**Summary:**
This document summarizes the Indian government's response to a parliamentary question regarding Bt cotton cultivation in India, specifically question number 3893, addressed to the Minister of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare and answered on August 12, 2025, by the Minister of State for Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Shri Ram Nath Thakur.
The response confirms that Bt cotton is the only genetically modified (GM) crop approved for commercial cultivation in India, a decision made in 2002 by the Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee (GEAC) of the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change. While some instances of Tobacco Streak Virus (TSV) were reported in cotton-growing regions, the government reports no significant yield loss. Cotton yield figures provided are 443 kg/ha for 2022-23, 436 kg/ha for 2023-24, and 465 kg/ha (3rd Advance Estimate) for 2024-25.
The document also addresses the demand from Seed Industry Associations and some farmers for the release of Herbicide Tolerant (HT) Bt cotton. It notes that a proposal for environmental release of HTBt Cotton (Bollgard II Roundup Ready Flex BGII RRF) has been submitted to the Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee (GEAC) by the developer. The document does not indicate a decision made by the government on allowing HTBt cotton for commercial cultivation but acknowledges the ongoing consideration of the proposal by the GEAC.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Agriculture Farmers Welfare: A ministry of the Government of India responsible for agriculture and farmers' welfare.
Lok Sabha: The lower house of the Parliament of India, where the unstarred question was raised.
Tobacco Streak Virus TSV: A plant virus affecting cotton crops, mentioned as a potential cause of declining Bt cotton productivity.
HTBt: Herbicide Tolerant Bt cotton, a genetically modified variety under consideration for commercial cultivation.
Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee GEAC: A committee under the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change responsible for approving genetically modified crops.
Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change: A ministry of the Government of India.
Bollgard II Roundup Ready Flex BGII RRF: A specific type of HTBt Cotton, submitted for environmental release approval to GEAC.
Bt cotton: Genetically modified cotton that produces an insecticide to combat bollworms.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE & FARMERS WELFARE
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE & FARMERS WELFARE
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.3893
TO BE ANSWERED ON 12TH AUGUST, 2025
CULTIVATION OF BT COTTON
3893. DR. GANAPATHY RAJKUMAR P:
Will the Minister of AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE कृ िष एवं िकसान क(cid:670)ाण मं(cid:361)ी
be pleased to state:
(a) whether it is true that transgenic Bt cotton is being cultivated in the country and also
reports of declining Bt cotton productivity in the country due to a newly emerging disease
and Tobacco Streak Virus (TSV);
(b) whether it is also true that there is demand for legal use of HTBt for commercial
cultivation as demanded by cotton growers during a crop-specific meeting on cotton;
(c) if so, the details thereof: and
(d) the details of the decision taken or proposed to be taken by the Government on
allowing another transgenic variety-HTBt-for commercial cultivation?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE FOR AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
कृ िष एवं िकसान क(cid:670)ाण रा(cid:475) मं(cid:361)ी (SHRI RAM NATH THAKUR)
(a): Bt. cotton is the only Genetically Modified (GM) crop approved in 2002 by the
Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee (GEAC) of Ministry of Environment, Forest and
Climate Change for commercial cultivation in the Country. A few incidences of Tobacco
Streak Virus were reported in some cotton growing regions, however, there is no
significant yield loss reported. The yield of cotton for the last three years is 443 kg/ha for
2022-23, 436 kg//ha for 2023-24 and 465 kg/ha (3rd Advance Estimate) in the year 2024-
25.
(b) to (d): Seed Industry Associations and some farmers are demanding for release of
HT. Bt. cotton. Developer of HTBt Cotton namely Bollgard II Roundup Ready Flex (BG-II
RRF) has submitted the proposal to Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee for
environmental release of HTBt Cotton.
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