**Executive Summary**
This notification, issued by the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare on April 23, 2026, establishes the maximum sale price for Bt. cotton seeds for the 2026-2027 financial year. Exercising powers under the Essential Commodities Act, 1955, the government maintains the price levels previously specified in the notification dated March 27, 2025. The order is applicable across the entire territory of India for the duration of the specified fiscal year.
**Key Points / Main Content**
**Regulatory Framework**
* Issued under Section 3 of the Essential Commodities Act, 1955, and sub-clause (1) of clause 5 of the Cotton Seeds Price (Control) Order, 2015.
* The decision follows recommendations made by the committee referred to in sub-clause (2) of the Cotton Seeds Price (Control) Order.
**Product Specifications**
* Applies to *Bacillus thuringiensis* (Bt.) cotton seeds.
* Standardized for a packet size of 475 grams of "Refugia-in-Bag" seeds.
* Mandates a specific composition: the packet must contain a minimum of 5% and a maximum of 10% non-Bt. cotton seeds.
**Pricing and Applicability**
* The maximum sale price for the financial year 2026-2027 is fixed as per the rates specified in notification S.O. 1472(E) dated March 27, 2025.
* The price control is effective for the whole of India.
**Impact Analysis**
**Cotton Seed Manufacturers and Sellers**
**Impact**
Manufacturers and distributors are restricted from selling Bt. cotton seeds above the government-mandated maximum sale price.
**Action Required**
Must ensure that the retail price of 475-gram Bt. cotton seed packets complies with the limits specified in the March 27, 2025, notification.
**Farmers**
**Impact**
Farmers are protected from price volatility and overcharging for essential Bt. cotton seeds during the 2026-2027 financial year.
**Action Required**
Should ensure they are purchasing seeds at the official notified rates.
**Enforcement Agencies**
**Impact**
Government and regulatory bodies are responsible for monitoring the market to ensure adherence to the price control order.
**Action Required**
Must oversee the distribution chain to prevent the sale of seeds exceeding the maximum sale price.
Key Entities Referenced
Cotton Seeds Price (Control) Order, 2015: The specific regulatory framework under which the Central Government determines and notifies the maximum sale price of cotton seeds.
Essential Commodities Act, 1955: The primary legislation that empowers the Central Government to regulate the price, production, and distribution of specified commodities like cotton seeds.
Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare: The nodal ministry responsible for implementing seed price controls and issuing notifications regarding the sale price of Bt. cotton seeds across India.
रजिस्ट्री स.ं डी.एल.- 33004/99 REGD. No. D. L.-33004/99
सी.जी.-डी.एल.-अ.-23042026-272028
xxxGIDHxxx
CG-DLxx-ExG-I2D3E0x4x2x0 26-272028
असाधारण
EXTRAORDINARY
भाग II—खण् ड 3—उप-खण्ड (ii)
PART II—Section 3—Sub-section (ii)
प्राजधकार स ेप्रकाजित
PUBLISHED BY AUTHORITY
स.ं 1998] नई किल्ली, बृहस्ट्प जतवार, अप्रलै 23, 2026/विै ाख 3, 1948
No. 1998] NEW DELHI, THURSDAY, APRIL 23, 2026/VAISAKHA 3, 1948
कृजि एव ं ककसान कल्याण मत्रं ालय
(कृजि एव ं ककसान कल्याण जवभाग)
अजधसचू ना
नई किल्ली, 23 अप्रलै , 2026
का.आ. 2071(अ).— कपास बीि मूल्य (जनयंत्रण) आिेि, 2015 के खंड 5 के उपखडं (1) के साथ पठित, केन्द्रीय
सरकार, आवश्यक वस्ट्त ु अजधजनयम, 1955 (1955 का 10) की धारा 3 द्वारा प्रित्त िजियों का प्रयोग करते हुए, उि खडं
के उपखंड (2) में जनर्िष्टि सजमजत द्वारा की गई जसफाठरिों पर जवचार करने के पश्चात, अजधसूजचत करती ह ै कक बेजसलस
थुररंजिएंजसस (बीटी.) कपास बीिों के एक पैकेट (475 ग्राम ठरफ्यूजिआ-इन-बगै बीि जिसमें न्द्यूनतम 5 प्रजतित और
अजधकतम 10 प्रजतित गैर- बीटी. कपास िाजमल ह)ै का अजधकतम जवक्रय मूल्य, संपणू ि भारत हते ुजवत्तीय विि 2026-2027
के जलए भारत के रािपत्र असाधारण, भाग -2 , खडं -3 , उपखंड -(ii ) में संखयांक का.आ.1472 (अ ), तारीख 27 माच,ि
2025 द्वारा, प्रकाजित भारत सरकार के कृजि एव ंककसान कल्याण मंत्रालय की अजधसूचना म ेंजवजनर्ििष्ट अनुसार होगा I
[फा. स. ं 6-2/2025-एसटीय-ू I]
अिीत कुमार साहू, संयुक् त सजचव
2919 GI/2026 (1)2 THE GAZETTE OF INDIA : EXTRAORDINARY [PART II—SEC. 3(ii)]
MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
(Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare)
NOTIFICATION
New Delhi, the 23rd April, 2026
S.O. 2071(E).— In exercise of the powers conferred by section 3 of the Essential Commodities Act,
1955 (10 of 55) read with sub-clause (1) of clause 5 of the Cotton Seeds Price (Control) Order, 2015, the
Central Government, after taking into consideration the recommendations made by the Committee referred
to in sub-clause (2) of the said clause, hereby notifies that the maximum sale price of Bacillus thuringiensis
(Bt.) cotton seeds for a packet (475 grams Refugia-in-Bag seeds containing minimum 5 per cent. and
maximum 10 per cent. non Bt. Cotton) shall be as specified in the notification of the Government of India in
the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare vide number S.O. 1472(E), dated the 27th March 2025,
published in the Gazette of India, Extraordinary, Part II, Section 3, Sub-Section (ii) for the financial year
2026-2027 for the whole of India.
[F. No. 6-2/2025-STU-I]
AJEET KUMAR SAHU, Jt. Secy.
Uploaded by Dte. of Printing at Government of India Press, Ring Road, Mayapuri, New Delhi-110064
and Published by the Controller of Publications, Delhi-110054.