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Relevance: GS Paper II (Governance — Centre-State, Health Policy) & GS Paper III (Agriculture, Environment) Source: Telangana Govt order & news, 2026

1 · What happened

On 31 March 2026, the Telangana government imposed a 60-day ban on the sale, stock, manufacture and use of Paraquat, a strong chemical weed-killer (herbicide). It used Section 27 of the Insecticides Act, 1968 to do so — joining states such as Kerala and Odisha (and, since then, Andhra Pradesh).

The Telangana Assembly also unanimously passed a resolution urging the Central Government to impose a permanent, nationwide ban. The push came from doctors and farm activists worried about rising cases of Paraquat poisoning. The Centre has since set up an expert committee to review Paraquat — its report is awaited.

2 · The Story So Far

First, what is Paraquat — and what is the legal twist?

Paraquat is a powerful, non-selective herbicide — it kills almost any green plant it touches, so farmers use it to clear weeds before sowing.

  • It is also highly toxic to humans, with no specific antidote, making poisoning (accidental or intentional) very hard to treat.
  • The legal twist: a State can only ban a pesticide for a short, temporary period; only the Central Government can ban it permanently across India. That single rule explains the whole tug-of-war here.

The Case to BAN it (health) Why a Ban is Resisted (economics)
Highly toxic with no specific antidote — poisoning is very hard to treat, and it is a notable cause of poisoning deaths in farm areas. India’s farms face labour shortages, so cheap chemical weed-killers are heavily relied on. Paraquat is low-cost and works fast.
Already banned or curbed in 40+ countries, including the European Union and China. Experts estimate switching to other herbicides or hand-weeding could raise weed-control costs many times over, hurting stretched farmers.
Doctors and public-health groups want India to phase it out, as many other countries have. A 2015 expert panel chose stricter safety rules over a ban — and the agrochemical industry stresses these economic costs.

One idea you must know — “Section 27” and its limits. Under Section 27 of the Insecticides Act, 1968, a state may stop the sale or use of an insecticide for reasons of public safety — but only for up to 60 days, extendable by another 30 days (90 in all).

After that, the state must keep renewing the ban, or it lapses. Courts have struck down state attempts at permanent bans. A further gap: even during a state ban, Paraquat can still reach farmers through e-commerce platforms — bypassing local shop checks.

  • Who registers pesticides — CIBRC: the Central Insecticides Board and Registration Committee, under the Ministry of Agriculture, is the apex body that approves and registers pesticides after checking safety. A nationwide ban is its and the Centre’s call.
  • The Anupam Verma Committee (2015): set up to review 66 pesticides banned elsewhere. For Paraquat, it chose stricter labelling and handling rules rather than a ban — a decision now under fresh scrutiny.
  • Global angle — Rotterdam Convention: a treaty for safer trade in hazardous chemicals, using the Prior Informed Consent (PIC) system. Campaigners want all Paraquat forms listed under its Annex III (the hazardous-chemicals watchlist).
  • Constitutional hook — Article 47: a Directive Principle making it the State’s duty to raise public health and the standard of living — a strong basis for restricting lethal poisons.
  • Way ahead: the Centre may need to decide on a clear national stand; meanwhile, subsidise safer bio-herbicides and promote Integrated Weed Management (IWM) through Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs), tighten online pesticide sales, and tackle the deeper farm distress — including rural mental-health support such as Tele-MANAS.

UPSC Value Box
Paraquat A strong, non-selective herbicide (weed-killer); highly toxic to humans with no specific antidote.
Insecticides Act, 1968 The nodal law regulating the import, manufacture, sale, transport, distribution and use of insecticides to protect humans and animals.
Section 27 Lets a state ban an insecticide for public safety — only for up to 60 days (+30), needing renewal.
Centre vs State States can ban only temporarily; a permanent, nationwide ban is the Central Government’s power.
CIBRC Central Insecticides Board & Registration Committee — apex body under the Ministry of Agriculture that registers/approves pesticides.
Anupam Verma Committee (2015) Reviewed 66 pesticides banned abroad; for Paraquat chose stricter rules, not a ban.
Rotterdam Convention Treaty on safe trade in hazardous chemicals using Prior Informed Consent (PIC); listing is via Annex III.
Article 47 (DPSP) State’s duty to raise nutrition, living standards and public health.
Tele-MANAS National Tele Mental Health Programme — free 24×7 mental-health support (helpline 14416).

MCQ Practice Question
Q. With reference to pesticide regulation in India, consider the following statements:

  1. Under the Insecticides Act, 1968, a State Government can prohibit an insecticide only temporarily, while a permanent nationwide ban is the Central Government’s power.
  2. The Central Insecticides Board and Registration Committee (CIBRC) functions under the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.
  3. The Rotterdam Convention uses the Prior Informed Consent (PIC) procedure for trade in certain hazardous chemicals.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a) 1 and 2 only    (b) 1 and 3 only    (c) 2 and 3 only    (d) 1, 2 and 3

Answer: (b) 1 and 3 only

  • Statement 1 — Correct: States can impose only temporary bans (Section 27); a permanent, nationwide ban lies with the Central Government.
  • Statement 2 — Incorrect (the trap): The CIBRC functions under the Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare, not the Ministry of Health. The ministry has been swapped here.
  • Statement 3 — Correct: The Rotterdam Convention relies on the Prior Informed Consent (PIC) procedure, with hazardous chemicals listed under its Annex III.

Important Note: this topic touches on farmer distress and self-harm. Anyone who is struggling can reach India’s Tele-MANAS mental-health helpline at 14416 (or 1-800-891-4416), free and available 24×7.
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