What happened
The Union government has notified a ban on paraquat dichloride, a herbicide associated with deaths in India through self-harm, homicide, and accidental poisoning. The chemical is used by farmers after harvest to clean land for the next crop.
Background and earlier position
Paraquat dichloride has been a toxic pesticide-safety issue because the chemical has no antidote. Several states had already acted on the issue, including the most recent ban by Andhra Pradesh, and earlier bans by Telangana and Kerala.
What changed now
Why it matters for UPSC
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