Subject: “Genetics,Biotechnology”

Biotechnology involves using living organisms and biological systems to develop useful products and processes. India is now among the world’s top 12 biotechnology hubs.

Activity in the field of Biotechnology in India

Robust Government Policy: Initiatives like the National Biotechnology Development Strategy 2021-2025 have provided a roadmap for a $150 billion bio-economy by 2025.

Institutional Framework: The Department of Biotechnology (DBT) and BIRAC provide critical seed funding and mentorship to over 5,000 startups.

Cost-Effective R&D: India offers a significant cost advantage (nearly 33% lower) in R&D and manufacturing compared to developed nations, attracting Global Capability Centers (GCCs).

Vast Biodiversity and Genetic Pool: India’s diverse climatic zones and ethnic genetic diversity provide a massive “natural laboratory” for genomic research and agricultural biotech.

Human Capital: A steady influx of STEM graduates (over 2 million annually) provides the technical workforce required for high-end lab work and clinical trials.

Infrastructure Growth: The establishment of specialized Biotech Parks offers “plug-and-play” facilities for rapid scaling. Eg- Genome Valley in Hyderabad.

FDI Liberalization: 100% Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) is permitted under the automatic route for greenfield projects, boosting capital infusion.

Digital Integration: The use of AI and Big Data in bioinformatics, supported by the National Supercomputing Mission has accelerated drug discovery and protein folding research.

Pandemic Legacy: The successful indigenous development of vaccines (e.g., Covaxin) proved India’s “Proof of Concept” to the world, triggering massive reinvestment in the sector.

Activity benefitting the field of Biopharma

Global Vaccine Leadership: India now supplies approximately 60% of the world’s vaccines, earning the title Pharmacy of the World.

Increase Economical Value: The Indian bioeconomy reached an estimated $130-$165.7 billion in 2024, with projections to reach $300 billion by 2030.

Shift to Biosimilars: Biotechnology has enabled India to move beyond simple generics to complex Biosimilars. India has the highest number of biosimilars approved globally.

Precision Medicine: Allowed biopharma companies to develop targeted therapies for cancer and rare genetic disorders tailored to the Indian populations

Clinical Trial Hub: Improved regulatory frameworks such as New Drugs and Clinical Trial Rules, 2019 and biotech expertise have made India a preferred destination for multi-centric global clinical trials.

Reduced Import Dependency: Local production of Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (APIs) and Key Starting Materials (KSMs) through fermentation technology is reducing reliance on imports.

Innovation in Biologics: Companies like Zydus Cadila and Dr. Reddy’s are now shifting from “imitative” to “innovative” R&D, focusing on novel biologics for autoimmune diseases.

Diagnostics Revolution: The biotech boom led to the rapid development of low-cost, molecular diagnostic kits such as RT-PCR, CRISPR-based ‘Feluda’ tests, improving healthcare penetration.

Major challenges

High Capital Intensity: Developing a single biosimilar costs $100-250 million, deterring smaller Indian firms from competing.

Complex Manufacturing Requirements: Biologics require ultra-pure environments, even a 1°C temperature shift can spoil entire production batches.

Innovation Deficit: India still invests only 7-8% of revenue in R&D compared to 20%+ by global innovators.

Skill Gap in Advanced Tech: Shortage of professionals trained in bioinformatics, transcriptomics, and computational biology slows down innovation.

Global Intellectual Property (IP) Conflicts: Navigating the “patent thickets” of global biopharma giants remains a major legal challenge for biosimilars.

Infrastructure Deficit in NAMs: Lack of standardized, industry-ready laboratories for non-animal methodologies across the country.

Supply Chain Fragility: India remains dependent on imported raw materials like specialized cell culture media for biotech production.

Way forward

Strengthening Regulatory Cadre: Creating a dedicated “Scientific Review Cadre” within CDSCO to match global approval timelines.

Expanding Clinical Trial Capacity: Establishing a national network of 1,000 accredited clinical trial sites to accelerate drug development.

Investing in Biofoundries under BioE3 Policy to provide common infrastructure for startups to test and scale.

Academic-Industry Collaboration: Upgrading seven NIPERs into “Centers of Excellence” for translational research and high-end skilling.

Strategic Use of Free Trade Agreements: Leveraging FTAs with the EU and UK to harmonize quality standards and boost exports.

By bridging the gap between laboratory research and commercial biopharma, India is moving toward Atmanirbhar Bharat in healthcare.

Karoly Ereky coined the term “Biotechnology” in 1919 to describe the fusion of biological and technological processes aimed at enhancing life on Earth. For agriculture, biotechnology has emerged as a significant boon, elevating crop quality and yield through innovative approaches.

Role of Biotechnology in Improving Living Standards of Farmers

Provides disease-free planting material through tissue culture. Eg- Tissue culture banana (G-9 cultivar) increases yields by 30-40%.

Enhances crop yields through high-yielding and hybrid varieties. Eg- “Swarna Sub-1” flood-tolerant rice and “DRR Dhan 42” drought-tolerant rice.

