The Seeds Act, 1966
Administered Ministry: Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare / Department of Agriculture, Cooperation and Farmers Welfare
Act details
| Short title | The Seeds Act, 1966 |
|---|---|
| Long title | An Act to provide for regulating the quality of certain seeds for sale, and for matters connected therewith. |
| Act number | 54 of 1966 |
| Act year | 1966 |
| Enactment date | 29 Dec 1966 |
| Ministry | Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare / Department of Agriculture, Cooperation and Farmers Welfare |
| Department | Department of Agriculture, Cooperation and Farmers Welfare |
| Jurisdiction | Central (Parliament of India) |
| Sections | 30 |
| Status | Not repealed |
| Last checked on India Code | 3 Nov 2026 |
| Source | India Code, Government of India |
Summary
Summary of the Seeds Act, 1966
Key Provisions
1. Foundational Clauses
• Short Title, Extent, and Commencement (Section 1): Defines the Act's basics.
• Definitions (Section 2): Clarifies key terms such as "agriculture" and "seed".
2. Regulatory Framework
• Central Seed Committee (Section 3): Advises on seed quality regulation.
• Notification of Seed Kinds/ Varieties & Quality Standards (Sections 5 & 6): Empowers the Central Government to set standards.
3. Operational Provisions
• Regulation of Seed Sale (Section 7): Mandates conditions for selling notified seeds.
• Seed Certification and Laboratories (Various Sections): Ensures seed quality through certification and analysis.
4. Enforcement Mechanisms
• Seed Inspectors and Analysts (Sections 12, 13, 14): Outlines powers and qualifications.
• Penalties and Legal Provisions (Sections 19-25): Details consequences for violations and protection for actions in good faith.
Legislative history
Legislative History:
The Seeds Act, 1966
● Act Title - The Seeds Act, 1966
● Act Number / Year - 54 of 1966
● Act ID (India Code) - 196654
● Presidential Assent Date - December 29, 1966
● Enforcement Date - October 2, 1968
● Nodal Ministry - Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare
Precedent & Historical Rationale
● Agricultural Productivity & Green Revolution Context - Enacted during the onset of the Green Revolution to ensure the availability of high-yielding, high-quality seeds to farmers and to establish a robust regulatory framework for crop seed management across the country.
● Quality Control & Market Regulation - Formulated to regulate the quality of seeds for sale, distribution, and export/import, mandating minimum germination and purity standards, clear labeling, and the establishment of Seed Testing Laboratories and Certification Agencies.
Parliamentary Trajectory & Enactment
● Formulation - Introduced by the Ministry of Food and Agriculture to build a standardized infrastructure for seed certification, testing, and quality enforcement across all States and Union Territories.
● Parliamentary Passage - Debated and passed by both Houses of Parliament (Third Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha) during the December 1966 session.
● Presidential Assent - Received Presidential Assent on December 29, 1966.
● Enforcement - Enforced on October 2, 1968
Source - Official Record of Parliament, India Code, and Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare.