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Subject: GM Crops

  • National Advisory Board on Management of Genetic Resources (NABMGR)

    Why in the News?

    The reconstituted National Advisory Board on Management of Genetic Resources (NABMGR) held its first meeting on 29 July 2026 at ICAR–National Bureau of Plant Genetic Resources (NBPGR), New Delhi, to strengthen India’s agrobiodiversity conservation and promote the sustainable utilization of genetic resources for food security, climate resilience, and Viksit Bharat.

    What is NABMGR?

    • A national advisory body constituted by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR).
    • First constituted: 2011. Reconstituted: 2026.
    • Chairman: Dr. R.S. Paroda. Co-Chairman: Dr. M.L. Jat (Secretary, DARE & DG, ICAR).

    Objectives

    • Recommend national policies on agrobiodiversity.
    • Promote integrated management of Plant genetic resources, Animal genetic resources, Fish genetic resources, Microbial genetic resources, and Insect genetic resources
    • Advise on national and international issues related to genetic resources.

    Key Recommendations

    • Strengthen pre-breeding programmes to utilize conserved germplasm.
    • Identify unexplored regions for systematic germplasm collection (2026–2031).
    • Develop an integrated national genetic resources management framework.
    • Mainstream traditional and underutilized crop varieties, animal breeds, fish species, microbes, and insects.
    • Strengthen implementation of Access and Benefit Sharing (ABS) under the Biological Diversity Act, 2002.
    • Expedite establishment of the National Safety Genebank (NSG) before ICAR’s centenary (2028–29).
    • Enhance international collaboration, especially with Central Asia and South-East Asia, for germplasm exchange.

    Significance

    • Conserves India’s rich agrobiodiversity.
    • Broadens the genetic base for developing climate-resilient, high-yielding crops and livestock.
    • Strengthens food, nutrition and livelihood security.
    • Supports sustainable agriculture and achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
    • Promotes scientific collaboration and evidence-based policy making.

    Important Institutions Mentioned

    • ICAR – Indian Council of Agricultural Research
    • ICAR-NBPGR – National Bureau of Plant Genetic Resources
    • National Biodiversity Authority (NBA)
    • Department of Biotechnology (DBT)
    • Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC)
    • Botanical Survey of India (BSI)
    • National Medicinal Plants Board (NMPB)

    Value Addition

    • Agrobiodiversity: It refers to the variety and variability of plants, animals, fish, microorganisms and insects used directly or indirectly for food, agriculture and ecosystem services.
    • Germplasm: The hereditary genetic material (seeds, tissues, pollen, embryos, etc.) preserved for crop and livestock improvement.
    • Pre-breeding: The process of transferring useful genes from wild relatives or unadapted genetic resources into breeding materials to develop improved varieties.
    • Access and Benefit Sharing (ABS): A mechanism under the Biological Diversity Act, 2002, ensuring fair and equitable sharing of benefits arising from the use of biological resources and associated traditional knowledge.
    • National Safety Genebank (NSG): A secure backup repository for conserving valuable genetic resources against natural disasters or accidental loss.

    [2012] How does the National Biodiversity Authority (NBA) help in protecting the Indian agriculture?
    1. NBA checks the biopiracy and protects the indigenous and traditional genetic resources.
    2. NBA directly monitors and supervises the scientific research on genetic modification of crop plants.
    3. Application for Intellectual Property Rights related to resources genetic/biological cannot be made without approval of NBA.
    Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

    (a) 1 Only

    (b) 2 and 3 only

    (c) 1 and 3 only

    (d) 1, 2 and 3

  • White Gold: India’s Cotton Story

    Why in News?

    The Government released “White Gold: India’s Cotton Story – From Seed to Shirt”, highlighting India’s global leadership in cotton production and new initiatives to improve productivity, quality, and sustainability.

