GM Crops in India: GEAC, Bt Cotton and GM Mustard Controversy
Genetically Modified (GM) crops — organisms whose DNA has been altered using biotechnology — sit at the crossroads of food security, environmental ethics, and governance in India. With Bt Cotton as the only commercially approved GM crop since 2002, and the Supreme Court's landmark split verdict on GM Mustard DMH-11 in July 2024, this topic has emerged as a high-priority subject for UPSC. Understanding India's regulatory architecture, key crops, and ongoing controversies is essential for both Prelims and Mains GS3.
📌 Revision Pointers
Only Approved GM Crop — Bt Cotton, approved in 2002, remains India's sole commercially cultivated GM crop; engineered with Bacillus thuringiensis gene to resist bollworm pest.
Apex Regulatory Body — GEAC (Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee) under MoEFCC governs all GM crop approvals under the Environment Protection Act, 1986.
GM Mustard DMH-11 — Developed at Delhi University's CGMCP; got GEAC approval in Oct 2022; Supreme Court gave a split verdict in July 2024 — Justice Nagarathna quashed it, Justice Karol upheld it.
National Policy Directive — SC (2024) directed India to formulate its first-ever national GM crop policy through multi-stakeholder consultation within four months.
Illegal HT-Bt Cotton — Herbicide-Tolerant Bt Cotton (unapproved) is illegally grown in Gujarat, Maharashtra, Telangana and Andhra Pradesh, covering an estimated 15-25% of cotton acreage.
PYQ Connect — UPSC Prelims 2003 asked about GEAC; 2010 on Golden Rice; 2018 on GM Mustard; Mains GS3 has repeatedly covered biotechnology regulation, food security, and GMO governance.
Core Concept
Genetically Modified (GM) crops are plants whose genetic material has been altered through recombinant DNA technology to introduce desirable traits such as pest resistance, herbicide tolerance, drought resilience, or enhanced nutrition. In India, GM crops are governed under the Environment Protection Act, 1986, with the Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee (GEAC) under the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) serving as the apex regulatory body. Supporting tiers include the Review Committee on Genetic Manipulation (RCGM) under the Department of Biotechnology and Institutional Biosafety Committees (IBSCs) at research institutions. Bt Cotton — engineered with a gene from the soil bacterium Bacillus thuringiensis to resist bollworm — has been India's only approved GM crop since 2002, transforming India from a cotton importer to one of the world's largest cotton exporters.
Key Points
GEAC approves field trials and commercial release under EPA 1986 Rules; final nod requires MoEFCC approval
GM Mustard DMH-11 uses the bar-barnase-barstar gene system to create hybrid seeds, projecting yield improvement of 25-30%
Key concerns include biodiversity loss, impact on pollinators like honeybees, and farmer dependence on MNC seed companies
India is a signatory to the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety (2000), which governs transboundary movement of GMOs
Golden Rice — biofortified with beta-carotene (Vitamin A precursor) — was approved in Bangladesh and Philippines but remains under review in India
Supreme Court's July 2024 split verdict (Gene Campaign v. Union of India) directed India to formulate a national GM crop policy with all-stakeholder consultation
Memory Trick
Remember India's GM regulatory hierarchy as RIGID: RCGM (Review Committee) — IBSC (Institutional Biosafety) — GEAC (apex approval) — Implementation by state governments — Drug and Food regulators (FSSAI). India stays RIGID on GM crops!
Current Relevance (2024-2026)
The Supreme Court's July 2024 split verdict in Gene Campaign v. Union of India on GM Mustard DMH-11 created legal uncertainty — Justice BV Nagarathna quashed GEAC's approval on precautionary grounds, while Justice Sanjay Karol upheld it. The Court directed India to frame its first national GM crop policy through multi-stakeholder consultation. In 2025, GEAC approved field trials for glyphosate-tolerant maize and pod-borer-resistant pigeon pea varieties. FSSAI has also proposed mandatory labelling regulations for GM foods. These developments make this topic highly relevant for UPSC 2026 under GS3 (Agriculture, Science and Technology) and Essay Paper.
💭 Conclusion
GM crops have featured in UPSC Prelims (2003 on GEAC; 2010 on Golden Rice; 2018 on GM Mustard) and repeatedly in Mains GS3 on food security, bioethics, and regulatory governance — making it a perennial high-value topic. With the 2024 Supreme Court split verdict on GM Mustard and India's ongoing effort to draft its first national GM crop policy, expect questions on regulatory frameworks, the precautionary principle, and India's agricultural technology strategy. Master this topic — it is high-probability for UPSC 2026.