The Insecticides Act, 1968 is the primary law in India that regulates the manufacturing, import, and sale of pesticides.

The Insecticides Act, 1968 aims to protect human health and the environment from the harmful effects of pesticides, promote the safe and effective use of pesticides, and regulate the quality of pesticides.

The Central Insecticides Board is the apex body responsible for implementing the Insecticides Act, 1968.

The Central Insecticides Board is responsible for registering pesticides, setting standards for pesticides, and monitoring the quality of pesticides.

The procedure for registering a pesticide in India involves the manufacturer or importer submitting an application to the Central Insecticides Board, which will review the application and conduct field trials. If the pesticide meets the safety and efficacy standards, the Central Insecticides Board will grant a registration certificate.

The criteria for registering a pesticide in India include the pesticide being safe for human health and the environment, effective against the target pests, and not leaving harmful residues on food or in the environment.

The maximum residue limit (MRL) for pesticides is the maximum amount of pesticide residue that is legally allowed on food or in the environment, which is considered safe for human consumption and the environment.

The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) is responsible for setting MRLs for pesticides in India.

The consequences of using pesticides that are not registered or that exceed the MRLs include the user being fined or imprisoned, the user's crops being destroyed, and the user's produce being banned from sale.

The challenges in regulating pesticides and herbicides include the rapid development of new pesticides and herbicides, the difficulty in assessing the long-term effects of pesticides and herbicides, and the lack of resources for enforcement.

Some of the ways to improve the regulation of pesticides and herbicides include investing in research to assess the long-term effects of pesticides and herbicides, increasing resources for enforcement, and promoting the use of integrated pest management (IPM) practices.

Integrated pest management (IPM) is a holistic approach to pest control that emphasizes the use of non-chemical methods, such as crop rotation, pest monitoring, and biological control.

The benefits of using IPM include reduced reliance on chemical pesticides, improved environmental protection, and increased crop yields.

The challenges in implementing IPM include the need for specialized knowledge and skills, the lack of infrastructure and resources, and the resistance of pests to pesticides.

The future of pesticide and herbicide regulation is likely to see a move towards more sustainable and environmentally friendly practices, a focus on reducing the use of chemical pesticides and herbicides, and a greater emphasis on IPM.