India bans paraquat, weeds out biggest poison from its agricultural fields
The Centre on Tuesday issued a draft notification imposing a complete ban on paraquat, a deadly herbicide, with immediate effect. It is a ban that
The Centre on Tuesday issued a draft notification imposing a complete ban on paraquat, a deadly herbicide, with immediate effect. It is a ban that many toxicologists, doctors and agricultural experts would argue was years overdue. Despite being prohibited in more than 70 countries, including where it was invented and is manufactured, paraquat dichloride continued to be legally sprayed on Indian farms. Read Full Story The draft notification banning paraquat was issued on Tuesday by the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, reported Kisan Tak, India Today Digital's sister portal.
This comes days after sources in the ministry told Kisan Tak Editor Om Prakash that a file proposing a nationwide ban on paraquat was submitted to the Ministry of Agriculture and could be cleared this week. Paraquat dichloride, one of the world's most controversial herbicides, has been banned across much of the world over toxicity concerns, and continued to find a market in India. Acting on the health concerns, the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare has now issued a draft notification proposing a complete prohibition on the import, manufacture, sale, transport, distribution and use of paraquat dichloride under Section 27 of the Insecticides Act, 1968.
More importantly, paraquat's ban on paraquat could become the beginning of a wider conversation and policy-level action. India still permits the use of several pesticides that have been banned or severely restricted elsewhere over concerns ranging from cancer and neurological disorders to environmental damage. If paraquat is finally shown the door, the attention is likely to turn to what comes next. Since it is still a draft notification, stakeholders have 30 days from July 13, 2026, to submit objections and suggestions before the order is finalised.
India Today Digital and its sister portal on agriculture and farmer's welfare, Kisan Tak, have raised concerns over harmful chemical fertilisers and pesticides, including paraquat. (This story is a developing story.) Ends
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