Biotechnology in agriculture involves the application of scientific techniques, such as Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs), Molecular Breeding, and Tissue Culture, to improve plant productivity, nutritional value, and resistance to biotic and abiotic stresses. In the Indian economy, it is recognized as a “Sunrise Sector” under the Department of Biotechnology (DBT) and the Ministry of Science and Technology. It plays a pivotal role in achieving the “Second Green Revolution” by shifting from input-intensive to knowledge-intensive agriculture.
Genetically Modified (GM) Crops in India
GM crops are plants whose DNA has been modified using genetic engineering techniques. India’s regulatory stance on GM crops is one of the most significant aspects of its agricultural policy.
Current Regulatory Status
- Bt Cotton: The only GM crop officially approved for commercial cultivation in India (since 2002). It incorporates genes from the bacterium Bacillus thuringiensis to resist the American Bollworm.
- GM Mustard (DMH-11): Developed by Delhi University, this hybrid uses the Barnase-Barstar system. While it received environmental clearance from GEAC in 2022, it remains under legal scrutiny regarding its commercial release.
- Bt Brinjal: The first GM food crop to reach the approval stage in India. However, it was placed under an indefinite moratorium in 2010 due to environmental and biosafety concerns.
Regulatory Framework
The regulation of GMOs is governed by the Rules for the Manufacture, Use, Import, Export, and Storage of Hazardous Micro-organisms/Genetically Engineered Organisms or Cells, 1989 under the Environment Protection Act (EPA), 1986.
- Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee (GEAC): Functioning under the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC), it is the apex body for approving the commercial release of GM crops.
- Review Committee on Genetic Manipulation (RCGM): Under the DBT, it monitors safety related to ongoing research activities.
- Institutional Biosafety Committee (IBSC): Operates at the research institution level to ensure compliance with biosafety guidelines.
Key Biotechnological Tools and Applications
Beyond genetic engineering, several other biotechnological tools are transforming Indian agricultural inputs:
- Marker-Assisted Selection (MAS): Also known as Molecular Breeding, it allows scientists to identify specific DNA sequences (markers) linked to desirable traits (like drought resistance) to speed up traditional breeding without introducing foreign DNA.
- Tissue Culture: The cultivation of plant cells or organs on sterile nutrient media. It is widely used in India for the mass production of disease-free planting material for Banana, Sugarcane, and Pomegranate.
- Genome Editing (CRISPR-Cas9): A precision tool used to “edit” a plant’s own genome. In 2022, the Government of India exempted certain categories of genome-edited crops (SDN-1 and SDN-2) from the stringent biosafety regulations applicable to GMOs, provided they do not contain foreign DNA.
- Bio-fortification: Enhancing the nutritional quality of food crops through biotechnology. Examples include Golden Rice (enriched with Vitamin A) and various bio-fortified varieties of wheat and pearl millet released by ICAR.
Economic Impact and Significance
The adoption of biotechnology offers significant economic advantages for the Indian agricultural value chain.
| Factor | Impact on Indian Economy |
| Yield Improvement | Increases productivity per hectare, essential for a land-constrained economy. |
| Input Cost Reduction | Bt technology reduces the need for expensive chemical insecticides, lowering the cost of cultivation. |
| Post-Harvest Losses | Development of varieties with longer shelf-life (e.g., delayed ripening in tomatoes) reduces wastage. |
| Climate Resilience | Developing “Climate Smart” crops that can withstand salinity, heat, and submergence (e.g., Swarna-Sub1 rice). |
Major Government Initiatives and Missions
- Biotech-KISAN Scheme: A scientist-farmer partnership scheme that identifies local problems of farmers and provides technological solutions.
- National Awareness Campaign on Genome Editing: Launched following the 2022 regulatory easing to promote research in precision breeding.
- Bio-Cluster Programs: Establishment of specialized hubs (like the one in Mohali or Bangalore) to foster synergy between academia and the agro-biotech industry.
- National Phytotron Facility: Located at IARI, New Delhi, it provides controlled environment facilities for testing transgenic and improved crop varieties.
Challenges and Ethical Concerns
- Biosafety and Biodiversity: Concerns regarding “gene flow” where modified genes might transfer to wild relatives, potentially creating “super-weeds.”
- Monopoly and Seed Sovereignty: The dominance of multinational corporations in the GM seed market raises concerns about high seed prices and farmer dependency.
- Public Perception: Resistance from civil society groups regarding the long-term health impacts of consuming GM food crops.
- Intellectual Property Rights (IPR): Balancing the patent rights of biotech companies with the Protection of Plant Varieties and Farmers’ Rights (PPV&FR) Act, 2001.
Fact-File for UPSC Prelims
- India’s Global Standing: India has the world’s 5th largest area under GM crops, primarily due to the massive scale of Bt Cotton.
- Terminator Seed Technology: A controversial genetic modification that makes the second-generation seeds sterile; it is not permitted for commercial use in India.
- SDN-1 and SDN-2: Site-Directed Nucleases that result in minor deletions or substitutions; recently de-regulated in India to promote indigenous innovation.
- Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety: An international treaty (which India is a party to) governing the movements of Living Modified Organisms (LMOs) resulting from modern biotechnology from one country to another.
- Golden Rice: Created by inserting genes from maize and a common soil bacterium into rice to produce Beta-Carotene.