Why in news?

India’s genetically modified (GM) crop adoption has stalled since the approval of Bt cotton in 2006. However, genome-edited (GE) crops are progressing rapidly. In May, two GE rice lines—improved versions of Samba Mahsuri and MTU-1010—were cleared after multi-location trials in 2023 and 2024.

The enhanced Samba Mahsuri line showed a 19% average yield increase, while the GE MTU-1010 variant demonstrated tolerance to saline and alkaline soils.

A third GE crop, a canola-quality mustard variety resistant to major fungal diseases and pests, is currently in its second year of trials across 16 locations. If successful, it may be released by August 2026, signalling a new phase in India’s agricultural biotechnology.

What’s in Today’s Article?

• How GE Differs from GM: The Science Behind India’s New Crop Breeding
• Policy Push for Genome-Edited (GE) Crops in India
• Building Human Resource Capacity for India’s GE Revolution

How GE Differs from GM: The Science Behind India’s New Crop Breeding

• Genetically modified (GM) crops introduce foreign genes from unrelated species, such as Bt genes from Bacillus thuringiensis used in cotton to produce insect-killing proteins.
• Genome editing (GE), however, modifies only the plant’s own native genes.
  • Using protein enzymes that act as “molecular scissors,” GE alters specific DNA sequences to change how a gene functions—without adding foreign DNA.
  • A custom-designed guide RNA directs these scissors to the exact spot in the genome.
• For India’s new GE rice and mustard lines, scientists used CRISPR-Cas technologies:
  • Cas9 edited the drought-and-salt tolerance gene in MTU-1010 rice and 10 glucosinolate transporter genes in mustard.
  • Cas12a edited the cytokinin oxidase 2 (Gn1a) gene in Samba Mahsuri rice to increase cytokinin levels, boosting the number of spikelets and grain yield.
• Importantly, Cas proteins—sourced from bacteria—appear only in the first-generation GE plants and are removed in subsequent breeding.
• The final GE plants are transgene-free, unlike GM crops that retain permanently inserted foreign genes.

Policy Push for Genome-Edited (GE) Crops in India

• GE plants that contain no foreign DNA are exempt from the stringent biosafety regulations applied to GM crops.
• Under a March 2022 MoEFCC memorandum, GE crops require only approval from an Institutional Biosafety Committee, which must certify that no exogenous DNA is present.
• This bypasses the earlier requirement of clearance from the Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee (GEAC) for field trials, seed production, or environmental release.
• Because GE crops are considered similar to normal plant varieties, they face minimal regulatory hurdles, enabling faster research, trials, and eventual deployment compared to GM crops.
• Strong Government Funding Support
  • The government has backed GE crop development through major funding allocations.
  • Research on improved GE rice varieties began in 2018 through the National Agricultural Science Fund.
  • The 2023–24 Union Budget allocated ₹500 crore specifically for genome editing.
• Large Pipeline of GE Targets Identified
  • ICAR scientists have mapped and prioritised key genes across major crops for targeted editing:
    • 178 target genes identified in 24 field crops (cereals, pulses, oilseeds, cotton, sugarcane, jute, tobacco).
    • 43 genes identified in 16 horticultural crops (vegetables, fruits, spices).
  • Most of these crops now have full genome sequences available, allowing researchers to locate each gene precisely on its chromosome.
  • Once a gene’s role in a trait is known, it can be specifically edited to improve yield, stress tolerance, nutrition, disease resistance, and more.
• A Clear Signal of Policy Shift
  • Together, relaxed regulations and major funding underscore the government’s intent to make genome editing a mainstream tool in India’s crop-breeding strategy — a shift from the stalled GM crop pathway.

Building Human Resource Capacity for India’s GE Revolution

• Training Scientists in Advanced Genome Editing
  • Developing GE crops requires specialised skills.
  • So far, nine ICAR scientists have undergone advanced training in the US, Europe, Australia, and CIMMYT (Mexico), with 12 more scheduled for upcoming international training.
• Collaboration with Global Leaders in GE
  • In February 2025, the Innovative Genomics Institute (IGI) — founded by Nobel laureate Jennifer Doudna, co-inventor of CRISPR-Cas9 — conducted intensive training sessions for IARI scientists and students.
  • IGI also supplied advanced GE tools such as GeoCas9 and CasLambda, expanding India’s editing toolkit beyond Cas9 and Cas12a.
• Indigenous Breakthrough: India’s Miniature GE Tool
  • A team led by Kutubuddin Ali Molla at the Central Rice Research Institute, Cuttack, has patented a homegrown genome-editing system based on TnpB proteins (Transposon-associated proteins).
  • Key advantages:
    • Much smaller proteins than Cas9/Cas12a → easier delivery into plant cells
    • Cheaper due to indigenous IP, avoiding costly foreign licensing
    • Highly effective for precision gene editing
• India Positioned to Lead in GE Crops
  • With global collaborations, domestic innovation, and robust capacity-building, India is on track to advance its genome-editing ecosystem.
  • Unlike GM crops — stalled for years — the GE pathway appears poised for sustained growth and adoption.