**Executive Summary**
This document is a response to the Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 2690 regarding the status of genome-editing research by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) and other national research institutions. The response, provided by the Minister of State for Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, details research activities, regulatory reforms, product development, and initiatives for technology transfer related to genome-edited crops. The response was prepared for the 16th of December, 2025.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Genome Editing Research Status:**
* ICAR has initiated genome editing research on 24 field crops and 17 horticultural crops.
* The Department of Biotechnology (DBT) and Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) are also conducting research on genome editing in 10 crops.
* **Regulatory Reforms and Biosafety:**
* The Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) exempted Site-Directed Nuclease-1 (SDN1) and Site-Directed Nuclease-2 (SDN2) genome-edited crops, 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.
* Biosafety issues are addressed following the 'Guidelines for the Safety Assessment of Genome Edited Plants, 2022' (DBT) 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.
* Inventors have provided Freedom to Operate (FTO) provision for using genome editing technology for research purpose.
* **Product Development:**
* ICAR has developed two genome-edited rice varieties.
* Biotechnology Research and Innovation Council - National Institute of Plant Genome Research, New Delhi has developed low glucosinolate genome edited line in mustard, which is being evaluated under ICAR - All India Coordinated Research Project trials.
* **Infrastructure and Project Initiatives:**
* ICAR-Indian Institute of Agricultural Biotechnology, Ranchi, has been established as a Centre for genome editing, with a budget of ₹23.89 crores under the ICAR funded project.
* The institute has initiated genome editing research in Soybean, Peanut, Sunflower, Urd bean and Cotton. Varieties developed by ICAR Institutes are made available for cultivation in different agro-climatic zones including Hazaribagh and Ramgarh districts.
* **Technology Transfer:**
* A system is in place to take the genome-edited technologies, rice varieties DRR Dhan 100 and Pusa DST rice 1 from research Institutes to field level adoption after their release and notification as per Section 5 of Seed Act 1966.
* Commercialization of such varieties to private innovators and start-ups is done after registration with the Protection of Plant Varieties and Farmers Rights Authority.
**Impact Analysis**
**ICAR, DBT, CSIR:**
* **Impact:** These research institutions are undertaking genome editing research across various crops, contributing to product development and technological advancements in agriculture.
* **Action Required:** Continue research efforts, comply with regulatory guidelines, and develop effective strategies for technology transfer to farmers and private entities.
**Farmers:**
* **Impact:** Farmers stand to benefit from improved crop varieties developed through genome editing, leading to enhanced productivity, resilience, and nutritional value.
* **Action Required:** Adopt new genome-edited crop varieties upon release and notification, and leverage available resources for successful cultivation.
**Private Innovators and Start-ups:**
* **Impact:** These entities can commercialize genome-edited varieties after registration with the Protection of Plant Varieties and Farmers Rights Authority, fostering innovation and entrepreneurship in the agricultural sector.
* **Action Required:** Partner with research institutions for technology transfer, register with the Protection of Plant Varieties and Farmers Rights Authority, and develop effective business models for commercializing genome-edited crop varieties.
**Regulatory Bodies (MoEF&CC, DBT):**
* **Impact:** Responsible for creating and implementing guidelines to ensure the safe and responsible use of genome-edited crop varieties.
* **Action Required:** Continuously monitor and assess the impact of genome-edited crops and update guidelines as needed to address any emerging issues or concerns.
Key Entities Referenced
Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR): The primary agency conducting genome-editing research on crops as mentioned in the document.
Department of Biotechnology (DBT): The department which issued guidelines for the safety assessment of genome-edited plants.
Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change (MoEF&CC): The ministry that exempted certain genome-edited crops from GM regulation rules.
Seed Act 1966: Act under which genome-edited technologies are released and notified for field level adoption.
Hazaribagh and Ramgarh districts: Districts where biotechnology-based farming, genome-edited crop trials, or agricultural innovation centers are being considered.
OIH
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH & EDUCATION
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2690
TO BE ANSWERED ON 16TH DECEMBER, 2025
GENOME-EDITING RESEARCH BY ICAR
2690. SHRI CHINTAMANI MAHARAJ:
SHRI MANISH JAISWAL:
SHRI RODMAL NAGAR:
SHRI KHAGEN MURMU:
SHRI RAJKUMAR CHAHAR:
Will the Minister of AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE कृषि और ककसान कल्याण मंत्री
be pleased to state:
(a) the current status of the latest research being undertaken in the field of genome-editing by
the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) and other national research institutions and
the total number of crops under research;
(b) whether any recent regulatory reforms, Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) related guidelines
or biosafety assessments have been undertaken to ensure the responsible and safe use of
genome-edited crop varieties and if so, the details of the said reforms/evaluations;
(c) the present status of product development through the application of genome-editing in
various crops in the country;
(d) whether any specific schemes, pilot projects or collaboration programmes are being
considered for establishing biotechnology-based farming, genome-edited crop trials or
agricultural innovation centres in Hazaribagh and Ramgarh districts and if so, the details thereof;
and
(e) the initiatives taken to ensure the timely transfer of genome-edited technologies from
research institutions to field-level adoption including partnerships with private innovators and
start-ups?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
कृषि और ककसान कल्याण राज्य मंत्री (SHRI BHAGIRATH CHOUDHARY)
(a): Genome editing research has been initiated in Indian Council of Agricultural (ICAR) on 24
field crops and 17 horticultural crops. In addition, Department of Biotechnology (DBT), Council for
Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) are also undertaking research on genome editing in 10
crops.
1(b): Ministry of Environment, Forests 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 Biosafety issues have been
addressed following the ‘Guidelines for the Safety Assessment of Genome Edited Plants, 2022’
of Department of Biotechnology (DBT), Ministry of Science and Technology, Govt. of India issued
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.
The inventors have provided Freedom to Operate (FTO) provision for using genome editing
technology for research purpose.
(c): Two genome edited varieties of rice have been developed by ICAR. Biotechnology
Research and Innovation Council - National Institute of Plant Genome Research, New Delhi has
developed low glucosinolate genome edited line in mustard, which is being evaluated under ICAR
- All India Coordinated Research Project trials.
(d): ICAR-Indian Institute of Agricultural Biotechnology, Ranchi has been established as a
Centre for genome editing with a total budget of Rs 23.89 crores under the ICAR funded project.
This Institute has initiated genome editing research in Soybean, Peanut, Sunflower, Urd bean and
Cotton. Varieties developed by ICAR Institutes are made available for cultivation in different agro-
climatic zones including Hazaribagh and Ramgarh districts.
(e): System is in place to take the genome-edited technologies viz., rice varieties DRR Dhan
100 and Pusa DST rice 1 from research Institutes to field level adoption after their release and
notification as per Section 5 of Seed Act 1966. The commercialization of such varieties to private
innovators and start-ups is done after registration with the Protection of Plant Varieties and
Farmers Rights Authority.
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