On January 7, 2026, the Agriculture Ministry released the draft Pesticides Management Bill, 2025. This new bill aims to replace the old Insecticides Act of 1968 and Insecticides Rules of 1971. It plans to impose tougher penalties for violations and bring fresh reforms to protect farmers and control spurious pesticides. The bill is farmer-centric and introduces transparency and traceability measures. It uses digital technology to make processes faster and safer. One key feature is the mandatory accreditation of testing laboratories to ensure only quality pesticides reach farmers. Offences will face stricter punishment, with penalties outlined by State-level authorities. The bill balances farmers' ease of living with industry needs, while strengthening pesticide management across India. The Ministry has invited all stakeholders and the public to submit their comments and suggestions by February 4, 2026. The draft is available on the Ministry’s website: https://agriwelfare.gov.in. Comments can be sent via email to pp1.pesticides@gov.in, rajbir.yadava@gov.in, or jyoti.uttam@gov.in in MS Word or PDF formats. Ankur Aggarwal, chairman of CropLife India, said, "We are currently in the process of examining the draft Pesticides Management Bill 2025 (revised 2020 bill). We shall arrive at a consolidated view of the industry and share a detailed response in due course."