India’s Pesticides Management Bill, 2025: How It Differs from the Insecticides Act, 1968

08 January 2026, New Delhi: India’s proposed Pesticides Management Bill, 2025 represents the most significant overhaul of pesticide regulation since the country enacted the Insecticides Act, 1968, a law framed in the early years of the Green Revolution. While the older legislation was designed to control the manufacture and sale of insecticides at a time of acute food shortages, the new Bill reflects a far more complex agricultural and environmental reality—one shaped by climate stress, global trade, public health concerns and growing scrutiny of chemical inputs.

One of the most fundamental shifts lies in the scope of regulation itself. The 1968 law focused narrowly on insecticides, whereas the new Bill brings all pesticides—chemical and biological—under a single regulatory framework. This includes plant growth regulators, post-harvest protectants, household-use pesticides and substances used during storage and transport. The change acknowledges that pesticide use today extends well beyond crop fields and has implications across food systems, ecosystems and public spaces.

From product control to risk-based governance

The regulatory philosophy underpinning the new Bill marks a clear departure from the past. Under the Insecticides Act, approvals were largely product-centric, with limited scope for reassessment once a pesticide entered the market. The Pesticides Management Bill introduces a formal definition of risk, linking toxicity with exposure and environmental impact. This enables regulators to act even when scientific evidence is still evolving, particularly where there is a threat of serious or irreversible harm to human health or the environment.

This shift is especially significant in a context where pesticide-related concerns—ranging from residue levels to poisoning incidents—have become increasingly visible. By embedding precaution into the law, the Bill provides authorities with greater flexibility to respond to emerging risks rather than relying on delayed or reactive interventions.

New institutions, digital systems and faster decisions

Another major break from the 1968 framework is institutional and procedural. The earlier law often suffered from overlapping responsibilities and weak coordination. The new Bill clearly separates policy advice from regulatory decision-making through the creation of a Central Pesticides Board and a Registration Committee. While the Board advises governments on scientific and technical matters, the Registration Committee functions as the gatekeeper for pesticide approvals, reviews and cancellations.

Equally important is the shift to digital governance. Registration and licensing applications will be processed entirely online, supported by statutory timelines for approvals. For generic pesticides, the Bill introduces deemed registration if authorities fail to take a decision within a prescribed period—an explicit attempt to reduce regulatory uncertainty and long delays that were common under the old regime.

Stronger enforcement, but with calibrated penalties

The enforcement architecture under the new Bill is both tougher and more nuanced. While the Insecticides Act relied heavily on criminal prosecution, the proposed law introduces graded penalties, allowing minor or technical violations to be addressed through monetary fines and compounding. This is intended to reduce harassment and improve ease of doing business without diluting regulatory oversight.

At the same time, penalties for serious offences have been significantly strengthened. Illegal manufacture, misbranding, sale of unregistered or banned pesticides, and violations resulting in death or grievous injury attract heavy fines, imprisonment and cancellation of registrations and licences. The Bill also places greater emphasis on surveillance, mandating states to report pesticide poisoning cases and treat them as a public health issue rather than merely a compliance failure.

A broader shift towards safety and sustainability

Environmental protection and worker safety, which occupied limited space in the 1968 law, are central to the new framework. The Bill mandates standards for safe disposal, residue monitoring, advertising practices and worker training, while explicitly recognising the need to protect beneficial organisms such as pollinators and soil fauna. It also sends a strong policy signal by promoting biological pesticides, traditional knowledge-based solutions and integrated pest management practices.

In moving beyond the Insecticides Act, 1968, the Pesticides Management Bill, 2025 signals a deeper shift in India’s approach to pesticide regulation—from control to risk management, from opacity to transparency, and from reactive enforcement to preventive oversight. Whether this transition delivers on its promise will ultimately depend on how effectively the law is implemented across states, institutions and a sector that remains central to India’s food security.

Also Read: Government Of India Invites Public Comments on Draft Pesticides Management Bill, 2025

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