Genetically Modified GM Crops in India

Mar 24, 2025

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The Controversial Rise of GM Crops in India

The Supreme Court will begin hearing petitions against the commercial approval of GM mustard from April 15, 2025.

The Environment Ministry’s 2022 approval for GM mustard was challenged, delaying its cultivation.
A split verdict from a two-judge Bench in July 2024 called for a national policy on GM crops, which is now under formulation.

GM Crops

Genetically Modified (GM) crops, also known as genetically engineered (GE) crops or bioengineered crops, are plants whose DNA has been altered using genetic engineering techniques.
In the 1990s, scientists discovered how to genetically modify plants to resist pests and diseases.
- Early examples of this innovation were Bt cotton in India and Bt brinjal in Bangladesh, where a gene from the bacterium Bacillus thuringiensis was inserted into the crops.
  - This gene enables the plants to produce a toxin that kills specific insect pests, reducing the need for chemical insecticides.
- Similarly, herbicide-tolerant (HT) GM crops are engineered to withstand certain herbicides, helping farmers kill weeds without harming crops, thus reducing the need for mechanical weed removal.
This development has led to more efficient farming practices, reducing labour and costs.

Bt cotton remains the only GM crop approved for commercial cultivation.
GM mustard, despite receiving clearance from the Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee (GEAC), faces resistance from activist groups over safety concerns.
The Union Environment Ministry is working on a national GM crop policy with technical inputs from the DBT.

A DBT report highlighted that bio-agriculture makes up 8.1% of India’s $165.7 billion bio-economy, valued at $13.5 billion.
GM crops like Bt cotton and precision agriculture technologies are enhancing agricultural productivity and resilience.
The bio-economy is dominated by bio-industrial (47%) and biopharma (35%) sectors, with Maharashtra, Karnataka, and Telangana leading the way.

Increased Yield: GM crops can be engineered to have higher yields, which means more food can be produced from the same amount of land.
Insecticide Reduction: GM crops with Bt toxin reduce the need for insecticides. For example, in India, this has decreased farmers’ exposure to harmful chemicals.
Climate Resilience: Some GM varieties are developed to withstand extreme weather conditions such as drought and salinity, making them suitable for regions affected by climate change.
Nutritional Enhancement: Biofortified GM crops can address malnutrition by providing essential nutrients that are lacking in traditional diets.

India had 10,075 biotech startups in 2024, expected to grow to 22,500 by 2030, generating 35 million jobs.
Government policies, including the BioE3 policy, focus on biotechnology advancements in enzymes, pharmaceuticals, and agriculture.