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Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change issued Draft Manufacture, Use, Import, Export, and Storage of Hazardous Micro-Organisms/Genetically Engineered Organisms or Cells (Amendment) Rules, 2024.

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• This draft proposes amendments to the Manufacture, Use, Import, Export, and Storage of Hazardous Micro Organisms/Genetically Engineered Organisms or Cells Rules, 1989, under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986.
• These amendments aim to enhance transparency and accountability in decision-making processes involving GMOs, as directed by the Supreme Court of India (Gene Campaign & Anr. Vs. Union of India & Ors.).
• Draft notification proposed amendments in rules to ensure greater transparency in the decision-making process of the Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee (GEAC).

Genetically Modified (GM) Crops: 

• Plants, bacteria, fungi and animals whose genes have been altered by manipulation are called Genetically Modified Organisms (GMO). 
  • Similarly GM crops are developed by using genetic engineering techniques to introduce specific genes from other organisms into a plant's DNA.

How GM Crops are developed?

• Development of GM crops begins with identifying and isolating the gene of interest from a host organism. This gene is then inserted into the DNA of the crop plant using following laboratory-based methods.
  • Gene Gun Approach: DNA-coated metal particles arebombarded into plant cells
  •  Agrobacterium Approach: Bacterium Agrobacterium tumefaciens transfers the desired gene into plant cells.
  • Electroporation: Used when the plant tissue does not contain cell walls. In this technique, electric pulses are used to create miniature pores in the plant cell through which the DNA enters. 
  • Microinjection: Used to directly inject foreign DNA into cells.

GM Crops in India

• Bt Cotton: The only GM crop approved for commercial cultivation in India (since 2002). It is resistant to cotton bollworm.
  • In it, insertion of the genes from soil bacterium B. thuringiensis causes cotton plant cells to produce crystal insecticidal proteins, often referred to as Cryoproteins.
• Bt Brinjal: Approved by GEAC in 2009 but later faced moratorium.
  • Bt brinjal contains a 'cry1Ac' gene isolated from the soil bacterium Bacillus thuringiensis. The gene codes for a toxic protein making it resistant to insects.
  • Government permitted Biosafety research field trials for two new transgenic varieties (Janak and BSS-793) in eight states.
• GM Mustard Crop (DMH-11): 
  • Developed by Centre for Genetic Manipulation of Crop Plants (Delhi University).
    • GM mustard has not been released for commercial cultivation yet.
  • It is a result of a cross pollination between two mustard varieties ('Varuna' and East European 'Early Heera-2'). 
    • Cross pollination is difficult in conventional mustard breeding because mustard is self-pollinating, i.e., pollen from the male part pollinates and fertilizes female part of same plant.
    • This cross was done by introducing barnase and barstar gene from soil bacterium Bacillus amyloliquefaciense into both mustard varieties.
      • Barnase in Varuna induces a temporary sterility because of which it can't naturally self-pollinate. Barstar in Heera blocks effect of barnase allowing seeds to be produced.

Barnase-Barstar system: DMH 11 uses three transgenes – barnase, barstar, and bar  Aim of these Three Trans genes: Barnase: It is used to create male-sterile plants by destroying the tapetum cell layer. Such transgenic parental line is then used as a female parent and fertilised by another parent (Containing Barstar gene) to develop the hybrid. Tapetum cells are a layer of cells in the anther of flowering plants that provide nutrients to developing pollen grains. Barstar: It completely negates effect of Barnase protein; as a consequence, hybrid seed between two lines is fully fertile and farmers can reap benefit of higher yield from hybrid. Bar: Bar gene confers resistance to herbicide Basta and is needed for selecting the transformed lines. Bar gene was originally isolated from soil bacterium Streptomyces hygroscopicus.

Regulation of GMOs in India

• Regulatory & Approval:
  • Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee (GEAC) – Approves large-scale use and release of GMOs.
  • Review Committee on Genetic Manipulation (RCGM) – It is established under the Department of Biotechnology, Ministry of Science and Technology. It monitor the safety of on-going research projects and activities (including small scale field trials, import, export etc) involving genetically engineered organisms.
  • Institutional Biosafety Committee (IBSC) – Ensures biosafety at institutional levels.
• Advisory:
  • Recombinant DNA Advisory Committee (RDAC) – Recommends policies and safety regulations.
• Monitoring:
  • State Biotechnology Coordination Committee (SBCC) – Inspects and enforces regulations at the state level.
  • District Level Committee (DLC) – Oversees local GMO use and safety compliance.

Concerns of GM Crops

• Ecological Concerns: GMOs may cause genetic contamination in natural ecosystems and increase chemical dependence. Example: Bt Corn potentially harms Monarch butterflies feeding on wild milkweed.
  • Weeds have developed a resistance to the herbicides. E.g. Glyphosate (A pesticide) use has surged, and pest resistance (pink bollworm, whitefly in India) has led to higher pesticide dependence instead of reduction.
• Biodiversity Loss: Use of GM crops may cause leakage of GM proteins into the soil that will affect the useful bacteria, microbes and beneficial interactions in soil. It will also lead to inadvertent toxicity to benign flora and fauna.
• Economic Issues: Yield claims often fail; e.g. according to some experts Bt Cotton in India showed stagnated yields despite GM adoption.
  • Market Monopoly: GM crops are controlled by corporations with IP rights, risking food security dependence on a few suppliers.
• Ethical Issues: Unpredictable effects of GMOs on ecosystems raise moral concerns. 
• Allergenicity: There is a possibility that introducing a gene into a plant may create an allergic reaction in susceptible individuals.

Way Forward (By Parliamentary Standing Committee Report on 'GM Crops and its impact on Environment')

• Regulatory Reforms: Strengthen GEAC's transparency and safety measures, include MPs in District-level committees, and mandate independent impact assessments instead of relying on applicant data.
• Scientific Evaluation: Conduct controlled field trials, assess actual yield improvements (e.g., Bt cotton stagnation), and study the impact on pesticide usage, soil, water, and biodiversity before approvals.
• Mandatory GM Food Labeling: The immediate implementation of clear labeling for GM products in India is necessary to ensure consumer awareness.
• Animal Health Impact Study: The Department of Animal Husbandry must conduct long-term feeding trials on livestock and fish to assess GM crops' impact on animal health.
• Formulating a national policy: With regard to GM crops for research, cultivation, trade and commerce in the country.