Latest news with #SeedsAct
Time of India
5 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
Sale of spurious seeds to be non-bailable offence in Punjab
Chandigarh: The Punjab cabinet on Friday approved the introduction of The Seeds ( Punjab Amendment) Bill 2025, which will make the sale of spurious seeds a non-bailable offence. Briefing mediapersons after the meeting, finance minister Harpal Singh Cheema said that the cabinet gave its consent to introduce The Seeds (Punjab Amendment) Bill 2025 to ensure the supply of high-quality seeds to farmers of Punjab. There had been no amendment in Section 19 of the Seeds Act 1966 since its inception, due to which the fines and penalties had no deterrence. According to the proposed provisions, the first offence by a company will invite punishment of one to two years and a fine of Rs 5 to 10 lakh, whereas punishment of two to three years and a fine of Rs 10 to 50 lakh will be imposed for repeated offences. Similarly, if a dealer or an individual is at fault, it will invite punishment of six months to one year and a fine of Rs 1 to 5 lakh for the first offence, and a term of one to two years and a fine of Rs 5 to 10 lakh for repeated offences. Previously, such an offence was punishable by a fine of Rs 500 for the first offence, with subsequent violations carrying a fine of Rs 1,000 and imprisonment for up to six months. The cabinet gave the nod to enact a Bill to amend the Seeds Act and insert Section 19A for contravention of Section 7 of the Seeds Act (Regulation of sales of seeds of notified kinds or varieties), enhancing the fine and penalty, making it cognisable and non-bailable. Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like This Japanese AI invention allows you to speak 68 languages instantly. The idea? Genius. Enence 2.0 Undo by Taboola by Taboola "It was a long-pending demand of farmers in the state who suffered losses due to substandard seeds. Both the Centre and the state are authorised to bring in such a legislation," said Cheema. Nod to OTS for industrialists The cabinet also gave nod for introducing a one-time settlement scheme (OTS) for the settlement of interest-free loans for seed margin money. For this, the Punjab State Aid to Industries Act, 1935, and the integrated rural development program (IRDP) will be amended. Cheema said that the Act was not amended since 1935. "The cabinet has decided to waive Rs 97.60 crore interest on seed money of small amounts of Rs 2,000 or Rs 5,000 given since 1935. It used to be a considerable amount at that time. The seed money used to be given without any collateral security. The state govt will now recover Rs 11.54 crore from the 1,054 beneficiaries identified so far. Mechanism to provide land parcels The cabinet also gave concurrence for evolving a mechanism to provide land parcels (on sale or lease basis) for promoting industrial investment in the state. The move is aimed at giving impetus to investment in the state. Till now, there was a lack of a formalised, time-bound mechanism for identifying and provisioning land parcels for investors seeking land. Upper age for group D recruitment enhanced In a relief to the aspirants of the group D posts, the cabinet also gave approval to amend rules 5 (b) and 5 (d) of the Punjab State (Group D) Service Rules, 1963, thereby enhancing the upper age limit from the existing 35 years to 37 years. The age limit for appointment in Group 'D' services in Punjab was 16 to 35 years, while for Group A, B, and C posts, as per PCS Rules 1994, it was 18 to 37 years. For uniformity, the Punjab State Group-D Service Rules Rule 5(b) has been amended to keep the date on age of appointment between 18 to 37 years. Educational qualification under Rule 5(d) has been modified from 'Middle' to 'Matriculation'. Bids for retendering The cabinet also gave ex post facto approval of relaxation in the time frame to invite bids in the re-tender floated for the purchase of 46,000 black polythene covers for the Rabi marketing season (RMS) 2025-26. For ensuring safe storage, maintenance, and preservation of wheat worth Rs 30,000 crores during Rabi Marketing Season 2025-26, ex-post facto approval is sought for relaxing the period for procurement of the covers. It was necessitated to ensure fumigation before the onset of monsoons and to safeguard open stocks from the vagaries of nature. Punjab District Mineral Foundation Rules The cabinet gave approval to revise Punjab District Mineral Foundation (DMF) rules as per revised GOI guidelines under Pradhan Mantri Khanij Kshetra Kalyan Yojana (PMKKKY), 2024. The revisions will ensure transparency in the implementation of projects, powers, duties, and responsibilities such as five-year perspective