author(s)
Aditee Baruah and Trishita Bera

abstract
India, with its rich agricultural heritage and diverse ecosystems, has long been a hub for exploring innovative pest control methods. As the country grapples with issues such as pesticide resistance, environmental degradation, and the rising cost of chemical inputs, biological control has emerged as a promising and sustainable solution to pest management. The last few years have witnessed significant advances in this field, driven by research, government support, and the adoption of newer technologies. Over the past decade, new advancements in biological control research have led to the identification of a superior strain of Trichogramma chilonis Ishii, which has proven effective in controlling pests in cotton, sugarcane, and tomato crops. This has resulted in improved pest suppression. Additionally, efforts have been made to develop release schedules for natural enemies to manage pests like sugarcane borers, scale insects, Pyrilla, coconut black-headed caterpillars, rhinoceros beetles, maize stem borers, and various fruit crop pests. A Bio-intensive Integrated Pest Management (BIPM) system has been developed for managing pests in tobacco, rice, cotton, and vegetable crops. The implementation of BIPM in these crops has led to significant reductions in pesticide use and improved cost-benefit ratios. Ongoing efforts are now focused on utilizing nematophagous fungi and bacteria to control plant-parasitic nematodes, as well as using fungal and bacterial antagonists to manage plant diseases, particularly in crops like sunflower, groundnut, cotton, rice, wheat, and potato. This article highlights some of the most recent developments in biological control in India.