The Union Agriculture Ministry has officially released the Draft Seeds Bill 2025, inviting public feedback until December 11. This Bill aims to modernize seed regulation by amending the Seeds Act of 1966 and the Seeds (Control) Order of 1983, with a focus on ensuring quality seeds for farmers while reducing compliance burdens for the seed industry.
India's seed sector has witnessed significant evolution since the 1960s, driven by advancements in biotechnology, hybridization, commercial seed processing, and international trade. According to the Agriculture Ministry, the national requirement for seeds in 2023-24 was 462.31 lakh quintals, while the availability was 508.60 lakh quintals, resulting in a surplus of 46.29 lakh quintals. Industry associations argue that the 1966 Act is outdated and does not adequately address contemporary scientific and commercial realities.
The Bill distinctly defines key players such as farmers, dealers, distributors, and producers, establishing regulatory clarity throughout the supply chain.
Two statutory bodies are proposed:
The Central Committee will recommend standards including:
The State Committees will provide advice on the registration of seed producers, dealers, nurseries, and processing units.
The Bill mandates the registration of seed processing units with the State government to ensure quality control. However, this may increase operational costs for small seed entrepreneurs. To facilitate compliance for companies operating across multiple states, a Central Accreditation System may be introduced, which would be merit-based, transparent, and uniform.
The Bill establishes the position of a Registrar responsible for maintaining a National Register of Seed Varieties under the Central Seed Committee. Additionally, field trials to determine the Value for Cultivation and Use (VCU) have been standardized in the Bill.
Both Central and State seed testing laboratories will be strengthened to:
Seed inspectors will be endowed with search-and-seizure powers under the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, thereby ensuring stronger enforcement against violations.
The new draft significantly revises the penalty framework from the 2019 draft. The Bill categorizes offences as trivial, minor, or major, each with corresponding penalties. This enhanced penal architecture reflects the government’s commitment to combat seed fraud and uphold quality standards.
The Bill reaffirms that farmers have the right to save, use, exchange, and sell farm-saved seeds, though not under a brand name. This is in line with long-standing protections in Indian law. Furthermore, the draft connects seed regulation to the Protection of Plant Varieties and Farmers’ Rights (PPV&FR) Act 2001, aiming to harmonize quality norms with intellectual property rights.
Farmers’ unions, including the All India Kisan Sabha, have expressed concerns regarding the Bill, highlighting issues such as:
These groups insist that the Bill must complement, rather than undermine, India's biodiversity and farmers' rights legal framework.
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