Seed Bill 2025: A Historic Reset for India’s Seed Sector

The release of the new draft Seed Bill 2025 marks a defining moment for India’s agriculture. For the first time in nearly six decades, the government has undertaken a comprehensive re-examination of the legal framework that governs the country’s seed sector. This is significant not only because the 1966 Seeds Act had outlived its context, but also because Indian agriculture itself has transformed beyond recognition. The 1966 Act was built for an era defined by the early years of the Green Revolution, a time when the public sector led seed production, food security depended on wheat and rice, and the private seed industry was only beginning to take shape. Today, India’s seed ecosystem primarily is led by private sector, it is research-intensive, globally connected, and driven by rapid technological advances. Farmers demand faster access to high-performing hybrids, climate-resilient varieties, and precise technologies. In this context, the government’s willingness to reimagine the country’s seed law is timely, progressive, and deeply aligned with India’s ambitions of becoming a global agricultural powerhouse.

Why revisiting the 1966 Act was essential
For decades, the 1966 Seeds Act struggled to keep pace with the sector’s evolution. It was written for a different time and structure; as the private seed industry expanded, the regulatory gaps widened. Fragmented state-wise licensing requirements forced companies to navigate multiple, often inconsistent regimes, leading to delays in market entry and restricting scale. Modern tools such as digital traceability, QR-based authentication, and genome-linked seed identification were not even conceivable in the 1960s, leaving today’s industry without adequate mechanisms to tackle counterfeit seeds or ensure transparency. The Act also lacked the architecture to encourage research-led growth—there were no provisions for R&D incentivisation, no PLI-type thinking, and no clarity on integrating public research with private innovation. Variety testing and registration remained slow and non-uniform, often delaying the introduction of high-performing hybrids that farmers urgently needed. In short, the 1966 framework was too static for a sector that had become dynamic, competitive, and science-driven.

What makes the new draft Seed Bill progressive and win-win for farmers, seed industry and Economy
To realize the vision of Viksit Bharat, Indian Agriculture sector also needs to keep pace with growing GDP of country. Currently agriculture contributes nearly $ 450 billion in national GDP, this figure must grow 4-5 times to $ 2 trillion within next 10-15 years. Seed is the carrier of technology to enhance productivity and climate resilience. The new draft Seed Bill recognises the realities of today’s seed ecosystem and enhanced R&D investments for innovation. It acknowledges that India is now home to vibrant seed industry and that the regulatory framework must promote innovation rather than limit it. One of the most forward-looking features is the move towards “One Nation–One Licence,” which has long been a collective industry request. A unified licensing structure will reduce transaction costs, eliminate duplication, and ease multi-state operations—ultimately enabling faster delivery of quality seeds to farmers. The Bill also signals a shift towards digital-first governance, with the introduction of QR-based traceability and digital registration systems that enhance transparency, help tackle counterfeit seed markets, and reinforce farmer confidence.

Equally important is the inclusion of Value for Cultivation and Use (VCU) testing based on scientific and performance-driven parameters. This allows for quicker introductions of varieties that demonstrate clear benefits and encourages companies to invest more strongly in cutting-edge R&D. The decriminalisation of minor offences is another step that reflects modern regulatory thinking: seed innovation must not be stifled by punitive compliance but supported through structured reforms that maintain accountability while enabling ease of doing business.

The need for coherence between the Seed Bill and PPVFRA
As progressive as the new draft is, there remain areas that require clarity and deeper deliberation. Foremost among them is alignment with the Protection of Plant Varieties and Farmers’ Rights Act (PPVFRA). PPVFRA focuses on protecting intellectual property, while the Seed Bill governs seed quality, registration, and market regulation. Today, these two frameworks occasionally overlap, creating dual compliance burdens and uncertainty, particularly around extant varieties, farmers’ rights, and breeders’ rights. The industry has long advocated for a harmonised, single-window digital platform that integrates the two systems, reduces redundancies, and provides transparent guidance to breeders. At the same time, the alignment must uphold farmers’ long-standing rights to save, use, exchange, and sow seeds—core principles that India pioneered globally. A well-defined interface between the Seed Bill and PPVFRA is not merely administrative housekeeping; it is essential for creating a regulatory ecosystem that supports innovation while protecting farmers’ interests.

Strengthening seed quality assurance and certification
Seed quality lies at the heart of farmer trust, and the new draft attempts to modernise how seed testing and certification are carried out. Recognition of private seed testing labs is a needed step, helping reduce turnaround time, increase capacity, and ensure that farmers are not kept waiting for quality seed. However, clear frameworks are needed for lab accreditation, monitoring, and accountability so that private participation does not dilute scientific rigour. The Bill also strengthens inspection systems and seed standards, but these must operate with transparency and balance. Excessive discretionary powers without guidelines can create operational hurdles; therefore, structured, time-bound, and consultative protocols will be critical to make enforcement fair and efficient. The aim must be to build a robust quality ecosystem that protects farmers while enabling the seed industry to operate with predictability and professionalism.

A constructive agenda for the rules stage
As the Bill moves towards detailed rule-making, the industry will engage constructively with a clear wish list. The foremost expectation is that “One Nation–One Licence” should function without hidden state-level duplications so that genuine ease of doing business is realised. Time-bound approvals and deemed approvals for licensing, registration, and lab accreditation will ensure operational certainty. A unified digital portal for licensing, registration, and even farmer grievance redress can make India’s seed regulatory system one of the most advanced globally. Clear alignment protocols across the Seed Bill, PPVFRA, and biodiversity legislation will help establish a coherent legal environment for innovation. The government can also explore linking R&D incentives to the rollout of the Seed Bill, encouraging companies to expand research pipelines for climate-resilient, nutrition-rich, and export-ready varieties. Finally, a mechanism for periodic review of the Act will ensure that regulation keeps pace with scientific advancements and future industry needs.

How the Bill impacts India’s farmers and the broader ecosystem
At its core, any seed law should serve the farmer, and the new draft Seed Bill has the potential to significantly improve farmer outcomes. Faster approvals, stronger traceability, and higher quality assurance mean that farmers gain reliable, better-performing seeds that enhance yields, reduce input costs, and improve resilience to climate stress. QR authentication will help farmers verify the genuineness of seed packets, reducing losses caused by counterfeit markets. A modernised regulatory framework will also expand India’s seed export potential, enabling Indian companies to supply globally competitive hybrids to emerging markets. Small and medium enterprises will benefit from simplified licensing and national-level operations, although they may require transitional support to adjust to new digital systems. FPOs and rural entrepreneurs will find more structured pathways into seed production and distribution, helping diversify income streams. Startups working in biotechnology, genetics, and seed e-commerce will operate in a more predictable and innovation-friendly environment.

Ultimately, the real beneficiaries will be India’s farmers and the nation’s food system. A progressive seed law will help India become not only food and nutrition secure but also a global hub for seed exports, agricultural technology, and climate-smart innovation. By modernising regulations after nearly sixty years, the government has taken a bold step towards shaping an agricultural ecosystem that is competitive, research-oriented, and aligned with the vision of a Viksit Bharat. The Seed Bill 2025 is not the end of the journey—but it is a strong, forward-looking beginning. 

(The writer is Chairman, Federation of Seed Industry of India and CEO & MD, Savannah Seeds)