π Topic 02 of 6 Β· Chapter 04 Β· Biotechnology & Genetic Engineering
GM Crops in India β Bt Cotton & GEAC
Bt cotton approved, Bt brinjal moratorium, GM mustard, GEAC β complete notes for UPSC & PSC exams.
πΎ GM Crops in India β Status
| Crop | Status | Year | Key Facts |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bt Cotton | β Approved for commercial cultivation | 2002 | India’s only approved GM crop; Bacillus thuringiensis gene; resistant to bollworm; Gujarat = largest cotton state |
| Bt Brinjal | β οΈ Moratorium imposed | 2010 | GEAC approved but Environment Minister Jairam Ramesh imposed moratorium; public opposition |
| GM Mustard (DMH-11) | β οΈ Approved by GEAC (2022) β under legal challenge | 2022 | Herbicide-tolerant; developed by Delhi University; Supreme Court challenge pending |
| Golden Rice | β Not approved in India | β | Contains beta-carotene (Vitamin A); approved in Philippines, Bangladesh; not in India |
πΎ GEAC β Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee
- Under Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC)
- Apex body for approving GM organisms for environmental release in India
- Evaluates: biosafety, environmental impact, socioeconomic effects
- GEAC approval is required before any GM crop can be commercially cultivated
- Even after GEAC approval, state governments can refuse cultivation in their states
πΎ Bt Cotton β India’s Only Approved GM Crop
- Contains gene from Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) bacteria
- Produces Cry proteins toxic to bollworm (Helicoverpa armigera) β main cotton pest
- Approved in 2002; India became world’s largest cotton producer partly due to Bt cotton
- Developed by Monsanto (now Bayer); licensed to Indian seed companies
- Controversy: “Bt cotton failure” in some regions; farmer suicides linked to crop failure
- Resistant to bollworm but NOT to all pests (pink bollworm resistance developed)
β Key Facts β GM Crops:
β’ Bt cotton = India’s ONLY approved GM crop = 2002 = Bacillus thuringiensis
β’ GEAC = under MoEFCC = approves GM crops
β’ Bt brinjal = GEAC approved but moratorium imposed (2010)
β’ GM mustard = GEAC approved (2022) = under Supreme Court challenge
β’ Golden Rice = beta-carotene = Vitamin A = not approved in India
β’ Bt cotton = India’s ONLY approved GM crop = 2002 = Bacillus thuringiensis
β’ GEAC = under MoEFCC = approves GM crops
β’ Bt brinjal = GEAC approved but moratorium imposed (2010)
β’ GM mustard = GEAC approved (2022) = under Supreme Court challenge
β’ Golden Rice = beta-carotene = Vitamin A = not approved in India