Reduces pesticide cost through pest-resistant GM crops. Eg- Bt cotton reduced pesticide use by 40-60%.

Lowers fertilizer expenses using biofertilisers. Eg- Rhizobium and Azotobacter cuts nitrogen fertilizer requirement in pulses/oilseeds.

Increases resilience to climate shocks with stress-tolerant seeds. Eg- Drought Tolerant High-Yielding Chickpea Variety “SAATVIK (NC 9)”

Reduces post-harvest losses using improved shelf-life varieties. Eg- Delayed-ripening tomato (Arka Rakshak) reduces spoilage.

Nutritional security through biofortified crops. Eg- Iron-rich pearl millet (ICMH 1202).

Kisan-Kavach: An anti-pesticide suit designed to combat the threat of pesticide-induced toxicity in agricultural settings.

Enables diversification into high-value crops. Eg- Tissue-culture strawberries (“Chandler”) in Himachal Pradesh.

Boosts dairy income through microbial feed supplements. Eg- Yeast-based probiotics increase milk yield by 8-12%.

Enhances fishery productivity using improved seed varieties. Eg- Jayanti Rohu shows 17-20% higher growth rates.

Generates rural employment – Eg- Tissue culture labs and biofertiliser units run through FPOs in Telangana.

Supports women-led microenterprises – Eg- SHGs in Tamil Nadu producing vermicompost.

Challenges

Regulatory Complexity: Approval processes for GMOs and biotech tools are lengthy. Eg- delay in approval of GM Mustard (DMH-11)

Public skepticism about GMOs. Eg- opposition to Bt Brinjal.

Environmental and Ethical Concerns: Gene flow to non-target species, biodiversity risks, and ethical considerations around gene editing. Eg- concerns over “playing God”

Access and Equity: High development costs and IP protections limit access for smallholders.

Health concerns – Eg- StarLink corn incident (2000) – animal-feed-only GM corn entered the human food chain.

Limited private sector participation – Eg- Policies such as the Cotton Seed Price Control Order (2015) and mandatory tech transfer provisions have discouraged private R&D

Illegal Cultivation and biosafety risks – Eg- HT-Bt cotton is illegally cultivated on up to 25% of cotton acreage in India

Declining Cotton Productivity – Yields have fallen from 566 kg/ha (2013-14) to 436 kg/ha (2023-24), far below China and Brazil’s 1,800-1,900 kg/ha.

Rising Import Dependence – India has shifted from net exporter to net importer, with cotton imports reaching $0.4 billion in 2024-25.

Undermining seed sovereignty due to intellectual property rights. Eg – Monsanto-Mahyco Bt cotton disputes

Way Forward

Science-Based Regulation- Ensure transparent field trials, publicly accessible data and independent monitoring,

Promote public-private partnerships in biotech research and support region-specific GM crops

Implement robust GM labeling and enforce strict action against illegal cultivation and counterfeit seeds.

Prioritise biofortified GM crops such as Golden Rice, iron-rich pulses, and zinc-rich wheat to combat micronutrient deficiencies

Effective implementation of BioE3 mission can help realise Vajpayee’s vision of Biotech for Bharat – “What IT is for India, BT is for Bharat”

Applied biotechnology focuses on the practical application of these biological insights to solve real-world problems in sectors like agriculture, healthcare, environment, and industry.

R&D Achievements in Applied Biotechnology

Genomics: Genome India Project sequenced 10,000 Indian genomes. It provides a baseline for understanding genetic diseases unique to the Indian population.

Climate-Resilient Crops: Eg- Sahbhagi Dhan for drought and Swarna-Sub1 for flood- prone areas has secured yields in disaster-prone regions.

Human health

Indigenous Vaccine Platforms: Eg- Development of the world’s first DNA-based COVID-19 vaccine (ZyCoV-D) and the indigenously developed HPV vaccine (Cervavac) for cervical cancer.

Bio-fortification: R&D has led to the creation of nutrient-rich crop varieties, such as Sakti-1 maize (high lysine and tryptophan) and CR Dhan 310 (high protein rice).

Bio-remediation and Waste-to-Wealth: Success in developing “Microbial Consortia” for cleaning oil spills (OilZapper) and converting agricultural waste into ethanol (2G Biofuels).

Restorative Health

Regenerative Research: Eg- LV Prasad Eye Institute (LVPEI) in Hyderabad has pioneered significant advancements in using limbal stem cells to restore vision.

Synthetic Biology: Research into metabolic engineering has allowed for the microbial production of high-value compounds like Artemisinin (anti-malarial drug), reducing dependence on plant extraction.

Molecular Diagnostics: The creation of low-cost, paper-based diagnostic strips (like the FELUDA test) for various infectious diseases has decentralized high-end testing.

Uplifting Poorer Sections of Society

Food and Nutritional Security: Bio-fortified crops directly combat “Hidden Hunger” among the rural poor by providing essential vitamins and minerals through their daily staple diet.

