New Seed & Pesticide Acts 2026 Announced in Uttarakhand

Current Context: On 1 March 2026, Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan unveiled two major farm laws in Mussoorie, Uttarakhand.

• The New Seed Act 2026 replaces the 1966 law, introducing QR-coded seed packets for instant authenticity checks.
• It mandates company registration and imposes strict penalties against fake or poor-quality seeds.
• The Revised Pesticide Act 2026 enforces safer standards, bans hazardous chemicals, and promotes eco-friendly practices.
• Both Acts integrate AI-based monitoring under Ek Bharat for transparency in seeds and pesticides.
• Together, they aim to protect farmers, reduce crop losses, and ensure sustainable agriculture.

Question:

Q.1 According to the New Seed Act 2026, seed packets will carry which feature for authenticity verification?
a) RFID chips
b) Barcode labels
c) QR codes
d) Microchip tags

Answer: c) The law introduces QR-coded seed packets, allowing farmers to instantly verify seed authenticity and quality through digital scanning.