Rice sustains more than half of India’s population and is fundamental to national food security, rural livelihoods, and agricultural sustainability. However, rice production is increasingly threatened by frequent and severe insect pest outbreaks, driven by climate variability, intensive cropping systems, and the excessive use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides. Prolonged dependence on chemical pest control has resulted in loss of biodiversity, disruption of natural enemies, pesticide resistance, secondary pest resurgence, environmental pollution, and growing risks to human and ecosystem health. Consequently, there is a strong need to shift toward ecologically sound and sustainable pest management strategies. This review critically examines recent advances and field-based evidence on non-chemical and ecologically based approaches for managing insect pests in Indian rice ecosystems. It highlights cultural, mechanical, biological, genetic, and ecological engineering strategies that reduce initial pest populations and limit population growth, including low-stubble harvesting, tillage and flooding, adjustment of sowing time, optimized crop geometry, synchronous planting, water and nutrient management, grazing, and field sanitation. Particular emphasis is placed on habitat manipulation, semi-natural habitats, nectar provisioning, banker plant systems, and early-season insecticide avoidance to conserve and enhance natural enemies. Progress in host-plant resistance, biological insecticides, Trichogramma based biological control, pheromone-mediated technologies, and integrated rice-animal farming systems is also reviewed. In addition, the role of regulatory and policy frameworks in supporting safe pesticide use and promoting Integrated Pest Management is discussed.