Increased Farm Income: Biotech seeds like Bt Cotton and bio-stimulants reduce the cost of chemical pesticides and fertilizers, increasing the net profit margin for farmers.

Affordable Healthcare: Local manufacturing of biologicals and biosimilars through biotech processes makes life-saving drugs like insulin and monoclonal antibodies affordable.

Animal Husbandry and Dairy: Achievements in In-vitro Fertilization (IVF) for cattle and sex-sorted semen technology have helped landless laborers increase milk yield and improve livestock quality.

Clean Environment and Sanitation: Biotech-based Bio-toilets utilize anaerobic bacteria to treat human waste in areas without sewage systems, improving hygiene and dignity for urban slum dwellers.

Employment Generation: The growth of the Bio-Economy (targeted at $300 billion by 2030) creates a range of jobs from high-end research to low-skilled manufacturing.

Energy Security: The production of bio-gas and ethanol from farm residue provides a secondary source of income for farmers while offering cheaper, cleaner fuel for cooking and transport.

Resilience to Climate Change: For the poor who are most vulnerable to weather shocks, biotech-developed salt-tolerant or heat-resistant seeds provide a safety net against crop failure.

Applied biotechnology is no longer a luxury science but a fundamental pillar for inclusive growth.

Microorganisms are microscopic organisms such as bacteria, fungi, archaea, and microalgae that can break down organic matter and produce useful energy compounds. Due to these capabilities, they are becoming important for sustainable energy production and the global clean energy transition.

Ways Microorganisms Help in Meeting Fuel Shortage

Bioethanol: Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Zymomonas mobilis ferment sugars and agricultural waste into ethanol. India achieved 10% ethanol blending in 2022 and targets 20% (E20) by 2025-26.

Biodiesel: Microalgae such as Chlorella and Dunaliella produce lipid-rich biomass, which is converted into biodiesel through transesterification.

Biogas through Anaerobic Digestion: Methanogens decompose sewage, food waste, and cow dung to produce methane-rich biogas. Eg- India’s GOBAR-dhan scheme.

Biohydrogen Production: Certain photosynthetic bacteria and cyanobacteria can split water or organic compounds to release Hydrogen gas, the cleanest burning fuel.

Microbial Fuel Cells (MFCs): Bacteria break down organic waste in wastewater and release electrons, generating electricity while simultaneously treating the wastewater.

Biobutanol Production: Species like Clostridium acetobutylicum produce butanol through ABE (Acetone-Butanol-Ethanol) fermentation. Biobutanol is considered superior to ethanol.

Syngas Fermentation: Acetogenic bacteria can convert synthesis gas (CO and H2 from industrial emissions or biomass gasification) into liquid fuels like ethanol and acetic acid.

Microbial Enhanced Oil Recovery (MEOR): Microbes are injected into depleted oil wells where they produce surfactants and gases that decrease oil viscosity.

For a country like India, which imports over 80% of its crude oil, scaling up microbial fuel technologies is essential for achieving Urja Atmanirbharta (Energy Self-reliance) and meeting the Panchamrit targets for net-zero emissions.

Energy independence by 2047 is central to India’s Viksit Bharat vision. Clean, indigenous and sustainable technologies are key for realisation of this vision.

Energy independence through clean technology by 2047

Expansion of renewable energy – Scale up solar, wind, hydro and offshore wind to meet 1000+ GW by 2047.

Green hydrogen as a fuel of the future – Expand National Green Hydrogen Mission for use in steel, fertilisers, transport and power storage.

Energy storage and grid modernisation

Strengthen Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) and pumped hydro storage.

Create smart grids, microgrids and AI-based demand management.

Electric mobility transition

Electrify public transport, freight. Eg- PM e-Bus Sewa

Promote EV manufacturing + battery ecosystem under PLI and PM-eDrive.

Make in India and supply Chain resilience

Strengthen domestic solar, battery and electrolyser manufacturing.

Secure supply chains through National Critical Mineral Mission. Eg- lithium supply from Argentina

Energy efficiency & circular economy

Expand PAT scheme

Promote circular economy in energy storage, e-waste and batteries.

Role of Biotechnology

Ethanol Blending under the National Bio-Energy Mission can reduce petrol imports and stubble burning.

Biogas and Compressed Biogas (CBG) under SATAT scheme and Gobardhan Mission can ensure rural energy self-sufficiency.

Algal biofuel technology – High yield per hectare and non-competitive with food crops.

Waste-to-Energy using anaerobic digestion, enzymatic conversion and microbial fuel cells. (Swachh Bharat + Energy security)

Bio-hydrogen and bio-electricity enables low-cost, decentralised green energy.

Steps Taken

BioE3 Policy – innovation-driven research & high-performance biomanufacturing.

Bio-RIDE – To bridge academia–industry gap and ensure lab-to-market transition

Emerging Frontiers in Biotechnology Programme for cutting-edge biotechnology research

As PM Modi stated, “India’s energy independence will be the foundation of its economic independence.” Clean technology is core pillar of this vision

Agriculture

Cropping Pattern