The data from the GIP was compared to existing global databases in a study.

Key Findings of Study

• Genetic Variants: Over 129 million genetic variants were identified. 
• Endogamy (marriage within communities): has resulted in genetically distinct and isolated groups.
• Contrasting Population Dynamics: 
  • Non-tribal populations: greater genetic mixing and population growth.
  • Tribal populations: low effective population size, high genetic drift, and strong founder effects (certain rare global variants become locally common due to prolonged isolation).

About Genome India Project (GIP)

• Launched:  in 2020 by Department of Biotechnology (DBT), under the Ministry of Science and Technology.
  • It is an Indian equivalent of the Human Genome Project (HGP), a global-level effort to map human genomes, launched in October 1990 and completed in April 2003.
• Objective: To build a comprehensive catalogue of genetic variations that reflects the unique diversity of the Indian population. 
• Sample Size and Diversity: The study collected samples from 10,000 healthy and unrelated individuals. 
  • These individuals represent 83 distinct population groups and span India's four prominent linguistic families: Indo-European, Dravidian, Austro-Asiatic, and Tibeto-Burman.
• Significance:  
  • Healthcare: Disease prediction and early diagnosis with better disease gene discovery, population-specific diagnostics (e.g. impact of endogamy on diseases), etc. 
  • Reduces Bias: as global genetic databases remain dominated by European populations.
  • R&D: Boosts India’s and global genomic research and innovation ecosystem.