planning, high-priority sectors for utilisation of DMF funds, and restriction on fund transfer from DMF. Advisory managing committee of temples The cabinet gave its consent for amendments in the advisory managing committee of Kali Devi, Raj Rajeshwari Temple, Patiala, authorising the CM to nominate the chairman and members of the advisory managing committee. Likewise, the go-ahead was given for changes in the financial powers of the chairman, secretary, members, and management committee. Punjab Value Added Tax Rules The cabinet also gave its concurrence for amendment in the Punjab Value Added Tax Rules, 2005, stipulating that the chairman and other members of the Punjab VAT tribunal will be entitled to HRA and DA at such rates which are applicable to officers of Punjab. Hassle-free transportation of food grains The cabinet also gave nod to "The Punjab Food Grains Transportation Policy 2025" and 'The Punjab Labour & Cartage Policy, 2025" for hassle-free transportation of food grains in the state. The state procurement agencies and the FCI procure food grains every season. As per the policy during the year 2025, food grain transportation works will be allotted through a competitive and transparent online tender system. MSID:: 122907893 413 | MSID:: 122907893 413 |
Hindustan Times
5 days ago
- Business
- Hindustan Times
Punjab Cabinet approves Bill to make sale of spurious seeds non-bailable offence
Chandigarh, The Punjab Cabinet on Friday gave its nod to introduce The Seeds Bill 2025 to make sale of spurious seeds a non-bailable offence. Punjab Cabinet approves Bill to make sale of spurious seeds non-bailable offence A decision to this effect was taken by the council of ministers at its meeting chaired by Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, an official statement said. It said the Cabinet gave its nod to introduce The Seeds Bill 2025 to ensure supply of high-quality seeds to the farmers of the state. "There has been no amendment to Section 19 of the Seeds Act 1966 since its inception due to which the fines and penalties have no deterrence. "So the Cabinet gave its nod to enact a Bill to amend the Seeds Act and insert Section 19A for contravention of Section 7 of the Seeds Act , enhancing the fine and penalty, and making it cognizable and non-bailable," the statement said. As per the provision, the first offence by a company will invite punishment of one to two years and fine of ₹5-10 lakh, and punishment of two to three years and fine of ₹10-50 lakh for repeated offence. "Similar misdeed by a dealer/person will invite a punishment of six months to one year and fine of ₹1-5 lakh for the first offence and a term of 1 to 2 years and fine of ₹5-10 lakh for repeated offence," the statement said. Earlier, the fine was ₹500 for first offence and ₹1,000 and prison term of up to six months for repeated offence. The Cabinet also gave concurrence for evolving a mechanism to provide land parcels for promoting industrial/business investment in the state. The statement said there was lack of a formalised, time-bound mechanism for identifying and provisioning land parcels for investors seeking land. So, a comprehensive mechanism has been approved with features like bi-annual digital land pool, investor facilitation for investment above ₹200 crore, feasibility check, reserve price fixation, e-auction process, lease option, auction timelines and others. In a major relief to the aspirants of Group 'D' posts, the Cabinet also gave approval to amendment in Rules 5 and 5 of the Punjab State Service Rules, 1963, thereby enhancing the upper age limit of existing 35 years to 37 years. The Cabinet also gave nod for introducing a one-time settlement scheme for the settlement of loans under interest-free loans, seed margin money, Punjab State AID to Industries Act, 1935, and the integrated Rural Development Programme . Accordingly, there will be a complete waiver of principal and interest for loans under IRDP and Punjab State Aid to Industries Act, 1935. The eligible units will be required to avail of the scheme and clear their dues within 180 days of publication of notice in newspapers. Among other decisions, the Cabinet also gave its nod to the 'The Punjab Foodgrains Transportation Policy 2025' and 'The Punjab Labour and Cartage Policy 2025' for the smooth and hassle-free transportation of foodgrains in the state. The Punjab government through its state procurement agencies and FCI procures foodgrains from various designated centres/mandis. According to the new policy, during the year 2025, foodgrain transportation works will be allotted through a competitive and transparent online tender system. This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text.
