origin under one framework.
2. The promotion of biological pesticides and integrated pest management is a feature carried over unchanged from the Insecticides Act, 1968.
3. The 2025 draft regulates the full lifecycle of pesticides, from manufacture through to disposal.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- Unlike the 1968 Act's narrow focus on 'insecticides', the 2025 draft brings pesticides of both chemical and biological origin under one framework.
- The promotion of biological pesticides and integrated pest management is a feature carried over unchanged from the Insecticides Act, 1968.
- The 2025 draft regulates the full lifecycle of pesticides, from manufacture through to disposal.
- A. 1 and 2 only
- B. 1 and 3 only
- C. 2 and 3 only
- D. 1, 2 and 3
Q6. The Draft Pesticides Management Bill, 2025 seeks to regulate the entire lifecycle of pesticides — manufacture, import, labelling, sale, transport, use and disposal. How many activities in this lifecycle are enumerated?
- A. Five
- B. Six
- C. Seven
- D. Eight
Q7. Under the Draft Pesticides Management Bill, 2025, a pesticide inspector may seize the stock and stop its sale for a maximum of how many days, pending laboratory test results?
- A. 30 days
- B. 45 days
- C. 60 days
- D. 90 days
Q8. In the context of the Draft Pesticides Management Bill, 2025, the term 'compounding of offences' most precisely means:
- A. Settling certain offences by payment of a specified sum, thereby avoiding prosecution
- B. Combining several separate offences into a single aggravated charge for trial
- C. Automatically enhancing the punishment awarded to habitual/repeat offenders
- D. Transferring the power to prosecute pesticide offences entirely to State governments
Q9. Under the Insecticides Act, 1968 framework, before a pesticide can be manufactured, imported or sold in India, its registration is granted by which single body?
- A. The Registration Committee of the CIB&RC
- B. The Central Insecticides Board
- C. The State Licensing Authority
- D. The Directorate of Plant Protection, Quarantine & Storage
Q10. Under the Draft Pesticides Management Bill, 2025, the Registration Committee must ordinarily decide a registration application within 12 months, extendable up to a maximum of how many months?
- A. 15 months
- B. 18 months
- C. 24 months
- D. 36 months
Q11. The Pesticide Management Bill, 2020 — the immediate predecessor of the 2025 draft — was introduced in Parliament under the charge of which ministry?
- A. Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare
- B. Ministry of Chemicals & Fertilizers
- C. Ministry of Health & Family Welfare
- D. Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change
Q12. Under the Draft Pesticides Management Bill, 2025, the enhanced penalties for offences such as the sale of spurious pesticides — a key farmer-protection safeguard — are to be defined by which authority?
- A. State-level authorities, within the framework of the law
- B. The Central Insecticides Board
- C. The Registration Committee
- D. The National Green Tribunal