    Key Highlights

    • India is the only country cultivating all four recognized cotton species.
    • Ranks: 1st in global cotton acreage. 2nd in production and consumption.
    • Cotton production (2025–26, provisional): 290.91 lakh bales.
    • Domestic consumption: 328 lakh bales.
    • Contributes nearly 19% of global fibre production.
    • Supports livelihoods of 6 million farmers and employment for 40–50 million people in allied sectors.

    Four Cotton Species

    • Gossypium arboreum (Asian cotton)
    • Gossypium herbaceum (Asian cotton)
    • Gossypium hirsutum (American upland cotton; ~90% of India’s hybrid cotton)
    • Gossypium barbadense (Egyptian cotton)

    Bt Cotton

    • Genetically modified cotton containing genes from Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt).
    • Commercially introduced in 2002.
    • Resistant to bollworms, reducing insecticide use and improving yields.

    Major Cotton Growing Zones

    • Northern: Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan
    • Central: Gujarat, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh
    • Southern: Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka
    • Also cultivated in Tamil Nadu and Odisha.

    Government Initiatives

    Mission for Cotton Productivity (2025–26)

    • Five-year mission with an outlay of ₹5,659.22 crore.
    • Target: Increase production from 297 lakh bales to 498 lakh bales by 2031.
    • Focus on: Climate-resilient varieties, Pest-resistant seeds, Extra-Long Staple (ELS) cotton, and Advanced breeding and biotechnology.

    Minimum Support Price (MSP)

    • Procurement by Cotton Corporation of India (CCI).
    • MSP (2026–27): Medium Staple: ₹8,267/quintal and Long Staple: ₹8,667/quintal

    Special Project on Cotton (NFSM)

    • Promotes: High Density Planting System (HDPS), Closer Spacing Planting System, and ELS cotton technologies.
    • Demonstrations recorded 30–40% yield improvement.

    Kapas Kisan App

    • Digital platform for Farmer registration, MSP procurement slot booking, Aadhaar-linked payments, and SMS updates.

    Kasturi Cotton Bharat

    • National branding and traceability initiative.
    • Features: QR-code certification, Blockchain-based traceability, and NABL-accredited quality testing.
    • Promotes Indian cotton as a premium global brand.

    Economic Importance

    • Cotton is known as “White Gold”.
    • Integral to the textile value chain and India’s export earnings.
    • Cottonseed provides: Edible oil, Animal feed, Biomass fuel, and Surgical cotton and medical products.

    [2020] “The crop is subtropical in nature. A hard frost is injurious to it. It requires at least 210 frost-free days and 50 to 100 centimeters of rainfall for its growth. A light well-drained soil capable of retaining moisture is ideally suited for the cultivation of the crop.” Which one of the following is that crop?

    a) Cotton
    b) Jute
    c) Sugarcane
    d) Tea

  • IMI-Resistant Mustard Hybrids

    Why in the news?

    India is set to begin large-scale cultivation of imidazolinone-resistant (IMI-resistant) mustard hybrids during the 2026-27 rabi season to tackle the parasitic weed Orobanche (Phelipanche), which significantly reduces mustard yields.

    Key Highlights

    • Mustard is a major oilseed crop in India.
    • India imported around 16 million tonnes of edible oil and Worth nearly ₹1.6 lakh crore in 2024-25.
    • The new hybrids are resistant to IMI herbicides
    • Main target Orobanche/Phelipanche, a root parasitic weed.

    What is Orobanche?

    https://images.openai.com/static-rsc-4/Qei5WJuL-Rr_xTIzlCInNirTBQpRVL3O34CGG6B68RBWV0IAE1OJC19nfEHxPF8pd4N3UBIyCrDEXg4K_8VjNBKQchGiadQ9D4C-Nh_wdl2OaRZ_ZT9no0h2Jadoxh9AhOsPBZJHloSRD_kA2CRmo_W98rssDji6_lHfc2ADRkM4lB-50F4ZX-LttuPjq6Wt?purpose=fullsize
    • A parasitic weed that attaches to mustard roots. Draws water and nutrients from the host plant
    • Causes major yield losses in mustard cultivation.
    • Difficult to remove manually because it grows below the soil surface.

