Chandigarh, July 26 — The Punjab Cabinet on Friday approved the Seeds (Punjab Amendment) Bill, 2025, which seeks to make the sale of spurious seeds a non-bailable and cognisable offence, marking a major policy shift in protecting farmers’ interests.
Chaired by Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, the cabinet meeting cleared the proposal to insert Section 19A into the Seeds Act to strengthen enforcement against violators of Section 7, which regulates the sale of notified seed varieties.
Announcing the decision, Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema said, “The new provisions significantly increase penalties. For companies, the first offence will attract imprisonment of one to two years and fines between ₹5 lakh to ₹10 lakh. Repeat violations could lead to two to three years in jail and fines up to ₹50 lakh.”
He added that dealers or individuals found guilty will face six months to one year in prison and fines ranging from ₹1 lakh to ₹5 lakh for the first offence, and up to two years in jail and ₹10 lakh in fines for repeat violations.
Previously, penalties were limited to ₹500 for the first offence and ₹1,000 with a possible jail term of six months for repeated violations—penalties widely seen as inadequate amid a surge in complaints about counterfeit and unapproved seed varieties. The state had recently introduced a QR-code traceability system to help counter the issue.
Recruitment Age, Qualifications Revised
In another key decision, the cabinet approved amendments to the Punjab State (Group D) Service Rules, 1963, aligning the recruitment age for Group D posts with that of Groups A, B, and C—from 16–35 years to 18–37 years. The minimum educational qualification was also revised from Middle to Matriculation.
Boost to Industry and Investment
To attract more investment, the cabinet approved a new mechanism for allotting land parcels—on sale or lease—to industrial and business ventures. Features of the plan include a bi-annual digital land pool, investment facilitation for projects above ₹200 crore, reserve price fixing, e-auction procedures, lease options, and fixed auction timelines.
Loan Relief Scheme for Small Enterprises
The cabinet also greenlit a One-Time Settlement (OTS) scheme for the clearance of loans under the Punjab State Aid to Industries Act, 1935, Interest-Free Loans, Seed Margin Money, and the Integrated Rural Development Programme (IRDP). Under the scheme, principal and interest amounts will be completely waived for eligible borrowers, provided they settle dues within 180 days of official notification.
Support for Agricultural Storage
Ex-post facto approval was granted for the re-tendering process to purchase 46,000 LDPE black polythene covers for the upcoming Rabi Marketing Season 2025–26, worth ₹30,000 crore. The time frame for the tender has been reduced from 21 days to 14 days to ensure timely procurement for safe storage of wheat.
Streamlined Grain Transport
To ensure smooth movement of food grains, the cabinet approved the Punjab Food Grains Transportation Policy, 2025, and the Punjab Labour and Cartage Policy, 2025. Both aim to implement a competitive, online tendering system to allot transportation work transparently.
Mineral Foundation Rules Amended
The Punjab District Mineral Foundation (DMF) rules were revised to reflect updated central guidelines. The changes focus on five-year planning, priority sector funding, transparency, and limits on fund transfers, aiming to make the DMF more accountable and effective.
Temple Committee and Veterinary Services
The cabinet approved amendments to the advisory managing committee of Shri Kali Devi Ji and Shri Raj Rajeshwari Ji Temple in Patiala, authorising the chief minister to nominate members and chairpersons.
Additionally, services of 479 veterinary pharmacists and 472 safai sewaks in 582 veterinary hospitals were extended as service providers from April 1, 2025, to March 31, 2026, in a move to improve livestock healthcare.
The wide-ranging decisions signal the Mann government’s intent to reform key sectors—from agriculture and recruitment to health and infrastructure—through stricter enforcement and inclusive governance.
