Lok Sabha Question No. 640 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2026-02-03
Subject: Draft Seed Bill 2025
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: Shri M K Raghavan

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE & FARMERS WELFARE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE & FARMERS WELFARE

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 640 TO BE ANSWERED ON 3 RD  FEBRUARY, 2026

## DRAFT SEED BILL 2025

640. SHRI M K RAGHAVAN:

Will the Minister of AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE क ृ िष एवं िकसान कʞाण मंũी be pleased to state: (a)    whether  the  Government has examined the manner in which the draft  Seeds Bill 2025, which proposes to replace the Seeds Act of 1966, aligns with India's commitments to protect farmers' rights and biodiversity in light of these global trends; (b)  the  key  features  of  the  draft  Bill,  including  mandatory  variety  registration,  centralised accreditation, traceability and penalties, and the manner in which they would affect small and marginal farmers; (c)  whether specific safeguards have been included to ensure that traditional farming practices (such as saving, exchanging and reusing seeds) and indigenous seed diversity are protected and not adversely impacted; (d)    the  manner  in  which  the  draft  Bill  interacts  with  international  intellectual  property obligations and whether these could inadvertently facilitate corporate control over seeds; and (e)  the consultations held with farmers' groups, seed experts and States on the draft Bill and

- the timeline for finalisation and enactment, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE क ृ िष एवं िकसान कʞाण राǛ मंũी (SHRI RAMNATH THAKUR) (a): Yes, Sir. (b):  The  Bill  has  provisions  for  compulsory  registration  of  all  varieties  sold  in  the  market, accreditation  of  certification  agencies  to  ensure  uniform  standards  across  the  country, registration of seed producer, seed processing unit and dealer and distributors, registration of plant nurseries, regulation of seed sale prices under emergent situation, compulsory labelling of performance of seeds, mandatory on boarding on Central Traceability portal for traceability and rationalization of penalties for violations etc. These measures are intended to ensure the quality  of  seeds  follow  nationally  determined  standards  supplied  to  the  farmers  thereby strengthening seed quality assurance. These provisions will ensure that quality seed reaches to  farmers especially small and marginal farmers and result in increased production, higher

- income and mitigation of risk associated with seeds.

(c): The Bill explicitly safeguards the rights of farmers to grow, sow, save, exchange, sell their farm-saved seeds of any registered varieties. Further, the proposed Act will not be applicable to the farmers and exemptions have also been provided for traditional varieties and farmers' varieties. (d):  The  draft  Bill  does  not  have  any  provision  to  create  or  confer  any  intellectual  property rights over seeds. Issues relating to intellectual property are governed separately under the Protection  of  Plant  Varieties  and  Farmers'  Rights  Act  (PPV&FRA),  2001.  The  Bill  solely focuses  on  seed  quality  regulation  and  does  not  facilitate  corporate  control  over  seeds  or dilute farmer's rights.

(e):  Extensive  consultations  have  been  held  with  farmers'  groups,  seed  experts,  industry associations, and State Governments over a period of time. Pre-legislative consultation has also been conducted on draft Seed Bill and suggestions received have been examined. Due procedure as prescribed is to be followed for its finalization and enactment.

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