**Policy Summary: Genome Edited Paddy Development by NRRI**
This document summarizes the Indian government's response to a parliamentary question (Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 2629) regarding genome-edited paddy developed by the National Rice Research Institute (NRRI). The response, provided by the Minister of State for Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, clarifies the following:
* **Development Status:** NRRI has not developed any genome-edited paddy varieties.
* **Intellectual Property Rights:** As no varieties have been developed, the question of NRRI accessing Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) is not applicable.
* **Commercial Availability:** Since no varieties have been developed, there is no timeline for seed availability to farmers for commercial cultivation.
* **Objections from 'The Coalition for a GM-free India':** The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) has exempted Site-Directed Nuclease 1 (SDN1) and Site-Directed Nuclease 2 (SDN2) genome-edited crops, free of exogenous introduced DNA, from Genetically Modified (GM) regulation rules (Rules 711 of Rules 1989) vide OM F. No. C 1201332020CSIII dated 30 March, 2022. Furthermore, the Department of Biotechnology (DBT), Ministry of Science and Technology, has issued guidelines and standard operating procedures for the safety assessment and regulatory review of genome-edited plants:
* Guidelines for the Safety Assessment of Genome Edited Plants, 2022 (OM No. File No. PID1501112022PPBDBT dated 17.05.2022).
* Standard Operating Procedures for Regulatory Review of Genome Edited Plants under SDN1 and SDN2 Categories (OM No. File No. PID1501112022PPBDBT dated 04.10.2022).
Key Entities Referenced
National Rice Research Institute NRRI: An agricultural research institute that is referred to in the context of developing genome edited paddy.
DR. C M RAMESH: Individual who raised a question in LOK SABHA related to genome edited paddy developed by NRRI.
AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE: A ministry of the Government of India.
The Coalition for a GMfree India: An entity that raised objections to the genome edited rice varieties.
SHRI BHAGIRATH CHOUDHARY: The Minister of State for AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE.
Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change MoEFCC: A ministry of the Government of India that exempted certain genome edited crops from GM regulation.
Department of Biotechnology DBT: A department under the Ministry of Science and Technology, Govt. of India, that issued guidelines for the safety assessment of genome edited plants.
Rules 1989: Rules mentioned in the context of GM regulation.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH & EDUCATION
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2629
TO BE ANSWERED ON 5TH AUGUST, 2025
GENOME EDITED PADDY DEVELOPED BY NRRI
2629. DR. C M RAMESH:
Will the Minister of AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE कृषि और ककसान कल्याण मंत्री be
pleased to state:
(a) the details of genome edited paddy developed by National Rice Research Institute (NRRI);
(b) whether NRRI has accessed the Intellectual Property Rights on these rice varieties, if so, the
details thereof;
(c) the time by which the seeds are going to be available for farmers for commercial
cultivation; and
(d) the response of the Government to the objection raised by 'The Coalition for a GM-free India'
which claim that the above two varieties have potential to harm humans and cause damage to the
environment?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
कृषि और ककसान कल्याण राज्य मंत्री (SHRI BHAGIRATH CHOUDHARY)
(a) to (c): National Rice Research Institute (NRRI) has not developed any genome edited paddy.
(d): Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC), Govt. of India exempted the
Site-Directed Nuclease-1(SDN1) and Site-Directed Nuclease-2 (SDN2) genome edited crop free of
exogenous introduced DNA from GM regulation rules (Rules 7-11 of Rules 1989) vide OM F. No. C-
12013/3/2020-CS-III dated 30 March, 2022. Further, the Department of Biotechnology (DBT), Ministry
of Science and Technology, Govt. of India issued the Guidelines for the Safety Assessment of Genome
Edited Plants, 2022 vide OM No. File No. PID-15011/1/2022-PPB-DBT dated 17.05.2022 and
“Standard Operating Procedures for Regulatory Review of Genome Edited Plants under SDN-1 and
SDN-2 Categories” vide OM No. File No. PID-15011/1/2022-PPB-DBT dated 04.10.2022.
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