India’s Shift to Genome-Edited Crops: Faster Approvals, New Traits, and Fresh Policy Push

Genome-Edited Crops Latest News

• India’s genetically modified (GM) crop adoption has stalled since the approval of Bt cotton in 2006. 
• However, genome-edited (GE) crops are progressing rapidly. In May, two GE rice lines—improved versions of Samba Mahsuri and MTU-1010—were cleared after multi-location trials in 2023 and 2024.
• The enhanced Samba Mahsuri line showed a 19% average yield increase, while the GE MTU-1010 variant demonstrated tolerance to saline and alkaline soils. 
• A third GE crop, a canola-quality mustard variety resistant to major fungal diseases and pests, is currently in its second year of trials across 16 locations. 
• If successful, it may be released by August 2026, signalling a new phase in India’s agricultural biotechnology.

How GE Differs from GM: The Science Behind India’s New Crop Breeding

• Genetically modified (GM) crops introduce foreign genes from unrelated species, such as Bt genes from Bacillus thuringiensis used in cotton to produce insect-killing proteins.
• Genome editing (GE), however, modifies only the plant’s own native genes. 
  • Using protein enzymes that act as “molecular scissors,” GE alters specific DNA sequences to change how a gene functions—without adding foreign DNA. 
  • A custom-designed guide RNA directs these scissors to the exact spot in the genome.
• For India’s new GE rice and mustard lines, scientists used CRISPR-Cas technologies:
  • Cas9 edited the drought-and-salt tolerance gene in MTU-1010 rice and 10 glucosinolate transporter genes in mustard.
  • Cas12a edited the cytokinin oxidase 2 (Gn1a) gene in Samba Mahsuri rice to increase cytokinin levels, boosting the number of spikelets and grain yield.
• Importantly, Cas proteins—sourced from bacteria—appear only in the first-generation GE plants and are removed in subsequent breeding. 
• The final GE plants are transgene-free, unlike GM crops that retain permanently inserted foreign genes.

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Policy Push for Genome-Edited (GE) Crops in India

• GE plants that contain no foreign DNA are exempt from the stringent biosafety regulations applied to GM crops.
• Under a March 2022 MoEFCC memorandum, GE crops require only approval from an Institutional Biosafety Committee, which must certify that no exogenous DNA is present.
• This bypasses the earlier requirement of clearance from the Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee (GEAC) for field trials, seed production, or environmental release.
• Because GE crops are considered similar to normal plant varieties, they face minimal regulatory hurdles, enabling faster research, trials, and eventual deployment compared to GM crops.

Strong Government Funding Support

• The government has backed GE crop development through major funding allocations.
• Research on improved GE rice varieties began in 2018 through the National Agricultural Science Fund.
• The 2023–24 Union Budget allocated ₹500 crore specifically for genome editing.

Large Pipeline of GE Targets Identified

• ICAR scientists have mapped and prioritised key genes across major crops for targeted editing:
  • 178 target genes identified in 24 field crops (cereals, pulses, oilseeds, cotton, sugarcane, jute, tobacco).
  • 43 genes identified in 16 horticultural crops (vegetables, fruits, spices).
• Most of these crops now have full genome sequences available, allowing researchers to locate each gene precisely on its chromosome. 
• Once a gene’s role in a trait is known, it can be specifically edited to improve yield, stress tolerance, nutrition, disease resistance, and more.

A Clear Signal of Policy Shift

• Together, relaxed regulations and major funding underscore the government’s intent to make genome editing a mainstream tool in India’s crop-breeding strategy — a shift from the stalled GM crop pathway.

Building Human Resource Capacity for India’s GE Revolution

• Training Scientists in Advanced Genome Editing
  • Developing GE crops requires specialised skills.
  • So far, nine ICAR scientists have undergone advanced training in the US, Europe, Australia, and CIMMYT (Mexico), with 12 more scheduled for upcoming international training.
• Collaboration with Global Leaders in GE
  • In February 2025, the Innovative Genomics Institute (IGI) — founded by Nobel laureate Jennifer Doudna, co-inventor of CRISPR-Cas9 — conducted intensive training sessions for IARI scientists and students.
  • IGI also supplied advanced GE tools such as GeoCas9 and CasLambda, expanding India’s editing toolkit beyond Cas9 and Cas12a.
• Indigenous Breakthrough: India’s Miniature GE Tool
  • A team led by Kutubuddin Ali Molla at the Central Rice Research Institute, Cuttack, has patented a homegrown genome-editing system based on TnpB proteins (Transposon-associated proteins).
  • Key advantages:
    • Much smaller proteins than Cas9/Cas12a → easier delivery into plant cells
    • Cheaper due to indigenous IP, avoiding costly foreign licensing
    • Highly effective for precision gene editing
• India Positioned to Lead in GE Crops
  • With global collaborations, domestic innovation, and robust capacity-building, India is on track to advance its genome-editing ecosystem. 
  • Unlike GM crops — stalled for years — the GE pathway appears poised for sustained growth and adoption.

Source: IE | FDA