    What are IMI-Resistant Mustard Hybrids?

    • These are mustard varieties resistant to imidazolinone herbicides.
    • Developed Through: Mutation Breeding. Not a genetically modified (GM) crop. Scientists select and preserve naturally occurring mutations.

    Scientific Basis

    • The resistance is linked to changes in the Acetolactate Synthase (ALS) enzyme
    • Normally, IMI herbicides inhibit the ALS enzyme. The plant dies.

    In resistant hybrids:

    • A DNA mutation changes ALS structure.
    • Herbicide cannot inhibit the enzyme.
    • Crop survives while weeds die.

    Advantages

    • Effective control of Orobanche.
    • Reduces labour requirement for manual weeding.
    • Helps improve mustard productivity.
    • Supports reduction in edible oil imports.
    • Useful in labour-scarce periods during the rabi season.

    [2018] With reference to the Genetically Modified mustard (GM mustard) developed in India, consider the following statements :
    1. GM mustard has the genes of a soil bacterium that give the plant the property of pest-resistance to a wide variety of pests.
    2. GM mustard has the genes that allow the plant cross-pollination and hybridise.
    3. GM mustard has been developed jointly by the IARI and Punjab Agricultural University.
    Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

    [A] 1 and 3 only
    [B] 2 only
    [C] 2 and 3
    [D] 1, 2 and 3

  • Genetically modified “golden rice” has been engineered to meet human nutritional requirements. Which one of the following statements best qualifies golden rice

    Genetically modified “golden rice” has been engineered to meet human nutritional requirements. Which one of the following statements best qualifies golden rice?

  • Mon 863 is a variety of maize. It was in the news for the following reason

    Mon 863 is a variety of maize. It was in the news for the following reason

  • A genetically engineered form of brinjal, known as the Bt-Brinjal, has been developed. The objective of this is

    A genetically engineered form of brinjal, known as the Bt-Brinjal, has been developed. The objective of this is

  • What are the reasons for the people’s resistance to the introduction of BT brinjal in India? 1. Bt brinjal has been created by inserting a gene from a soil fungus into its genome. 2. The seeds of Bt brinjal are terminator seeds and therefore, the farmers have to buy the seeds before every season from the seed companies. 3. There is an apprehension that the consumption of Bt brinjal may have adverse impact on health. 4. There is some concern that the introduction of BT brinjal may have adverse effect on the biodiversity. Select the correct answer using the code given below

    What are the reasons for the people’s resistance to the introduction of BT brinjal in India? 1. Bt brinjal has been created by inserting a gene from a soil fungus into its genome. 2. The seeds of Bt brinjal are terminator seeds and therefore, the farmers have to buy the seeds before every season from the seed companies. 3. There is an apprehension that the consumption of Bt brinjal may have adverse impact on health. 4. There is some concern that the introduction of BT brinjal may have adverse effect on the biodiversity. Select the correct answer using the code given below:

  • Other than resistance to pests, what are the prospects for which genetically engineered plants have been created

    Other than resistance to pests, what are the prospects for which genetically engineered plants have been created?
    1. To enable them to withstand drought
    2. To increase the nutritive value of the produce
    3. To enable them to grow and do photosynthesis in spaceships and space stations
    4. To increase their shelf life.

  • With reference to the Genetically Modified mustard (GM mustard) developed in India, consider the following statements

    With reference to the Genetically Modified mustard (GM mustard) developed in India, consider the following statements :

    1.GM mustard has the genes of a soil bacterium that give the plant the property of pest-resistance to a wide variety of pests.
    2.GM mustard has the genes that allow the plant cross-pollination and hybridization.
    3.GM mustard has been developed jointly by the IARI and Punjab Agricultural University.
    Which of the statements given above is/are correct ?

  • “Bollgard I and Bollgard II technologies are mentioned in the context of

    “Bollgard I and Bollgard II technologies are mentioned in the context of: