GS2The Hindu · Current Affairs
Union govt. bans herbicide paraquat
The Union government has notified a ban on paraquat dichloride, a herbicide linked to deaths through self-harm, homicide, and accidental poisoning.
SP
Samachar Pathshala Desk
Published 15 Jul 2026 · 1 min
Key takeaways
- Paraquat dichloride is a herbicide used after harvest to clean land for the next crop.
- The Union government has notified a ban on paraquat dichloride.
- The release links paraquat dichloride to deaths in India through self-harm, homicide, and accidental poisoning.
- The release states that paraquat dichloride has no antidote.
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
The UPSC angle
GS2GS3
Hazardous chemical regulation and public health governance
UPSC can frame paraquat dichloride as a case study in regulating a widely used but highly toxic agricultural chemical, balancing farm utility against poisoning risks, and assessing the role of Union and state action in chemical safety.
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