Why in the news
A global scientific study ranked India among the largest sources of pesticide-driven environmental toxicity, raising alarms about biodiversity, ecosystem health and farm sustainability.
Key facts
- India, China, Brazil and the United States together hold close to 70% of global TAT.
- Global pesticide toxicity rose between 2013 and 2019.
- Sharp rises were seen in sub-Saharan Africa and some Indian subcontinent areas.
- Global pledge (2022): cut pesticide risk by 50% by 2030; world not on track.
What is Total Applied Toxicity (TAT)?
- A measure of the toxic pressure pesticides put on the environment.
- Looks at the amount used and also how lethal the chemicals are to non-target species, unlike volume-only measures.
- Species most hit: terrestrial arthropods, soil organisms, fish, pollinators, aquatic plants and land vertebrates.
Impact on India
| Area | Effect |
|---|
| Biodiversity | Fewer pollinators (hurting horticulture), loss of arthropods affecting birds and reptiles, weaker soil life, river and pond contamination from monsoon runoff |
| Agriculture | Pest resistance, lower long-term productivity |
| Public health | Poisoning, cancer, neurological and endocrine disorders, occupational risks |
| Economy | Higher healthcare costs, damage to fisheries; export rejections such as the EU rejecting Indian basmati over banned fungicide residues |
Legal framework
- Insecticides Act, 1968: built mainly for agricultural use, thin on household or industrial exposure, and weak on toxicity levels, long-lasting effects and liability.
- India reportedly still uses 66 pesticides banned elsewhere, including paraquat, banned in Europe.
- Pesticides Management Bill, 2025: seeks lower risk to people and environment and promotes biological and traditional alternatives, but faces criticism for limited expert consultation and weak liability rules.
Governance challenges
- Outdated law with weak enforcement and monitoring.
- Harder to meet commitments under the Convention on Biological Diversity and the Kunming-Montreal framework.
- Small farmers face rising input costs, health risks and debt; rural and tribal communities near biodiversity-rich areas suffer most.
- Western Ghats, Himalayas and Indo-Burma hotspots are at risk.
- Many countries lack strong data systems to report annual pesticide use by active ingredient.
Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (KM-GBF)
| Element | Detail |
|---|
| Period | 2022-2030, with vision to 2050 |
| Flagship | 30×30: protect at least 30% of land and oceans by 2030 |
| Targets | 23 action-oriented targets for 2030 |
| Pesticides | Cut risk by 50% by 2030, tied to TAT |
| Other targets | Restore 30% of degraded ecosystems; halve invasive species introduction; reduce excess nutrients and plastic; phase out harmful subsidies of about $500 billion a year |
| Finance | $200 billion yearly by 2030; developed nations give $20 billion a year to developing ones by 2025, rising to $30 billion by 2030; GBFF under the GEF |
| DSI | Benefit sharing from digital sequence information |
| Reporting | National Biodiversity Strategies and Action Plans (NBSAPs) and regular progress reports |
Way forward
- Shift to Integrated Pest Management (IPM) and biological control.
- Scale up organic and natural farming, including Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana (PKVY).
- Update the law: strict liability, compensation and a phase-out of highly hazardous pesticides.
- Compulsory yearly pesticide-use reports and open disclosure of residue levels.
- Incentives for sustainable practices and climate-resilient farming.
Exam angle
- TAT = amount used plus toxicity to non-target species.
- KM-GBF flagship: 30×30.
- Fund under GEF: Global Biodiversity Framework Fund.
- Law named: Insecticides Act, 1968.