News18
6 days ago
- Business
- News18
Punjab Cabinet approves Bill to make sale of spurious seeds non-bailable offence
Chandigarh, Jul 25 (PTI) The Punjab Cabinet on Friday gave its nod to introduce The Seeds (Punjab Amendment) Bill 2025 to make sale of spurious seeds a non-bailable offence. A decision to this effect was taken by the council of ministers at its meeting chaired by Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, an official statement said. It said the Cabinet gave its nod to introduce The Seeds (Punjab Amendment) Bill 2025 to ensure supply of high-quality seeds to the farmers of the state. 'There has been no amendment to Section 19 of the Seeds Act 1966 since its inception due to which the fines and penalties have no deterrence. 'So the Cabinet gave its nod to enact a Bill to amend the Seeds Act and insert Section 19A for contravention of Section 7 of the Seeds Act (Regulation of sales of seeds of notified kinds or varieties), enhancing the fine and penalty, and making it cognizable and non-bailable," the statement said. As per the provision, the first offence by a company will invite punishment of one to two years and fine of Rs 5-10 lakh, and punishment of two to three years and fine of Rs 10-50 lakh for repeated offence. 'Similar misdeed by a dealer/person will invite a punishment of six months to one year and fine of Rs 1-5 lakh for the first offence and a term of 1 to 2 years and fine of Rs 5-10 lakh for repeated offence," the statement said. Earlier, the fine was Rs 500 for first offence and Rs 1,000 and prison term of up to six months for repeated offence. The Cabinet also gave concurrence for evolving a mechanism to provide land parcels (on sale or lease basis) for promoting industrial/business investment in the state. The statement said there was lack of a formalised, time-bound mechanism for identifying and provisioning land parcels for investors seeking land. So, a comprehensive mechanism has been approved with features like bi-annual digital land pool, investor facilitation for investment above Rs 200 crore, feasibility check, reserve price fixation, e-auction process, lease option, auction timelines and others. In a major relief to the aspirants of Group 'D' posts, the Cabinet also gave approval to amendment in Rules 5 (b) and 5 (d) of the Punjab State (Group D) Service Rules, 1963, thereby enhancing the upper age limit of existing 35 years to 37 years. The Cabinet also gave nod for introducing a one-time settlement scheme (OTS) for the settlement of loans under interest-free loans, seed margin money, Punjab State AID to Industries Act, 1935, and the integrated Rural Development Programme (IRDP). Accordingly, there will be a complete waiver of principal and interest for loans under IRDP and Punjab State Aid to Industries Act, 1935. The eligible units will be required to avail of the scheme and clear their dues within 180 days of publication of notice in newspapers. Among other decisions, the Cabinet also gave its nod to the 'The Punjab Foodgrains Transportation Policy 2025' and 'The Punjab Labour and Cartage Policy 2025' for the smooth and hassle-free transportation of foodgrains in the state. The Punjab government through its state procurement agencies and FCI procures foodgrains from various designated centres/mandis. According to the new policy, during the year 2025, foodgrain transportation works will be allotted through a competitive and transparent online tender system. PTI SUN ARI view comments First Published: July 25, 2025, 21:45 IST Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
New Indian Express
20-06-2025
- Business
- New Indian Express
Bill to pull up substandard seeds suppliers soon
NEW DELHI: The Centre is set to introduce a Seed Amendment Bill to the Seeds Act in the Winter Session of parliament. Intended to be farmer-friendly, it will ensure seed traceability and hold suppliers accountable for substandard seeds, fertilisers and pesticides, which significantly affect farmers' incomes and the country's food security. The decision comes after Union Minister for Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Shivraj Singh Chouhan,received numerous complaints about the poor quality of seeds, pesticides, and fertilisers during his 15-day 'Viksit Krishi Sankalp Abhiyan' recently. Chouhan stated. 'The government will take strong measures to strengthen the Seed Act and implement stringent quality control mechanisms to ensure that only certified, high-quality inputs reach farmers.' To achieve this, the government plans to enhance the current network of central and state laboratories, and mandating accreditation from the National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories (NABL), which is part of the Quality Council of India. However, the country has, currently, fewer laboratories than necessary. 'Our first step is to instruct states and central agencies to obtain NABL accreditation from their own funds,' said Devesh Chaturvedi, Secretary, Agriculture and Farmers Welfare. 'The testing fees for collected samples of seeds, pesticides, or fertilisers will be covered by the Central government's Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana,' he added. He explained how biases in sampling would be eliminated. 'Our software will randomly select the retailer's name from which field inspectors will collect the proper samples. These samples will be packed, encoded with a QR code and sent to laboratories for testing. This will minimise manipulation and foster trust among genuine manufacturers and retailers.'
Mint
18-06-2025
- Politics
- Mint
Government may introduce seed amendment bill in Parliament this year
New Delhi: The government is in the process of making changes to the Seed Act to address the problem of spurious seeds, minister of agriculture and farmers' welfare, Shivraj Singh Chouhan said on Wednesday. The amended bill will ensure traceability of seeds and fix accountability, he said. "We are in the process of amending the Seed Act, which would be introduced soon," the minister added. A senior official in the agriculture ministry said the government would try to introduce the bill by the winter session of Parliament, which usually starts in the last week of November. 'We are working on the modalities and would try to introduce various measures so that quality seeds reach to the farmers,' said the senior official. One of the features will be a QR code to help farmers trace the origin of seeds, he added. Spurious or uncertified seeds are causing significant losses to farmers, leading to crop failures and financial distress. Fake seeds, often sold under the guise of reputable brands, fail to germinate or produce expected yields, leaving farmers with debt. In 2023-24, out of a total 133,000 seed samples tested, 3,630 were found sub-standard, minister of state for agriculture and farmers' welfare Ramnath Thakur said in a written reply in Lok Sabha on 11 February. The Seeds Act, 1966, which regulates the quality of seeds for sale, has been amended multiple times to improve seed quality and ensure access to high-quality seeds for farmers. The Act provides a legal framework around seed certification and systematic seed certification started in India in 1969. According to officials in the agriculture ministry, the amendment will be done in consultation with states and other stakeholders. Under the existing provision, certification of seed is not mandatory, and private players are currently selling seed as 'truthfully labeled'. In March the Haryana assembly had passed the Seeds (Haryana amendment) Bill, 2025 which has stringent provisions including imprisonment for one to three years and a fine of up to ₹ 5 lakh to prevent the production and sale of substandard or fake seeds. Additionally, the Central government is planning to strengthen equip seed testing labs with the latest technology. "We are in the process of upgrading the labs, the funds for which will be given to the states under PM-RKVY (Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojna)," said the official. Chouhan said that the government will also tighten pesticides legislation and may bring amendments to the existing laws to ensure quality inputs to farmers. The minister said many farmers have raised concerns about the quality of seeds and pesticides during an outreach campaign "Viksit Krishi Sankalp Abhiyan", a countrywide initiative running from 29 May to 12 June across all states and union territories, aimed at equipping farmers with information, tools, and technology for the kharif sowing season. Chouhan said, "The campaign was very successful. We engaged directly with 13 million farmers across 143,000-villages in 721 districts." As many as 60,281 programmes were conducted including in tribal, aspirational and border districts. 'Scientists will focus on demand-driven research based on farmers' feedback and many innovations done by progressive farmers would be popularized,' he added. Chouhan said the government will make KVKs (Krishi Vigyan Kendra) a nodal agency for better coordination among all stakeholders. There are 731 KVKs spread across the country, with almost one KVK in each district barring a few.
